Five more homes in the tornado damaged neighborhood between Jefferson City High School and Capital Region Medical Center were approved for demolition Tuesday by the Jefferson City Historic Preservation Commission.
Two of the homes - 1211 and 1215 Adams St. - are owned by Jefferson City Public Schools, while the other three - 206 E. Franklin St., and 316 and 230 Case Avenue - are owned by the hospital.
The Historic Preservation Commission must approve demolition requests for homes 50 years or older. Homes 100 years or older must go through a demolition clearance process including a public hearing.
The five properties approved Tuesday were all newer than 100 years and just needed approval from the commission before demolition could begin.
As of May, JC Schools has begun demolition on 34 houses in the area and had contracts on an additional 16.
The district plans to eventually use the land to construct a competition soccer field and baseball/softball field.
Capital Region spokesperson Lindsay Huhman said the hospital has purchased six homes in the area. They have no immediate plans for development, but ownership of the lots allows Capital Region to consider the space for potential expansion in the future.
Not all of the properties were damaged by the May 22 tornado, but a significant number were, and the damage sped up the acquisition of the homes.
Rachel Senzee, neighborhood services specialist with the city, said the city's comprehensive plan already outlined that area as a potential future area of expansion for the school and hospital.
Both buildings, which stand on either side of the neighborhood bounded by Stadium Boulevard, Jackson Street, Oberman Place and Adams Street, are landlocked and unable to expand without acquiring properties in the area.
"It was always planned, but I don't think anybody ever intended for it to happen this quickly," Senzee said Tuesday.
Donna Deetz, president of Historic City of Jefferson, said the school district is having HCJ come into the homes to retrieve items with historical significance like original doors or other features before demolition.