Historic Jefferson City school building to become apartment complex

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Jefferson City School Board unanimously approved the sale of the former Simonsen 9th Grade Center on Monday.

District leaders agreed to sell the building and a parking lot for $101,914 to Allyn and Todd Witt, who plan to change the historic building in the downtown area into apartments.

Local real estate agent and now one of the co-developers of the property, Allyn Witt, said the plan is to turn the building into one- and two-bedroom apartments geared toward young professionals. She said the building will have several amenities such as a fitness and business center.

Simonsen suffered extensive damage from the tornado that hit Jefferson City in May 2019.

The school district director of facilities said last year it would have cost millions to repair the damage to the building. It was declared surplus property during an October board meeting.

The Simonsen building has been a part of Jefferson city since the early 1900s, seeing students up until 2019. Witt and her husband went to school there and said they are dedicated to preserving the history of the building.

"It's going to be transformed but still honored as an educational institution but being transformed into something new, and something that Jefferson City needs right now," Witt said.

Mayor Carrie Tergin agreed with the importance of Simonsen to the history of Jefferson City and mentioned the need for more residential property in the city.

"Putting that back into reuse, and we know we have a need for residential," Tergin said. "I think the benefit would be not only for residents of the adapted reuse of the property but also to the community members."

Another developer working with the Witts, Jeff Tegethoff, said the plans include about 60 to 70 apartments, which could house more than 100 people.

The plan is to get the building on the national historic register. That along with the design and planning could take about eight months, Tegethoff said. Then construction would start, and he thinks that could take about a year.

The Witts also submitted an alternate bid to purchase Keith Major Field located across the street for $1.

Bid documents say the couple planned to give the land back to the city for it to be used as a dog park, grounds for a farmer's market or for other outside public events.

The school board rejected the alternate bid on CFO Jason Hoffman's recommendation.

Watch ABC17 News at 9 and 10 for a full report.