Jefferson City will continue demolition at the old Missouri State Penitentiary, aiming to demolish 12 structures on the site by August.
At the City Council meeting Tuesday, Jayme Abbott, neighborhood services coordinator, said the project, completed through a Community Development Block Grant, continues demolitions that began last year. Abbott said in 2013, 11 structures were demolished at a cost of $1 million. The 12 structures to be demolished this year will be at a cost of $1.1 million, she said.
All demolitions are in accordance with the MSP Master Plan.
As for the main units of MSP, Ryan Burns, spokesperson with the Missouri Office of Administration, said the state received bids for cleanup and roof replacements last week and contracts should be awarded this month.
Late last year, the city agreed to split with the state the estimated $2 million cost of repairs and mold remediation at MSP, in exchange for a long-term contract with the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau, or CVB, for use of the facility.
At the end of September, the CVB temporarily suspended all tours of the historic prison site, only to later announce the cancellation of all 2013 tours because of mold found at the site.
Officials previously stated the goal is to reopen the prison by April, in time for the 2014 tour season.
Burns said all information on the bids received is available on the Office of Administration website (oa.mo.gov/fmdc/dc/list.htm) and repairs and remediation are on schedule.
Burns noted the CVB is expected "to announce an official start date for the 2014 tour season within the next several weeks."