The Jefferson City Housing Authority filed an eminent domain lawsuit Thursday over four properties along East Capitol Avenue.
This will be the third eminent domain lawsuit focused on acquiring properties in the area, which is considered blighted. The properties are owned by Barbara Buescher, who also owns more than a dozen other properties around East Capitol Avenue.
"It is necessary for the proper completion of the East Capitol Avenue Urban Renewal Project that the Authority acquire Ms. Buescher's properties," the Housing Authority said in a statement.
The goal of the East Capitol Avenue Urban Renewal Project is to address blight in the area with many of the blighted homes having been vacant for years, allowing them to fall into disrepair, be vandalized or house wild animals.
Since 2019, the Jefferson City Housing Authority has purchased nine properties with financial help from the city in the area around Capitol Avenue as part of the project. All but one has found a new owner and is being worked on. The one, 101 Jackson St., is still available for sale.
This new lawsuit is the third filed against Buescher as part of the project. It focuses around four properties, some of which have more than one home on the lot. If successful, the Housing Authority will acquire 413-415, 417, 419, and 517-519 E. Capitol Ave.
The Housing Authority said in a statement the proper measures were followed to notify Buescher of the agency's interest, written offers for the properties and appraisals. She did not respond.
After the Housing Authority acquires a property, it goes on the market. Along with an offer to purchase, the Housing Authority requests a plan for the property with an estimated two-year completion timeline.
At a Housing Authority meeting Tuesday, Executive Director Michelle Wessler said 417 E. Capitol Ave. is likely in bad enough condition to need demolition.
Building Inspector Dave Helmick said the storms Jefferson City saw at the end of June caused the center of the roof to collapse and the remaining roof to shift. It was abandoned and declared dangerous July 1.
The building at 519 E. Capitol Ave. was demolished in October due to a tree growing through it, Helmick said. The city has filed a lawsuit against Buescher for the demolition cost. Helmick said 517 E. Capitol Ave., which shares the sames property with 519 E. Capitol Ave., was declared dangerous due to inhabitable conditions, but not because of any structural issues.
The building at 413-415 E. Capitol Ave., which shares the two addresses, is abandoned and boarded up but has not been declared dangerous, Helmick said. The same with 419 E. Capitol Ave.