For the first time, the Jefferson City Housing Authority is seeking proposals for redevelopment for a property in the East Capitol Avenue Urban Renewal Area.
The property at 608 E. State St. is the first in the urban renewal zone that is available for redevelopment, according to a Housing Authority press release Wednesday morning.
Developers must submit proposals by 4:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at 1040 Myrtle Ave. in Jefferson City.
Potential redevelopers can inspect the building at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 3.
The Housing Authority, acting as the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority, will review proposals during a closed session meeting Nov. 20.
The proposals must include plans to restore the property so it complies with the East Capitol Avenue Overlay District, city code and zoning restrictions. The developer also must describe the work that will be done and the anticipated use of the property when renovations are complete.
The building can be used as residential or commercial, as permitted by the area's zoning.
Renovations must begin within four months of the Land Clearance Redevelopment Authority awarding the developer, with construction completion within 18 months.
The building must be occupied within three months after construction is completed.
The proposal must include information about the developer to show they can perform and complete the work in the requested time frame.
The full request for proposal can be found at www.jchamo.org/resident_information/index.php.
The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority is "looking forward" to the redevelopment proposals, Housing Authority Executive Director Cynthia Quetsch said in a news release.
"Over the past two years, people have expressed interest in redeveloping the historic homes in this area," she said. "This is the first of hopefully many more properties that will be restored either by redevelopers working with the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority, landowners or individuals who have privately acquired the properties. The outlook is promising for elimination of blight in this area."
The Housing Authority purchased the property at 608 E. State St., which previously was owned by the Ousley Group LLC, according to MidMoGIS.
Redevelopment of the property will complete renovations in the 600 block of East State Street, Quetsch said last month.
Over the last year and a half, the Housing Authority has worked toward removing blight from the area, offering rehabilitation agreements with property owners and filing condemnation lawsuits against others.
The Jefferson City Council approved the East Capitol Avenue urban renewal zone in 2016 after a study declared the area blighted due to deteriorating conditions of properties. The area is bordered by East State, Lafayette and East High - including some parcels on the south side of East High Street - and Adams streets.
Many property owners - both those who signed and did not sign rehabilitation agreements - fixed up their properties in the area, Quetsch said previously.
The Housing Authority filed a condemnation civil suit for 101, 103 and 105 Jackson St. in August 2017.
Barbara Buescher owns 101 and 105 Jackson St. and was given 90 days earlier this month to make improvements to the two properties. If she does not make the improvements, the Housing Authority will take possession of the buildings.
Stephen and Cheryl Bratten owned 103 Jackson St. but voluntarily gave the property to the Housing Authority earlier this year.
The Housing Authority also filed a separate eminent domain civil suit last month to acquire seven additional properties in the urban renewal zone that Buescher owns: 500, 501, 507, 511 and 513 E. Capitol Ave., along with 504 E. State St. and 115 Jackson St.
A hearing is scheduled at 9 a.m. Oct. 22 in front of Cole County Judge Patricia Joyce regarding this lawsuit.