Cardwell Hospital Site, Stella, Missouri

Stella residents developing their vision for

community revitalization

Site Overview

Site Location

Corner of Ozark and Carter Streets, Stella, Missouri

Site Description

Stella is a small southwestern Missouri community, home to less than 200 residents. It is also home to the former Cardwell Hospital, which has been abandoned for the past 20 years. It is contaminated with asbestos and very likely lead based paint as well. Efforts of local community residents have led to the building being slated for demolition in the summer 2006 by EPA Region 7. This local community effort began when residents attended Brownfields 2004 in St. Louis. It was at this event that they met TAB program representatives as well Missouri Department of Natural Resources and EPA representatives and initiated the process of revitalizing Stella. After successful redevelopment of this site, the community plans to revitalize other parts of the town as well.

Organization Requesting Assistance

Stella Revitalization Committee

Beginning Date of Assistance

2004

Summary of TAB Assistance

TAB involvement at this site focused on community visioning. Community visioning is an educational process that allows residents and stakeholders to plan for and make decisions related to redevelopment issues. In Stella, a series of meetings and interactive workshops were conducted with local residents. The residents decided to redevelop the former Cardwell Hospital Site into a multipurpose building complex, which will house a clinic, a library, city hall, retail space and residential units. Input from stakeholders resulted in two design options, one of which was chosen by the community as the future “look” of the multipurpose building complex. The chosen design is flexible in that it will allow the community to redevelop the site in phases rather than in one singular effort. This approach will facilitate procurement of funds (not as much money needed initially) and will also accommodate potential future changes to the design reflecting the needs of the community down the road.

Workshop participants discussing redevelopment plans

Workhops participants discuss redevelopment plans

Stella is also a beta test site for EPA’s SMARTe. Members of the revitalization committee of Stella are getting further acquainted with SMARTe and are actively searching for funding opportunities and other helpful information for their planned redevelopment efforts.

TAB Information Contacts

Sabine Martin
Center for Hazardous Substance Research
104 Ward Hall
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66506-2502

Voice: 785.532.6474
Fax: 785.532.5985
E-mail: smartin1@k-state.edu