What a blight study means for the Jefferson CIty East Capitol Avenue area

After more than a decade of termoil with property owners, Jefferson City officials are making progress in addressing a rundown neighborhood near the State Capitol.

ABC 17 News reported Tuesday, the city council approved a $25,000 blight study on the East Capitol Avenue area.

Friday, ABC 17 News looked into what the study means for the east central downtown area.

The city has been trying to address the decline of the neighborhood for at least 20 years, according to Planning and Protective Services Director Janice McMillan. The level of uncooperation from property owners and the deterioration are both increasing, McMillan said.

“I think these houses and properties deserve a lot better than to just sit and deteriorate as they have for many years now,” Jefferson City resident Rusty Creed said.

The blight study will survey about 150 buildings.

The study will look at the conditions of buildings, streets, infrastructure and more.

“When you have a situation where someone fails to take care of their property, it really–it brings down the whole neighborhood,” McMillan said. “You know, it could have an effect of declining property values.”

A big issue with the neglected homes are the wild animals and vagrants that get inside, according to McMillan.

“We want to try to keep the vermin out of the buildings, keep people out of the buildings because some of those, the conditions inside the buildings are dangerous,” McMillan said.

There are many other possible safety hazards and sanitary problems including water damage from leaking roofs, decaying decks and stairs, overgrown yards and vines and accumulating debris, according to McMillan.

“This is definitely a blighted area by definition, and it’s exciting that we might be doing something about that,” Creed said.

If the city council agrees with the study’s findings, it can pass a resolution to create a redevelopment area and pursue property owners more effectively in court.