After a downtown Jefferson City building's partially collapsed wall led to cancellation of a Thursday Night Live event last week, organizers will relocate this week's Thursday Night Live stage.
Thursday Night Live, scheduled 6-9 p.m. June 14, will be at the intersection of Monroe and East High streets, according to a joint news release from the Jefferson City Police and Fire departments. The stage is normally set up at the intersection of Madison and East High streets, but the 300 block of Madison Street is closed after the wall of the building at 200 E. High St. partially collapsed last Thursday.
Organizers are discussing different locations for the final weeks of Thursday Night live in case the stage can't be put back at the intersection of Madison and East High streets, event organizer Jill Snodgrass said. Locations for those weeks have not been confirmed yet, she noted.
City staff hope to secure the building and allow two-way traffic in the 300 block of Madison Street this week, Jefferson City building official Larry Burkhardt said. However, they need to install barriers to keep members of the public away from the area and ensure proper resources are available to fully secure the building.
"We would like to get it back open as soon as we can to restore some sense of normalcy in the downtown area as soon as we can," Burkhardt said, noting they are working with the owner of the building, Andy Nidert. "The goal would be to get the street open by the end of the week, but I don't guarantee anything until you show me."
The Police Department has been watching the building, and Nidert has provided security to help keep people out, Burkhardt said.
Nidert said Tuesday he did not want to comment on the situation.
After Nidert Properties LLC renovated the third floor of the East High Street building in 2013, building inspectors filed an incomplete report, according to the report obtained by the News Tribune. The report shows building inspectors approved the building's electrical and plumbing systems; but three other sections, including site inspection, are listed as pending.
While the record is incomplete, Burkhardt said, that does not necessarily mean inspectors did not inspect the building completely.
"Everything may not have been entered in at the time because the city was short-staffed," Burkhardt said. "It's hard to say what actually happened except for what was written down."
This week's Thursday Night Live event will feature the annual Wingfest, where attendees can sample wings from various downtown restaurants for $5, as well as live music from the Jessy Johnsen Band, The MisLedd Band and Tripwire.
Fire and police officials urged Thursday Night Live attendees to be aware of high-temperature forecasts for Thursday and plan to stay hydrated, use sunscreen, and monitor children and elderly people for heat-related issues.