Half a block of the near east side may be razed of its century-old homes to make way for dense, multi-residential construction.
Jefferson City's Historic Preservation Commission heard a presentation from Tammi Creason of her self-named development company, based in Nixa.
She has been discussing a possible project with the city off and on for the last year. In September, Creason will submit an application to the Missouri Housing Development Commission for some type of project, which would build between Lafayette and Cherry streets from McCarty Street to Wall Way.
If approved in December, Creason said she will work with the commission and other interested parties to make the new construction blend with the older neighborhood. She said there will be plenty of time for community feedback and input.
"We're at the early stages," she said. "We would have lots of time to really work to find buildings appropriate for that neighborhood."
In the last 20 years, Creason's company has worked on 14 historic downtown revitalization projects in addition to other new construction projects.
"We get creative to keep the focus in historic neighborhoods," Creason said.
The proposed project is intended to provide desirable and sustainable housing to median-income families. It would be a for-profit venture, but the housing development commission funds allow them to start with less debt so they can keep rents lower, Creason said.
In other places where she has worked, such projects encourage other neighbors to invest in their properties, too, she said.
Three properties were removed in the last year, and another five existing properties would need to be acquired and razed to proceed.
"We don't believe what is there is salvageable," Creason said.