It has been listed for sale by the Glenn Group LLC, a commercial real estate firm. That original library building has been vacant for years and has survived two fires. When the Carnegie grant came through in 1902, construction began. In 1901, voters approved a 10-cent levy to support eventual operations of one. Historic preservationists say Joplin was one of the earliest cities in the state to have a library donated by wealthy steel industrialist Andrew Carnegie through a $40 million endowment he made that eventually built 1,600 libraries across the country from 1886 to 1919.Īn effort started here in 1893 to raise money for the purpose of funding a library. Project Launchpad would have had a number of objectives, including providing services for startup businesses and restaurateurs, training in technology and digital jobs, and internships for high school students in Joplin, Webb City and Carl Junction.Ī library was first established in Joplin at Ninth Street and Wall Avenue with a $40,000 grant provided by the Carnegie Foundation.
They said it would be difficult to move forward on the project because the former chamber president, who led the Launchpad effort, had left Joplin for a new job. In 2018, officials with the city of Joplin in tandem with the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, Missouri Southern State University and Joplin School District announced a project to use the building as a business, technology and education hub called Project Launchpad.Ī $10 million bond issue to fund remodeling for that purpose was to be voted on two years ago but was withdrawn by city officials in November 2021. within the city's medical district, a site donated by Mercy Hospital. It was constructed with funding largely provided a federal grant as a disaster recovery stimulus project after the 2011 tornado.ĭuring the tornado recovery effort, the downtown library site had been offered to Kansas City University as a site for a medical school, which was later built at 2901 St. The future of the building had been in question since the library's new building at 1901 E. "That block really needs something to bring energy and life, and connect the 100 and 200 blocks with those to the south," she said in October.
Lori Haun, executive director of the Downtown Joplin Alliance, said at the time the vacant building left a gap in the redeveloping downtown hub. The building offers 35,000 square feet of space and 54 parking spaces. It is located on a city block of property. There were a number of prospective uses to attract interested buyers, Robyn said last fall. Proposals had to include a description of intended use, a financial plan, background on similar projects carried out by the bidder and a projection of the economic impact the intended project would be expected to generate. Building tours for interested bidders were conducted in November and December. "We think it's an important building in downtown, and we want to handle it a little differently," he said.īids were due by Feb.
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