Regional Industry & News

The Jefferson City Council is considering tax abatements for a proposed 180-unit apartment development on the city's west side.

The council voted Monday to begin the process of potentially awarding Chapter 100 tax abatements to Tegethoff Development for a proposed apartment complex at 3600 W. Edgewood Drive.

The resolution approved Monday authorizes a preliminary funding agreement that allows the city to evaluate whether the project qualifies for Chapter 100 incentives. According to the council meeting packet, the agreement does not require any city funding. Instead, the developer agreed to provide an initial $40,000 deposit to cover the cost of evaluating the proposal, including hiring bond counsel to prepare documents related to a potential Chapter 100 bond issue.

The agreement does not guarantee the city will ultimately approve the tax abatements.

Jeff Tegethoff is listed in city documents as the project's developer. The St. Louis-based developer has completed projects in the Lake of the Ozarks and Chesterfield areas. Tegethoff Development filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June, according to Lake Expo.

Under Missouri's Chapter 100 program, cities can issue industrial development revenue bonds to finance qualifying projects. In exchange, developers receive temporary property tax abatements while repaying the bonds over time with revenue generated by the development.

Luke Holtschneider, president and CEO of the Jefferson City Regional Economic Partnership, said increasing the city's housing supply remains one of the community's top economic development priorities.

Holtschneider said the city has recently made progress on expanding its housing inventory. Last year, the council approved a housing incentive reimbursement program expected to help create 116 new housing units. However, he said most recent projects have focused on single-family homes and townhomes.

"Truthfully, one of those areas we haven't seen a lot of progress in is in the multi-family arena," Holtschneider said.

Council members did not ask questions or comment on the proposal before approving the preliminary agreement on Monday.

The city most recently approved Chapter 100 bonds in 2024 for Unilever's $25 million expansion. The agreement provided a 75 percent property tax abatement for 10 years in exchange for the company maintaining at least 441 jobs at its Jefferson City facility.

In other business Monday, the City Council also voted to:

Replace the bleachers behind home plate at Vivion Field in Washington Park. The city and Lincoln University will each pay half of the estimated $213,000 cost.

Award a $5.6-million contract to Brown and Root Industrial Services LLC to replace the wastewater pump station on South Brooks Drive using bond proceeds.

Award a $2.8-million contract to replace wastewater mains and storm sewers near Bagnall Drive using bond proceeds.

Install yield signs at the intersections of Notting Hill Drive and Portobello Place Drive, and Cathedral Rock Drive and Portobello Place Drive. The ordinance also designates Creek Trail Drive as a through street, requiring future connecting roads to include stop signs or other traffic controls.

Prohibit parking on the south side of the 300 block of East Fillmore Street. Parking is already prohibited on the north side.

Approve an agreement allowing the Show Me State Air Show to use Jefferson City Memorial Airport for its Sept. 11-13 event.

Approve a $45,000 contract with PayPoint HR to conduct a citywide classification and compensation study.

Adopt the city's 2026 Community Development Block Grant action plan. Jefferson City expects to receive about $274,000 through the federal program for housing and infrastructure projects benefiting low- and moderate-income residents.

Amend the development agreement for the city's planned $145-million conference center project, which includes a 215-room hotel and an approximately 600-space parking garage.

Amend the construction agreement with McCownGordon to establish a final construction budget of $119 million for the hotel, conference center and parking garage.