Madison Street in Jefferson City closed over weekend after building shows signs of collapsing

According to Division Chief Jason Turner with the Jefferson City Fire Department, Madison Street in Jefferson City will be closed, until further notice.“After much discussion we decided to have the street closed; at this point for Saturday and Sunday,” Turner said.

Crews are still working to stabilize a building in Jefferson City that begin to show signs of collapsing Thursday morning at 10.

Officials with the Jefferson City police and fire departments are asking people in the area to stay clear for their safety.

Barriers are in place, and it is important that no one crosses them, Turner said.

City building officials and occupants of the building are monitoring the progress of crews that are building a jersey barrier and temporary shoring to keep the building stabilize.

The building threatening to give way is in the 200 block of Madison Street, and is owned by Andy Neidert.

Turner said Neidert is concerned with the safety of those working at the scene and those in the area.

The two law firms that occupy the building are Turnbull & Starks and Barry & Wilson.

Attorney Marshall Wilson who has office space in the building said Neidert is a good man and said Neidert wants people to be safe.

Wilson also said the building was once a men’s clothing store in the ’60s and ’70s called Schneider’s Menswear.

Director of Public Works Matt Morasch said the city’s role is to care for public health and welfare while the owner decides what he will do next.

“He (Neidert) has his own engineer who’s designed a temporary shoring plan and who has expertise in these kinds of things, so once that’s in place then we can feel comfortable… the engineers looked at that and made sure it would shore the building up at least temporarily,” Morasch said.

City officials and city contracting crews working at the location said Madison Street will be closed for the weekend and until further notice.