Offers coming on E. Capitol properties

This view is of the rear of several 400 block Capitol Avenue properties included among the blighted ones to be acquired by the Jefferson City Housing Authority.
This view is of the rear of several 400 block Capitol Avenue properties included among the blighted ones to be acquired by the Jefferson City Housing Authority.

The Jefferson City Housing Authority is starting the process that could lead to eminent domain proceedings as the East Capitol Avenue Urban Renewal Plan progresses.

During Tuesday's board meeting, Housing Authority Executive Director Cynthia Quetsch said they will make offers to purchase properties whose owners didn't sign redevelopment agreements.

"We can't go after all those that didn't sign, but we are prioritizing and starting with a few," she said.

Letters will be sent to property owners who did not respond, and they will have 60 days to get back to the board.

Two of four property owners who occupy homes in the area - Gary and Linda Buettner at 606 E. State St. and Annie Isenberg at 531 E. Capitol Ave. - have signed rehabilitation agreements with the Housing Authority, Quetsch said.

The board sent letters in March to the four owner-occupied properties, identifying what must be corrected after city and Housing Authority inspectors performed external inspections of the properties. Those who agreed to the terms have six months to address any issues, such as trash in the yard or painting external walls. That deadline would be around Oct. 15.

The Housing Authority has not heard from Albert and Nancy Goldammer, who own 523 E. Capitol Ave., although improvement work is being done there, Quetsch noted.

The Housing Authority also has not heard from Barbara Buescher, who owns the other owner-occupied property at 407 E. Capitol Ave.

Most of the remaining properties within the 33-acre downtown neighborhood - 48 in all - are not owner-occupied, including vacant and tenant-occupied properties as well as some vacant lots. For these, the board said, property owners who want to enter into a contract would have to complete work in eight months, start the work within two to three months of signing the contract, agree to progress checks and obtain proper permits.

The Housing Authority has received two signed agreements of non-owner-occupied properties: Wayne Phillips at 600 E. State St. and James Cain at 610 E. State St. They had not heard back from Jason Corrado of 126 Marshall St., William Norton of 501 E. High St., and Steve Dillion of 109 Jackson St.

The board also received a request from Holly Stitt on behalf of Tom Scheppers at 100 Lafayette St. for extension of time to get a Planned Unit Development (PUD) plan approved by the city. The board granted an extension through August. Stitt said the PUD would cover Scheppers' property on Lafayette Street as well as three vacant lots he owns on State Street. They are considering a restaurant on the lower level of the Lafayette property and loft apartments or offices on the upper floors. The State Street properties would be used for parking.

Nothing had been received on the two other commercial properties in the area: the Shyrock/Hurst warehouse in the 500 block of East State Street and the Buescher Funeral Home in the 400 block of East Capitol Avenue.

Of the remaining properties in the area, five are vacant and Buescher owns the approximately 20 remaining properties, some of which are vacant and some of which have tenants.

The City Council in December approved the renewal zone, which is bordered by East State Street to the north, Adams Street to the west, East High Street on the south - including certain parcels on the south side of East High Street - and Lafayette Street on the east.

The area was declared blighted late last year due to property conditions at many locations rapidly deteriorating in the area. A number of properties were deemed abandoned under city ordinances, forcing the city to board up these buildings. Electricity, water and gas services have been terminated in some buildings.

In a closed session in April, the board reviewed appraisal results for seven properties in the urban renewal area, and Quetsch said that process is continuing.

These buildings were named as priority properties for urban renewal through a public forum, city staff recommendations and Housing Authority board review.

The first five - 103 Jackson St., 105 Jackson St., 108 Jackson St., 500 E. Capitol Ave. and 401 E. Capitol Ave. - received the most votes from the public in regard to their historic value.

Two more - 101 Jackson St. and 501 E. Capitol Ave. - were added later at the suggestion of city staff.

Quetsch noted the Housing Authority is not interested in holding onto properties. So any property acquired through this process must also have strong potential to be privately purchased and revitalized, she said.