Jefferson City program fixing up rundown rental properties

Jefferson City continues to take steps to improve rundown properties in historic parts of the city.

Right now, a program is working to restore the appearance of rental properties that have become blighted.

The rental facade program is available to rental property owners in the Old Town and East Side districts. You can view a map of the area here. That includes the East Capitol Avenue area the city has been working to clean up.

Ryan Waters works at Daniel Dodson Law Office on Marshall Street, which is near one of the properties currently being renovated with the program.

“There hasn’t been a lot of revitalization, and I think this is a great opportunity to bring back life to the city centers and to get life back into the cities instead of the periphery,” Waters said.

The program pays accepted property owners half of the cost to renovate the exterior of the buildings up to $5,000 for single-family units and $10,000 for duplexes.

“It can assist with the outside appearance, improving any neglect,” Neighborhood Services Coordinator Jayme Abbott said. “And to assist with any removal of the slum and blight. And you know, make the property appear more valuable.”

The renovations must meet historic guidelines to restore the properties to former value.

“This used to be a very vibrant area maybe 50 years ago, and then it kind of degraded and now that it’s coming back up I think it’s great for everybody around here, for local business,” Waters said.

Property owners can apply for the rental facade program through August 12.