The City of Joplin, Missouri, has tapped a commercial real-estate firm to help market the century-old Joplin Union Depot with the hope someone can redevelop and renovate it.
The city announced the effort Wednesday. The real-estate company, Glenn Group, will work with the Downtown Joplin Alliance through its Endangered Properties Program and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ State Historic Preservation Office, reported the Joplin Globe.
Long listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a locally significant building, the depot was designed by Kansas City architect Louis Curtiss and was built by the Manhattan Construction Co. of New York. It opened in 1911 as a passenger stop for the Kansas City Southern Railroad.
“This building is a well-loved and iconic piece of Joplin’s history, and we look forward to it being part of our growing downtown community once again,” said Lori Haun, executive director of the DJA.
The depot has been vacant for more than 50 years. Last year, it was listed on Missouri’s “Places in Peril” by the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation.
Joplin Union Depot is off North Main Street (aka bypass Route 66 from the 1930s to 1955) and West A Street on the city’s north side. The Broadway alignment of Route 66 also runs just south of the property.
The video below contains footage inside the building. Even in a dilapidated state, it is an amazing structure:
(Image of Joplin Union Depot in Joplin, Missouri, by Jill Sullivan, courtesy of Missouri Preservation)
My first impulse is to cheer. But then, too often, these ideas sputter and fizzle out before any work begins. The Joplin Union Depot is truly an awesome building to behold. It’s large enough to contain several businesses (museum, art gallery, performance space, restaurant) that would be worthy of its grandeur. I hope it works out. It would be nice to see that building vital again.
Same here Lane. I’ll go ahead and cheer…at least they are thinking about the old place, and trying something. I still don’t know who buys the place with that HUGE tower just feet from the building.