Effort underway to save Joplin’s Howsmon buildings
The alliance has hired
Engineers in the city report suggested three options ranging from demolition at an estimated cost of
The engineers who did the city report were given only three days to gather information and produce a report, Hart said. Because there was no time to obtain bids, the engineers used a stock estimate per square foot based on construction methods, such as steel-reinforced roofs and floors that cost more than frame-built ones that were original to the buildings.
A new report might identify lesser measures the city could take that are substantially less costly and would stabilize and secure the buildings, or the corner building where there has not been a rupture, for future renovation.
"I would suggest the city really take a hard look at what could be done to do some emergency remediation to the building," Hart said. "If it's feasible to fix it or at least shore it up and mothball it for now, the building could be saved for a developer. If it costs less than demolishing the buildings, it's a no-brainer," Hart said.
Another look
Haun said there also are other reasons for getting the new report.
"If the building or buildings are deemed restorable, this type of report would also be a beneficial tool in seeking out future developers for the property," said Haun.
He said the corner building at
The building to the south of it at
"The overriding problem for both structures is the lack of repairs to the roof," Neal said. "Water damage is the cause of the failure we've seen."
Neal believes the 1903 building was built sturdier than the one that has collapsed. Its frame could be constructed from old-growth wood -- which has tighter grain and is less apt to split, warp or rot -- and that was less available even in 1920.
"My assessment is that both structures are salvageable if there were enough demand and funds. At this point, due to known constraints with city funding, I don't know that the budget exists to save the addition, but the annex is completely salvageable," if some roof repairs were made, he said.
City intervention
City Manager
"Our charter says the city is to promote the general welfare of the people, so I think that's why we have a
Speaking about the buildings on Virginia, he said: "There's really no other party that is going to act in this situation. The property owner doesn't have the means to do it. The county is the trustee so they are just there to hold any liens against the property," such as tax liens
That money is placed in a revolving public improvements fund that is used to cover the costs of dealing with dangerous buildings. Currently there is about
"From the city's perspective, if the city is going to have to spend dollars to either rehabilitate or demolish that structure, it's in the city's best interest to rehabilitate it if we can," the city manager said. "It has the potential for being a tax-generating property."
Neal said the fact that the
"Long term, the revenue from that building will repay the cost of saving it. That may be very long term, but the value is much higher than that of a vacant lot," Neal said. It also saves a piece of the downtown landscape and the stories associated with its era and history.
"Historic property is precious and its value, in any condition, should not be taken lightly," Haun said. "We must consider future possibilities and revenues before we write off even the worst of these. Once an historic property is gone, it's gone forever."
Buildings' history
The buildings now called the Howsmon buildings were once the
Later, Christman's brother Charles came to visit and decided to stay. He and another brother, Fred, opened a furniture store a block away. In 1892, the operations merged and moved to Fifth and Main, where their dry good store had the first electric elevator in
The buildings were eventually bought by the Howsmon family, who operated a business furnishings and supply retail and distribution business there until about 2010. Though they sold most of the buildings they owned, the sale of
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