Capitol Avenue demolitions to continue Monday

This Jan. 26, 2017 photo shows the house at 108 Jackson Street in Jefferson City.
This Jan. 26, 2017 photo shows the house at 108 Jackson Street in Jefferson City.

The demolition of two of eight historic homes in the Capitol Avenue area is wrapping up; the rest are expected to be fully torn down in just under two weeks.

Dave Helmick, Jefferson City property and housing supervisor, said the houses at 104 Jackson St. and 108 Jackson St. were the first homes to go. Helmick said Cahills Construction has removed the two homes and is now doing the site work.

Following each demolition, the sites will be cleared of debris before being filled and covered with topsoil, seed and straw. The sites will also be graded to prevent erosion and water runoff.

Republic Services is providing dumpsters to hold the debris from the demolition.

During the past week, asbestos abatement and other demolition preparations for the remaining properties were completed, Hemlick said.

He said the rest of the demolition will begin Monday. Mid-Missouri Earth Movers will begin by tearing down the home at 409 E. Capitol Ave. Once it's down, it will be followed by structures at 109 Adams St., 114 Jackson St. and 410 E. Capitol Ave.

Simultaneously, Ahrens Contracting Inc. will begin dropping the building at 517 E. Capitol Ave., followed by 415 Commercial Way.

Helmick said the crews can typically take down a house in a single day. Usually, the cleanup is started right after the demolition, he said, but because there are so many homes, all of the demolition will be completed before the cleanup.

The demolition is only expected to take about a week and a half, Helmick said, and the total process should be completed in two to three weeks.

Barbara Buescher owns all the properties up for demolition, however, the city is working on acquiring the properties through an eminent domain lawsuit.

Once all of the homes have been torn down and the sites cleared, the outcome of the city's lawsuit will determine the fate of the properties.

The News Tribune previously reported the city has obtained 413 E. Capitol Ave., 419 E. Capitol Ave. and 429 E. Capitol Ave. through eminent domain. The city's attorney, Ryan Moehlman, said Jefferson City sought and received restoration proposals for the properties, but was unable to offer specific details, according to previous reporting.