A Jefferson City woman who has been at the heart of numerous legal actions with the city over the conditions of her properties on the city's Eastside voluntarily left the home she was staying in Friday morning after it had been found by city inspectors to be unsafe.
Shortly after 11 a.m., Barbara Buescher left her home in the 400 block of East Capitol Avenue.
The order was issued by the city's Code Enforcement Department and enforced by the Jefferson City Police Department.
City Attorney Ryan Moehlman said the house had been declared dangerous after code enforcement had been made aware about the deteriorating conditions of the home. They eventually did an inspection.
"A hearing was held last week on the matter where evidence was produced indicating the building should be vacated and that it should be repaired," Moehlman said. "The hearing officer (City Operations Division Director Britt Smith) agreed with the conclusions of the inspectors, and they posted notice on the building on Monday ordering that it immediately be vacated.
"That order was not complied with so officers were sent to ask Miss Buescher to leave and she did so," Moehlman added. He said he wasn't sure where Buescher would stay, but it was her responsibility to find a place.
"We're not sure at this point if she'll be facing any criminal charges regarding this matter," Moehlman said.
For several years, the city and the Jefferson City Housing Authority have been in court fighting with Buescher over the condition of her properties in the East Capitol Avenue Historic District. The district encompasses nine blocks and contains more than 100 properties. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
The Jefferson City Council approved the East Capitol Avenue urban renewal zone in 2016 after a study declared the area blighted due to deteriorating conditions of properties. The area is bordered by East State, Lafayette and East High -- including some parcels on the south side of East High Street -- and Adams streets.
At that time, Buescher owned about 30 properties in the zone.
Since Buescher was found to not be making any progress in repairing those properties, the city filed three eminent domain lawsuits against her.
Eminent domain is a process for government agencies to take control of private property for public use. In this instance, the properties are being sought as part of an effort to fight blight in the area. The properties were identified as having fallen into disrepair and became targets of vandals or homes for feral animals.
The first such suit was filed by the Housing Authority in August 2017 against Buescher for 101 and 105 Jackson St. Cole County Judge Dan Green later signed orders allowing the authority to take possession of those two properties.
A second eminent domain suit was filed in August 2018 with the Housing Authority seeking to acquire 500, 501, 507, 511 and 513 E. Capitol Ave., along with 504 E. State St. and 115 Jackson St. -- all owned by Buescher. Former Cole County Presiding Judge Pat Joyce ruled in favor of the authority.
Last summer, the Housing Authority filed the third and final eminent domain lawsuit for 413-415, 417, 419, and 517-519 E. Capitol Ave., all owned by Buescher. Judge Green ruled in the authority's favor in December and the actions needed to complete the process are continuing.
