Former Factory to be Reborn as Student Housing

by Katie Sloan

West Plains, Mo.—World War II-era site will highlight historic features.

West Plains, Mo. — A historic building near Missouri State University-West Plains is being redeveloped into a 72-unit residence hall with vintage appeal. Dick Davidson and J.W. Phillips of Howell Creek Shoe Factory Commons LLC say they plan to maintain original elements of the World War II-era building that was in business as the International Shoe Company from 1946 to 1993. When the project is completed in spring 2012, original factory pieces, including a large scale and a dust collector, will be features of the design. The general contractor is O’Fallon, Mo.-based PARIC Corporation, and the architecture firm is Ebersoldt + Associates of St. Louis. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in November. The total project cost is estimated at $12 million and includes federal and Missouri historic tax credits as part of its funding.

– Lynn Peisner

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