The Tower Building, a historic landmark on Main Street, is set to be demolished, marking the end of an era for Kansas City's oldest building. The ornate Queen Ann tower, built in 1888 and known as the Jeserich Building, is now a fading memory. On Friday, the top half of the building came down, along with the iconic 'Jeserich' name that had adorned the masonry for 138 years. The slow deconstruction process, which began with the removal of the top floor, is expected to be completed within a month. This marks the end of a long-standing effort to preserve the building, which has been a focal point of controversy and debate.
The Jeserich Building, constructed just before the city's name change in 1889, holds historical significance as the oldest structure on Kansas City's downtown Main Street. It is part of a larger complex, including the 1905 Ward Building, which has already been demolished. The site, owned by Thirty-First and Main Properties LLC, is being cleared to make way for new development. Thomas Feyerabend Jr., a principal in the company and owner of the nearby Union Hill Animal Hospital, plans to request proposals for potential development, with a stipulation that a new and larger animal hospital be included.
Preservation efforts have been a long-standing battle, with neighborhood and preservationist groups advocating for the building's protection. In October 2022, the Kansas City Council, influenced by local residents and the Historic Kansas City group, defied the wishes of the then-owners, an LLC linked to PriceMgmt Co., by placing the Jeserich Building and other structures on the Kansas City Register of Historic Places. However, Feyerabend, after taking ownership, consulted engineers and builders, who advised that the building was beyond repair. The city's declaration of structural unsoundness in August led to the building being placed on the 'dangerous buildings' list, giving the owners a 30-day window to either repair or demolish the structure.
Despite the preservation efforts, the demolition process began in November, led by the Industrial Wrecking & Salvage Co. of Kansas City. This marks the end of a chapter in Kansas City's history, as the Tower Building, a symbol of the city's past, is no more. The story of the Jeserich Building highlights the challenges of balancing historical preservation with urban development, leaving a lasting impact on the community and sparking discussions about the future of Kansas City's architectural heritage.
