Almost six years after it was foreclosed on, a house in the old town area of Jefferson City might receive restoration.
The Jefferson City council will likely vote tonight on three bills to spend more than $123,000 of federal funding for rehabilitation and asbestos abatement of a house on Marshall Street. City council member Laura Ward sponsored the bills and said the house is in a targeted restoration area.
“We’re trying to invest in the historic properties in that area that encompass our historic downtown and our historic capital,” Ward said.
Since the funding came from the Federal Stimulus Program in 2009, a program in which city governments received funding for acquiring foreclosed homes for rehabilitation, asbestos and lead-based paint must be removed from the property.
Jefferson City neighborhood services coordinator Jayme Abbott said the house must meet housing quality standards to be sold. The property needs many repairs, including installation of electrical wiring, plumbing to meet current code and flooring.
The house would go on the market as a single-family home when these projects would be completed. Abbott said the restoration on Marshall Street would reflect an overall transition occurring downtown.
“The block was traditionally more rental properties, but now the block is starting to show a change toward home ownership,” Abbott said.
Abbott said home ownership will help stabilize the old town area, because it has experienced economic issues in the past. A buyer has already expressed interest in purchasing the property.
The purchase of the home will generate revenue for the city to be spent on the demolition of another house located on Lafayette St. that was previously foreclosed on, because the house is damaged beyond repair. Having residents of the house on Marshall Street will generate tax revenue for the Jefferson City.
Ward said the project and an incoming family would add new spirit to the old town area, because she believes residents in homes with historic value take more pride in their homes.
The city has taken additional measures to improve this area with sidewalk repairs, and private homeowners have also restored their properties.
