The Cole County Commission has approved a tax abatement request for a future River City Habitat for Humanity home, as the organization works to make affordable housing available to more families in Jefferson City.
Commissioners on Tuesday approved abating $611 from the tax rolls for a property at 216 Chestnut St. in Jefferson City.
A tax abatement is a temporary reduction or elimination of property tax. It applies to real estate and, in some cases, personal property that would be taxed by a local government.
Cole County Collector Larry Vincent has been trying to sell the property at the county's delinquent tax auctions since 2008, but no one has made an offer, he said. The
property is abandoned and was damaged by fire.
Susan Cook-Williams, River City Habitat for Humanity director, said the property will go into the organization's inventory, but no one is specifically looking at the property right now.
"We don't do this very often, but we're already doing a build on Chestnut and we thought this would be a good fit," Cook-Williams said.
Once the home is re-occupied by a family, Vincent said, the property will go back on the tax rolls.
In addition to the newly acquired home, Habitat for Humanity is doubling its annual efforts to build homes in Jefferson City. It will try to finish eight homes this year, rather than its usual four. The push comes in response to the May 22 tornado that devastated housing in the city.
The EF-3 tornado destroyed or made 150 housing units (including apartments) in the city uninhabitable.
So Habitat for Humanity created the "Road to Recovery Blitz," in which it will build four additional homes at 902 Jackson St., 914 Jackson St., 415 E. Ashley St. and another whose address has not been released.
The application deadline for the homes has passed, and the organization is expected to announce which families have been accepted into the program for the homes in February. The organization's board will determine the recipients Feb. 13. The new homeowners will be notified the next day.
The additional builds are expected to cost approximately $400,000 total. Thrivent Financial awarded the project with a $60,000 grant to help with one of the homes. Jefferson City has agreed to assist with the blitz, providing demolition services for some existing structures and some planning for new homes. It will also "sponsor" the 415 E. Ashley St. home, which will be known as the "Mayor's Build."
Numerous volunteers are needed for builds. No matter what your abilities, call Habitat for Humanity at 573-635-8439 to see how you might help.
The organization has selected the recipient of its latest regular home build at 809 Jackson St. The family is made up of a couple with a 1-year-old child and twin newborns. The house is fairly far along, Cook-Williams said. The family could possibly be in the home by May.
A "Blessing of the Build" ceremony celebrating another future Habitat for Humanity home at 317 E. Ashley St., originally scheduled for Tuesday, will instead be at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 28. This home will be constructed by Nichols Career Center students under direction of their teacher.