One of the property owners working on a tornado-damaged property in the urban renewal plan area may need an extension for renovations, the Jefferson City Housing Authority was told Tuesday.
Dustin Long told the board he's had a few setbacks at 608 E. State St. since the May 22 tornado. "It suffered damage," Long said. "It was kind of on its last leg to begin with."
In November 2018, the Housing Authority and the Longs signed an 18-month rehabilitation agreement. The property was the first sold in the urban renewal zone.
The Jefferson City Council approved the urban renewal zone in 2016 after a study found the area was blighted due to deteriorating conditions of several properties. The zone is bordered by East State, Lafayette, East High and Adams streets.
The home, which is owned by Dustin and Mandi Long, is being converted back to a single-family home with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Two days before the tornado hit, Long said, he was preparing to get an insurance policy on the property. After the tornado, the company withdrew the insurance policy, and he said he has struggled to find an insurance provider to cover the building.
Improvements to the house have been delayed due to damage from the EF-3 tornado and downed trees in the nearby alley, he said.
In June, the Housing Authority approved a four-month extension on the rehabilitation contract with the Longs.
"It's a slow process," Long said. "I know I asked for a four-month extension right after the tornado hit. To be completely honest, it may take a little bit longer."
The structure is stabilized, and Frank Rustemeyer Masonry LLC is scheduled to work on those repairs within the next two weeks, Long said.
Other interior improvements were made prior to the tornado including floor repairs and "evicting" a family of raccoons.
The Housing Authority agreed to work with the Longs if given ample time to decide on another extension.
In other action Tuesday, the Housing Authority announced it has a proposal for the Parsons House.
During an update on the urban renewal plan in the Capitol Avenue area, Executive Director Cynthia Quetsch said the board would discuss the sale in closed session.
In 2016, the Parsons House, 105 Jackson St., was named on the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation's Places in Peril list. Since then, Historic City of Jefferson has worked with the Housing Authority to obtain abandoned buildings.
Structural engineer Chris Yarnell is evaluating five properties in the 500 block of East Capitol Avenue as well as 101 and 105 Jackson St. for Housing Authority, Quetsch said.
After attending a Federal Emergency Management Agency meeting earlier this month, she said the Housing Authority applied for funds for properties that were damaged by the May 22 tornado on East Capitol Avenue.
Housing Authority properties on the north side of East Capitol obtained less damage than the south side of the street, she said.
"We've applied to see if we qualify for anything," Quetsch said. "We don't yet know what damages those buildings suffered in the structural engineering report. Those are questions we need to ask and see if any of the damages are attributable to the tornado because some of those buildings were not in great shape to begin with."
The Capitol Avenue area was placed on the Places in Peril list for the second consecutive year. The list seeks to raise awareness to historic properties that are at risk of being lost.
In other action Tuesday, the Housing Authority received final plans for the remainder of repairs at Capital City Apartments, 522 E. Elm St., which were also hit by the May 22 tornado.
The Housing Authority has been working with Serve Pro and its insurance company regarding renovations since the disaster.
At 526 E. Elm St., a new roof will cover the five units. Other improvements include new walls, windows and repairs to damaged interiors.
The Housing Authority has applied for FEMA assistance for the properties, she said.
"In order to get assistance from FEMA for a low-income housing property owned by a not-for-profit, we had to apply for a (Small Business Administration) loan," Quetsch said. "We applied for the SBA loan, and yesterday, we got the unofficial word that we were denied. So now we can move forward with the FEMA application."