Jefferson City Council pauses proposal to purchase historic home

This March 2019 photo shows the street-facing side of the building that stands at 101 Jackson St. for which the Jefferson City Housing Authority is seeking redevelopment plans.
This March 2019 photo shows the street-facing side of the building that stands at 101 Jackson St. for which the Jefferson City Housing Authority is seeking redevelopment plans.


A proposal for redeveloping the house at 101 Jackson St. is paused while the Jefferson City Council considers its role in the plan.

Local nonprofit Transformational Housing offered $1,000 for the historic home, which is vacant and on the city's dangerous buildings list, along with the plot of land behind it with the condition the Housing Authority help pay for roof repairs, up to $10,000.

It is asking the City Council's approval to spend $9,000 -- the cost minus the purchase price for the property -- for the project.

The Housing Authority acquired the property through eminent domain in 2019. The goal was to find a new owner who would restore the home and put it to use.

The property is one of nine the Housing Authority acquired through eminent domain in the area around Capitol Avenue as part of an effort to address blight in the area. It is the only one so far that doesn't have a new owner.

Transformational Housing is a faith-based organization that formed after the 2019 tornado, with a focus on addressing housing needs within the community -- specifically low- income housing.

The organization is nearly done renovating a multi-family home on Cherry Street and hopes to have tenants within the next two or three months.

Last week, the Housing Authority board supported accepting Transformational Housing's bid for the property during a closed session, but chair Todd Miller recommended the board wait, he said Monday night.

The city is financing the Housing Authority's acquisition and resell of the property. Since this is a special case, Miller said, he felt the City Council should weigh in before an agreement is signed.

As far as the Housing Authority board is concerned, he said, the agreement is approved contingent on the City Council's decision.

Since acquiring the property, the Housing Authority found a hole in the roof, which is letting the elements in and causing the inside of the home to deteriorate.

It has a temporary covering, but Housing Authority Executive Director Michelle Wessler said she isn't sure the home can survive another winter unless the roof gets fixed soon.

The estimated demolition cost is $90,000, Wessler said.

City Attorney Ryan Moehlman said the city's budget for redevelopment along Capitol Avenue is exhausted, which means either way the city needs to figure out where funds would come from.

He said one source brought up in preliminary discussions is American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Jefferson City is receiving $7.5 million in ARPA funds, which does allow funds to go toward housing services.

City officials have allocated some ARPA funds to JeffTran and stormwater projects, but the majority remains unspent.

However, council members were less concerned about the money Monday and more concerned with the procedure for the project.

Moehlman said the proposal is outside of the norm due to the request for public assistance.

Ward 4 Councilman Ron Fitzwater said he'd like to have more time to look at the proposal before voting on the issue.

Ward 5 Councilman Jon Hensley moved to put the topic on the next City Council agenda -- on Jan. 3 -- so members could have more time to consider and ask questions about the proposal. His motion passed unanimously.

The building at 101 Jackson St., at the corner of Jackson and East State streets, is a multi- family home. The three-story house was built as a duplex but has previously been used as a four-apartment complex and includes two covered porches, four bedrooms and four bathrooms, according to previous News Tribune reporting.

John Blosser, board president for Transformational Housing, said at Monday's City Council meeting the organization thinks it could turn 101 Jackson St. into five apartments.

The full renovation is estimated to cost more than $544,000 and take about two years to complete.

Other business

The Council approved:

• A request from Sam's Club to change the color scheme on the exterior of its building at 849 Stoneridge Parkway.

• Declaring a 2011 Good Earth Firefly as surplus property to be sold for $1,500.

• Renewing a contract with Mississippi Lime for granular quicklime used by the wastewater division for $185,332.

• Adopting policies and procedures for the 2022 Community Development Block Grant program.

• Adopting policies and procedures for the Community Development Block Grant -- CARES Act childcare provider financial assistance program