After a year and a half of legal battles, the Jefferson City Housing Authority will take possession of two properties in the East Capitol Avenue Urban Renewal Zone.
Cole County Judge Dan Green signed orders Monday that will allow the Housing Authority to take possession of 101 and 105 Jackson St., owned by Barbara Buescher.
When those orders are processed and delivered to the Cole County Sheriff's Office, the Housing Authority can take possession, Housing Authority attorney Jack Pletz said Tuesday. The Housing Authority will be able to look at the properties and see what improvements are needed, he added.
"We are pleased to be closing out 2018 with the acquisition of properties," Housing Authority Executive Director Cynthia Quetsch said. "We plan to start the new year fresh by requesting proposals to redevelop the properties on Jackson Street and continuing the process of revitalizing the East Capitol area."
In September, Green gave Buescher 90 days to make improvements to the two Jackson Street properties, or else the Housing Authority would take possession of them.
Buescher's attorney, Thomas Snider, said he was not authorized to speak publically on the matter.
The property at 101 Jackson St. is appraised at $55,000, while the property at 105 Jackson St. is appraised at $39,000, according to three court-appointed commissioners who assessed the properties earlier this year.
The Housing Authority filed an eminent domain civil suit in August 2017 against Buescher for her two Jackson Street properties and Stephen and Cheryl Bratten, who previously owned 103 Jackson St.
The Brattens voluntarily gave the property to the Housing Authority earlier this year. Quetsch said the Housing Authority is preparing requests for proposals for development for the property.
Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin said she was excited to see the Housing Authority's "hard work paying off."
"This is really a wonderful accomplishment, the work you all have done," Tergin told the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners on Tuesday. "This is going to be a complete game-changer for our city, having these (properties)."
In a separate civil suit filed in August, the Housing Authority seeks to acquire seven additional properties Buescher owns that fall within the urban renewal zone - 500, 501, 507, 511 and 513 E. Capitol Ave., along with 504 E. State St. and 115 Jackson St.
Last month, the Housing Authority agreed to sell 608 E. State St. to Dustin Long of Long Last Remodeling so he could redevelop it. This was the first property in the urban renewal zone to come available for redevelopment.
In 2016, the Jefferson City Council approved the urban renewal zone after a study determined the area was blighted due to deteriorating conditions of multiple properties. The urban renewal zone is bordered by East State, Lafayette, East High - including some parcels on the south side of East High Street - and Adams streets.