Columbia City Council receives report on delaying demolition of historic buildings

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia city government is considering whether to give officials more time to evaluate historic buildings before they can be demolished, as the city’s Historic Preservation Commission develops a broader plan to strengthen preservation rules.

The Columbia City Council will review a staff report Monday outlining options for temporarily delaying demolition permits for properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The council requested the report in September. No action is expected Monday, according to a council memo.

The action comes as community members rally to save Katy Station, a former rail passenger depot for the MKT Railroad built in 1909. Supporters are trying to save the building and move it as a new owner takes over the property.

State law allows the city to temporarily delay demolition permits to give officials time to study additional historic preservation measures, the memo states. Any ordinance would need to identify which properties qualify for the delay, establish a specific time frame and outline exceptions for circumstances such as dangerous buildings or substantial economic hardship.

The National Register of Historic Places is a federal list of properties recognized for their historical significance. Property owners must apply for listing, which can provide access to rehabilitation tax credits but does not automatically protect a building from demolition.

Columbia has 33 properties listed on the National Register.

The city’s Historic Preservation Commission currently reviews demolition applications for certain historic resources, including structures more than 50 years old and properties within historic survey areas or National Register districts. The review period lasts up to 45 days, but the commission cannot prohibit demolition through this process.

Columbia also has five properties with a local Historic Preservation Overlay zoning designation. Owners of those properties must obtain approval before making certain alterations or demolishing a structure. The commission can deny that approval, preventing the city from issuing the relevant permit, according to the memo.

In 2016, the city established a temporary administrative delay for demolition permits involving structures at least 50 years old in the downtown area.

The Historic Preservation Commission is finalizing a broader preservation plan that includes recommendations to expand demolition review requirements. The memo states the plan is expected to reach the City Council for consideration in January or February 2027.