Jefferson City residents give input on how to begin East Capitol Avenue Area revitalization

The Jefferson City Housing Authority held an open forum Tuesday on the East Capitol Avenue Area Urban Renewal Plan that was approved by the city council last month.

Residents voted on which of the 53 properties they wanted the housing authority to prioritize in the renewal efforts and voiced their opinions on the best ways to start revitalization.

Some expressed concerns with historic preservation and early demolition.

“There are some very historic properties in this area, and I really believe that you should take a look at some of those first,” Steve Veile, chairman and CEO of Communique, a business located on East Capitol Avenue, said.

Others focused on development.

“If they were to do one whole block, then I think the public would really see what’s happening and it would create interest of other investors to get into the project as it moved on down and start doing other areas,” Cathy Bordner, who lives on East Capitol Avenue, said.

Bordner said she would also like to see action taken to get more people to live in the area.

“We would like to get people living in the area, either owner-occupied or renters who are there year-round, and get invested in the area and care about it and advocate for it,” Bordner said.

The Housing Authority Board of Commissioners will consider all comments and decide on an acquisition plan.

“All of the owners will be given the opportunity to renovate their property, and that’s where we’ll start,” Housing Authority Executive Director Cynthia Quetsch said. “Ultimately, it can go to condemnation and eminent domain. So we’re not looking forward to that, but that is a possibility.”

The board will next have a meeting with the city council to prioritize a list of which properties should be acquired first.