Wildwood owner in talks with California developer

BY DEBBY WOODIN

dwoodin@joplinglobe.com

A California firm that is one of the largest industrial developers in the nation is in talks with Wildwood Ranch owner James “Jimmer” Pinjuv on a proposed project to construct a technology center on his property west of Joplin.

The firm was identified in a search by The Joplin Globe after reviewing more than 400 documents obtained from the city of Joplin through an open records request.

The Globe sent an email to a representative of the company Tuesday asking if that firm is involved in the proposed project. The Globe also included a number of questions about the potential project, including the size and type of facility that might be built.

The representative of the firm contacted was told by the Globe: “Residents across the Joplin area, and most especially those who live in the area of the proposed site for the project, have concerns about how this will affect them, their utilities, and utility costs, and the ecosystem.”

The Globe is not naming the company because no deal is final. An email from the company’s public relations firm was received by the Globe on Wednesday. In it, the firm’s president said the development firm “is in very early stages so while we don’t have all of the information you are requesting, I am able to provide you a quote. If I can be of help to you moving forward, please let me know and thank you.

She wrote: “The Wildwood Ranch property is currently under consideration only, and no decision has been made regarding any specific use. As plans evolve, we are happy to provide updates and engage in further conversation when there is more to share.”

Pinjuv confirmed that he is working with the company identified by the Globe but said he has a nondisclosure agreement that prevents him from disclosing

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the firm’s name at this time.

It could be several months before the type of facility that could be built on his property is determined, he said. That is because, in part, at least 12 studies must be done to determine what type of operation would be viable at the site, Pinjuv said.

He said the firm is not the one identified in social media posts named Abitgrp.com. That firm applied for a sales and use tax waiver from the Missouri Department of Economic Development, and in one of its documents listed the potential owner of a proposed data center on Wildwood property as being a Hong Kong-based business.

The Wildwood owner said that “they are not the firm” he is now holding talks with regarding a project and that he did not have a deal with Abigrp.com to begin with. He said he talked to that group about a year ago but that no deal was made.

“I don’t know why they made the application” for the tax waivers, Pinjuv said.

Pinjuv also said only a few companies could construct the type of system he is interested in placing on his property. And the purpose of the center, whether it’s data or for some other purpose, will depend on the amount of power available for its operations.

He said there have been improvements in the construction of technology centers erected today. They no longer have to be high-consumption utility users. He contends that “water, power, sewer and gas utilities will all be immensely improved” for residents as well as the technology center. He also says the cost for water and electricity “will be completely 100% borne by the developer.”

Utility improvements needed for the technology center will all be paid for by the project owner and will not fall back on consumers. He said those improvements will benefit customers of the utilities as well.

The center also will bring increased tax revenues to local governments, Pinjuv said.

He insists that it will not be a nuisance.

“After it’s up and running, nobody who drives past it will even notice it,” he said, adding that there won’t be noise, traffic in and out of it regularly, or pollution or other unwanted problems like those generated by other types of industrial plants.

The type of facility has not been determined yet. That will be determined by power availability to operate the center, according to Pinjuv.

“They are as innocuous as you can imagine,” Pinjuv said, adding there are numerous technology centers in the Las Vegas area.“Nobody ever knows they are there.”

Pinjuv said the site for the technology center in the area of 20th Street and Central City Road is within 800 feet of where he lives. He said he intends to stay there.

He has been working to attract a project for the site for nearly three years, which is reflected in the documents obtained by the Globe.

Residents are still gathering signatures opposing annexation of the property where the center would be built and city zoning for the project and action against council members who voted in favor of advancing the zoning requests.

The City Council will hold final votes on the annexation and zoning questions for the property Feb. 17 during a meeting to be held in Corley Auditorium at Missouri Southern State University.