Tornado brings more housing issues to Jefferson City

Residents discuss the Jefferson City School District property acquisition

News Tribune File Photo: Several of the units at Capital City Apartments, owned by the Jefferson City Housing Authority, sustained damage in the May 2019 tornado.
News Tribune File Photo: Several of the units at Capital City Apartments, owned by the Jefferson City Housing Authority, sustained damage in the May 2019 tornado.

Jefferson City anticipates a net loss of more than two dozen housing units after demolitions and rebuilding efforts within the May 22 tornado affected area, Jefferson City Planner Eric Barron said.

Residents expressed concern over the lack of affordable housing within the city prior to the disaster and what it will look like going forward after an overview of impacted structures and housing was provided at a special Jefferson City Council work session to discuss disaster expenses Monday night.

Before giving the presentation, Barron said the information is prone to error. The city estimated what some property owners may do in terms of demolition based on how buildings were handled after the tornado or if new building permits were given, he said.

An estimated 152 housing units could be demolished while 125 housing units could be rebuilt, Barron said, leaving a net loss of 27 housing units in Jefferson City.

That loss does not include properties near Stadium Boulevard that could be acquired and demolished by Jefferson City School District, he said.

JCSD mailed letters to about 50 homeowners in the tornado area to express interest in buying the properties, Barron said.

"I believe that a number of property owners who would have otherwise pursued repair or restructures stopped until they get an indication on what that might involve," Barron said.

There has been some success in the district's efforts, he added.

"There are properties that are showing up as of having transferred owners on MidMoGIS," Barron said.

A trend of acquiring property in the area, demolishing it and building parking lots has been seen by Capital Region Medical Center, he added.

Future city plans show the houses near Stadium Boulevard would be acquired by the two large entities, he added.

Ward 3 Councilman Ken Hussey expressed concern that some of the properties the school could acquire "were not impacted in a major way at all by the tornado."

"It's buying somebody out who is still living in a home that's completely habitable," Hussey said.

The city could discuss plans for housing with JCSD and Capital Region in the future, he added.

"I think it would be helpful to know what role the two institutional entities on either side of the stake play in the development of affordable housing in this community, especially in that particular area," Hussey said. "I think it's a lot of folks who own homes because they can or they're renting property because it fits their needs. I'd hate for us to disclose too much of that and not have those entities at the table to help address that issue long term.

"We have a housing issue in Jefferson City, and I get the map that creates this long-term plan, but there's no need to accelerate that issue and create a crisis."

Pastor Jon Nelson, of SOMA Community Church, said some of the property owners in that area are in a juxtaposition regarding selling their properties to Capital Region or JCSD, selling to out-of-state individuals or renting the property.

"A lot of the property owners in that area have either said nothing or decided to stay with somebody in town which goes to Capital Region, our local hospital or our school district," Nelson said. "It's not the best position. You're right, councilman (Hussey), we do have an affordable housing crisis and we want housing but we're going to work together to figure out where it's going to be in our community, especially with the numbers that we just saw."

Angela Hirsch, Central Missouri Community Action chief program officer, said that following the tornado the organization provided immediate housing to 157 families. About 60 percent of those who received temporary housing left the city.

"That's 60 percent of families who, chances are, are not coming back," Hirsch said. "As we see a decrease in our city's population, that has a ramification in terms of resources that our city has for our continued growth, our future and our planning."

Affordable housing is necessary for those in entry-level positions such as teacher aides, certified nursing assistants custodial staff and more, she added.

"When we're talking about losing 27 housing units it doesn't sound that bad," Hirsch said. "That's an impact on our community and on our families who are looking for housing to stay in this community or to return to this community."

City presents disaster estimates

The city reviewed disaster-related expenses as of Sept. 26. Staff estimate more than $4.2 million of disaster cost from the May 22 tornado and flooding, according to a memorandum City Administrator Steve Crowell sent to Mayor Carrie Tergin and the City Council on Thursday.

The city compiled a summary to estimate direct costs from loss of revenue, labor costs and lost productivity associated with the disasters, according to the memorandum.

Approximately $1,544,880 has incurred or been estimated for tornado expenses and $2,699,678 has incurred in flood cost, according to the memorandum. Staff will continue to develop cost estimates as they anticipate more is coming.

Those costs do not include state, county, school districts or other agencies, according to the memorandum.

"The cost summary is not an 'all-inclusive disaster cost summary,'" Crowell said in the memorandum. "Nor is the summary intended to be an indication of the anticipated or potential funding reimbursement amounts -for example Federal Emergency Management Agency, State Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or insurance proceeds."

Jefferson City Public Works Director Matt Morasch said more than $2 million in repairs are needed for a sewer line.

"A big chunk of that is repairing damage to the riverbank where we have a major sewer line," Morasch said. "That would have to be covered initially by the wastewater fund. We're working with FEMA to see what kind of reimbursements might be available."

City staff is also working with SEMA and other agencies for funding and reimbursements, according to the memorandum. The city is hopeful they will receive some reimbursements, Crowell added.

Crowell also noted the council may want to "consider engaging a consultant with specific disaster-related funding experience to assist with the aforementioned and in identifying and submitted grants and/or funding request for other potential community-related projects," Crowell said in the memorandum.

Prior to the meeting, Tergin said having these discussions can help the city outline the future.

"Even though recovery is an ongoing long-term process, it is helpful to get a snapshot of where we are from a financial perspective," Tergin said. "What are the current budget impacts and what could be future issues that we should prepare for."