Newburg, Missouri

Site Overview

Site Description

Newburg, Missouri, (population 500) is home to a former railroad roundhouse, which is adjacent to the Little Piney River. The Newburg Community Revitalization Program Group (NCRPG) is committed to revitalizing their community to stimulate economic opportunities, newer housing stock, and improving community cohesion.

The NCRPG purchased the Houston House, a historic building in Newburg, Missouri. The Houston House opened in 1884 for the railroad and was the first building in Newburg. It was constructed as a hotel/restaurant to give workers a place to sleep, eat, and relax between shifts. Purchase and renovation of the Houston House will allow for many services in the community, i.e. senior citizen center, classes, computer bank, caring center, etc., while preserving part of Newburg’s heritage. The NCRPG is negotiating the purchase of the railroad roundhouse property. The group has the goal of redeveloping the site into a park and recreation area for the community and to promote tourism and redevelopment of the downtown Newburg area.

Organization Requesting Assistance

Newburg Community Revitalization Program Group

Beginning Date of Assistance

March 2004

Summary of TAB Assistance

TAB assisted the NCRPG by reviewing purchase agreements with the property owners and proposing possible solutions to technical issues regarding the sale. TAB has also conducted two visioning workshops with the Newburg community. These workshops were designed to elicit community input and support for redeveloping the roundhouse property into a recreation area. The deliverable from these workshops is a schematic of a possible park design, which will be used to further solicit funding and support for the redevelopment of Newburg.

TAB Information Contacts

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

Voice: 785.843.3659
Fax: 785.532.5985
E-mail: griswold@k-state.edu

Marvin Helms
Phelps County Community Partnership
1101 Hauck Drive
Rolla, MO 65401

Voice: 888.762.3977
E-mail: marvin@theccp.org