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Friends of Memorial Hall outline $17 million rehabilitation plan tied to proposed 2% lodging‑tax increase
Summary
Clifford Ward presented Friends of Memorial Hall’s plan to rehabilitate Memorial Hall with an estimated cost under $17 million, proposing $7 million financed by a bond repaid with a 2% increase in Joplin’s lodging tax and at least $2 million in private bridge funding; multiple approvals including a city MOU, state legislation and a voter referendum would be required.
Clifford Ward presented the Friends of Memorial Hall response to the city’s RFP and described a funding strategy that would not use general‑fund reserves but would instead rely on a combination of a lodging‑tax bond, tax credits, grants and private fundraising. Ward said the $7 million figure previously cited as a city reserve contribution is now proposed to be financed by a bond retired with an increase in the city’s lodging tax. “That $7,000,000 is now potentially being replaced by funding through the specific increase in the Joplin lodging tax by 2%,” Ward said.
Ward told the commission the project’s initial cost estimate, including soft costs and a 20% contingency, is under $17 million and that Friends of Memorial Hall aims to raise a minimum of $2 million in private donations to provide bridge financing, cover startup costs and support operations. He said roughly $105,000 in grants had already been awarded through downtown partners.
Ward outlined a multi‑step timetable: a memorandum of understanding to be brought to city council on Dec. 1, state legislative action to authorize the lodging‑tax change (with a representative prefiling legislation in early December), and, if the legislature and governor approve such a change, a citywide referendum for Joplin voters to authorize the tax increase from 4% to 6% allocated for a tourism venue. Ward emphasized the plan remains subject to many approvals and that the project team continues to refine costs and funding sources.
The commission asked about accessibility and design details; Ward said no design RFP has yet been issued and ADA accommodations will be considered during design development. Thomas (staff) reminded the commission that when a property is on the National Register and locally listed, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) reviews projects first and the local commission can issue a letter of concurrence or be more restrictive: “Every time that something's on the National Register and the local listing, we always allow SHPO to review first,” he said.
Ward announced a community forum at Joplin Avenue Coffee on Dec. 1 as the first public outreach event and encouraged commissioners to consult the updated slide deck presented to council. He cautioned that legislative and voter steps will make the timeline fluid and said the proposal is intended to avoid drawing on the city’s general fund; the transcript does not record a final city commitment of general‑fund dollars.
Next steps: Friends of Memorial Hall will pursue the MOU to council on Dec. 1, public education forums will begin, and the group aims to advance legislation early in the next legislative session; the commission will continue to review details and may provide a letter of concurrence to SHPO when appropriate.
