Demolition permits OK'd for Machens project

The process on a multi-million-dollar renovation of the Joe Machens Ford dealership on Southwest Boulevard is moving forward.

The Jefferson City Historic Preservation Commission on Tuesday approved demolition applications for four structures owned by Joe Machens in the 800 block of Southwest Boulevard. Two of the structures were built around 1965, and city code requires any structure 50 years or older considered for demolition to be approved by the commission.

City officials said although only two of the structures fell under that code, officials representing Joe Machens wanted to make sure the commission knew the entire scope of the project.

The demolition permit should go out sometime next week.

The Jefferson City Council in April approved rezoning of property in connection with the Joe Machens renovations.

In phase one of the two-year project, the dealership's current lot and the adjacent lot will be repaved. After that, the dealership's Quick Lane maintenance center will be overhauled. Finally, in the third and fourth phases of the renovation, the dealership's used car showroom and main showroom will be rebuilt.

Paving the new and old lots is expected to begin in early summer. The other three phases of the renovation still need approval from the City Council once plans are prepared.