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Architectural proposals are expected Monday night as the Carthage City Council begins preliminary planning for a new mall on the south side of the Square. Proposals will be submitted by at least two architectural firms, Allgeier Martin Associates, of Joplin, and Crowley, Wade, Millstead, Inc., of Independence, Mo. A 24-foot walkway will extend from Fourth Street to Fifth Street. City-owned property will then extend from Fourth to Seventh Street between Main and Grant. Carthage Mayor John Sheldon reacted favorably today to three Carthage Press proposals offered in Wednesday’s edition of the newspaper. The proposals were to: 1. Plan an ‘‘Avenue of Flags,”’ with banners from each of the 50 states, to run the length of the mall; 2. To make it a pedestrian only area; and 3. To appoint a citizens committee to coordinate planning. “The pedestrian only idea may present problems,’’ Sheldon said. “We've got to find a way to deliver merchandise to the stores involved.”’ Architects seem to think there will be little trouble in making sure the development is in har mony with the Victorian-era construction of buildings on the Square, and with the Jasper County Courthouse. “That will be the simplest part,” said architect Jan Tupper, representing Allgeier Martin Associates. The big problem, he told Sheldon, will be ‘‘what can be retained and what can’t be.” Sheldon said the first step in renovating the south side of the Square, where five business houses were destroyed Nov. 3 by fire, is to clean up the rubble. “We've got to clean up the mess, first off,’ the mayor said. “We've placed an ad in The Press asking for bids. The city is going to clean the whole thing up in exchange for 10 feet of frontage.”’ Downtown businessmen, meanwhile, expressed the hope that the overall concept of a mall may also include much-needed widening of Fifth and Sixth Streets. Future of the old YMCA Building at Sixth and Main remains in doubt. Now vacant, the structure is owned by Mc Cune-Brooks Hospital Board. A lease by the Optimist Club ex pired Dec. 31 and was not renewed. Sheldon said the hospital board has decided to retain control of the YMCA Building until hospital renovation is complete. Press Staff Photo MALL DISCUSSED — Peering from window in Jasper County Courthouse, at south side of Carthage Square, where new mall is to be constructed, are (from left): Mrs. Elliott Potter; architect Jan Tupper of Joplin; and businessman Dale Hegner of Western Auto Store.
Newspaper Details
Carthage Press
Carthage, Missouri, US
Thu, Jan 04, 1973
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USA 29 Aug 2026
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