After given authorization to move forward on a potential housing project, the Jefferson City Council voted earlier this week to put a stop to it.

At their regular meeting Tuesday, the Council heard from the public about the proposal to move an 1890s home from 305 West State Street to an empty, city-owned lot at 407 West Lincoln Way. The City was approached by the Central Christian Church, who acquired the property, about moving the home or they would tear it down to make a green space for kids and families. City Building Official Nick Sorensen said the low to high estimated cost, that the City would pay to move the home, was between $105,000 and $128,000. Dr. Susan Laehn spoke in favor of the project.

“I think it would be an absolute shame to let that house be torn down. It is historic in nature and you have a potential buyer talking to you right now. It would just be really, really sad to sort of not value the past and not value everything that this town has to offer in terms of housing.”

Denise O’Brien-Van, who lives at 102 North Maple Street, kitty-corner to the home, spoke against the project, citing two primary concerns. She claimed that the project wasn’t a good financial choice for the City to make, due to all the renovations it would need on the interior, as well as bringing down the entire neighborhood look.

“It would be a huge eye-sore as a neighbor. An unsold property that would probably continue to deteriorate, a property that the City could sell to a buyer unqualified to rehab it, a buyer-who when he realized he bought a lemon-could decide to become a landlord. And I’ll tell you, our neighborhood has had enough of landlords. ”

O’Brien-Van pointed out that the house used to be a “druggie” house with several visits from law enforcement. Following other comments, both for and against it, the Council ultimately voted three to two to not accept the home, thus denying further involvement from the City. The three “no” votes were Councilpersons Larry Teeples, Dave Sloan and Matt Gordon. Gordon was the deciding vote following the previous Council meeting where he was in favor of it.

“I had to go with what I felt was right. And I just didn’t feel like, at this point in time, the project is right. There’s not the community support there. Had the (majority of the) neighbors been in favor of it, I would’ve stayed with being okay with the project. But everybody that talked tonight, with the exception of a few, were against it.”

City Administrator Mike Palmer appreciated the civil discourse that happened at the meeting and pointed out that the housing committee will re-evaluate its options to come up with other housing plans for the City.