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Downtown Joplin Alliance seeking community input about Union Depot

Joplin Union Depot
Joplin Union Depot

TheDowntown Joplin Allianceis hosting a community roundtable this weekend regarding a historical landmark in the community. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.

In a press release yesterday, the DJA, through their Endangered Properties Program, will host a community roundtable event regarding the future of the Joplin Union Depot this Friday, February 10, 2023, from 7p-8:30p. The event will be held at the Chaos Brewing Co Event Center, located at 112 S Main St in Joplin. Light refreshments will be provided.

Also, small group sessions will be led by educators and students from Kansas State University and South Dakota State University to provide input and ideas for the future of this landmark building. All community members are invited to take part and provide feedback on how the renovation of the Depot could enhance downtown and improve the quality of life. Joplin Union Depot was designed by Kansas City architect Louis Curtiss and built by the Manhattan Construction Company of New York. It opened in 1911 and was in service until its closure in 1969.

After an unsuccessful rehabilitation, the Department of Natural Resources gained ownership of the Depot through the Historic Preservation Revolving Fund in the 1990s. Again, the community roundtable regarding the Joplin Union Depot is this Friday, from 7p-8:30p at Chaos Brewing company. For 89 9 KRPS News, I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro

Since 2017 Fred Fletcher-Fierro has driven up Highway 171 through thunderstorms, downpours, snow, and ice storms to host KRPS’s Morning Edition. He’s also a daily reporter for the station, covering city government, elections, public safety, arts, entertainment, culture, sports and more. Fred has also spearheaded and overseen a sea change in programming for KRPS from a legacy classical station to one that airs a balance of classical, news, jazz, and cultural programming that better reflects the diverse audience of the Four States. For over two months in the fall of 2022 he worked remotely with NPR staff to relaunch krps.org to an NPR style news and information website.

In the fall of 2023 Fred was promoted to Interim General Manager and was appointed GM in Feburary of 2024.
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