Breaking ground to provide hope

On Jan. 4, the groundbreaking ceremony of Jordan's Place was held. The 40-unit complex will provide housing for neurodivergent individuals and seniors. "It's going to provide hope, so maybe we can save even one person from losing hope as Jordan did," said Joyce Fenner, chairman of WC CapeAbilities and mother of Jordan Estes-Fenner, after whom the complex is named. "It never takes the grief away, but it does make life more tolerable." Mail Photo by J. T. Jones

After giving her speech, Joyce Fenner (right) gave Chad Hartle (left), the real estate developer working to make Jordan's Place a reality, a gift. "It doesn't look like much," said Fenner. "But I want you to know I started this off of a plant that was sent to me when Jordan died. So I nursed it. It's a little broken like me and youn are brining me back to life with this project and I want to give you some life from Jordan. Thank you so much." Mail Photo by J.T. Jones

Posted Wednesday, January 10, 2024 2:00 am

By John “J.T.” Jones johnj@marshfieldmail.com

A small crowd gathered in a field just outside of the Mercy Clinic off Spur Drive and Highway OO on Thursday, Jan. 4, for the official groundbreaking ceremony of Jordan's Place. The brisk afternoon did not affect the positivity of the ceremony, which was kicked off with an opening speech by Danielle Boggs, Webster County Public Administrator and Board Secretary for both WC CapeAbilities and WC Partners.

"For years it has been the dream of many to have adequate affordable housing in our community for those with differing abilities and seniors," said Boggs. "Today, we break ground on a 40-unit complex that will really make a difference in Webster County."

She mentioned that it would not have been possible without the collaboration of several groups, including WC CapeAbilities, WC Partners, Webster County SB 40 board, the City of Marshfield, Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce, and RCH Development. Boggs then introduced the other speakers, each with a few words to share. The first speaker was Joyce Fenner, chairman of WC CapeAbilities and mother of Jordan Estes-Fenner, after whom the complex is named.

"Jordan's place started because our son Jordan lost hope when he developed really bad seizures and couldn't work," opened Fenner. "He took his life… and so we thought what can we do to stop this from happening to others."

She continued talking about his struggles and the steps taken to make the complex from a dream to reality, which included talks with a real estate developer. The next speaker was Chad Hartle, a real estate developer specializing in affordable housing projects such as Jordan's Place and working closely with Fenner and WC CapeAbilities.

"We talked about how difficult it is to get these projects funded and have them come into fruition," said Hartle. "There is an extraordinary need all across the state of Missouri."

He mentioned how, when they applied for funding, 128 other applicants were competing for the same funding. Out of those, roughly 28 of them were approved, including Jordan's place.

"I'm excited to kick this project off,' said Hartle as he closed. "I can't wait to get it finished and start moving people in."

The last speaker of the event was Katrina Detherow, Executive Director of WC Partners. She thanked everyone for coming out and briefly spoke about plans for WC Partners.

"The newest adventure for WC Partners is right now we're housed up in the strip mall by Bomgarrs but our building is going to actually be built right here," said Detherow.

She told the crowd how the new building would be in front of Jordan's Place and be built simultaneously with the complex.

"We look forward to continuing to serve Webster County," said Detherow. "We've been doing this for a long time and we've actually increased the number of people we are serving. Thank you all again for coming."

The ceremony was capped off with the official groundbreaking involving all the speakers, board members, and service coordinators of WC CapeAbilities, City of Marshfield Administrator Sam Rost, and Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce Event Coordinator Rachel Andrews.