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"Old Town" Jefferson City begins to look new

Missouri Department of Tourism
/
Missouri Department of Tourism

An effort to revitalize Jefferson City’s historic “Old Town” district is showing progress. The Old Town Revitalization Company in Jefferson City has announced that it has received its first property donation.

The non-profit organization allows Jefferson City property owners to donate property to Old Town for a tax deduction. The Old Town Revitalization Companythen partners with nearby home builders to rehabilitate the property.

Old Town Revitalization Company’s Phil Freeman says the recently donated estate on East McCarty Street is beyond rehabilitation, so the property will be converted to green space.

"Unfortunately there are some pieces of property that are beyond rehabilitation," Freeman says. "That’s when we work with the adjacent property owners that if we would take it down it would be turned into green space and that neighbor would then agree to maintain that property."

This month,the Historic City of Jefferson has awarded a “Golden Hammer” award to The Common Grounds Center, a property the company was able to renovate. The city presents the award monthly to rehabilitated properties based on the outcome of the project.

Freeman says the goal of the company since its beginning in 2008 has been to revitalize the core of Jefferson City one building at a time.

Ron Medin, also with the Old town Revitalization Company, says the property is beyond renovation and will be converted into green space. Medin says the green space will complement the building next door that the company is renovating.

"The idea of the Old Town Revitalization Company is to pursue that ladder goal and reclaim the neighborhoods and to get them fixed up so they are an asset for Jefferson City and attracting new people, new businesses and tourism to Jefferson City," Medin says.

This month, the Historic City of Jefferson has awarded a “Golden Hammer” award to The Common Grounds Center, a property the company was able to renovate.

Medin says that receiving the award from the Historic City of Jefferson, who has similar goals to revamp the area, is a tip of the hat to the company’s recent progress.