Joplin City Council

Local senior citizens will soon have a cheaper place to call home. The Joplin City Council discussed abateing taxes in one of Joplin`s historic buildings. The council unanimously approved an ordinace that will waive taxes for local senior citizens who will soon be living in Joplin`s Frisco building. As part of the downtown revitilization plan the city has approved a tax abatement. The Frisco buidling is currently under construction and being converted from a train station into apartments for senior citizens. Through several funds and the 353 assistance program that means not only will it cost less to reconstruct the frisco building. But the city will now be waiving the tax which will bring down the rent for the occupants. City leaders say this is the beginning of better times for the revitilization of downtown Joplin. The action of the 353 corporation will abate the taxes at the rate of 100-percent for 10 years and an additional 50 percent for 15 years. This comes after the city declared the downtown district a blighted area just a few weeks ago. The 9-million dollar restoration of the historic Frisco building is expected to be complete sometime this summer. City leaders say it could be open for occupancy by September. Reported By: Courtney Cullor