Possible demolition of Sedalia building more than 10 years in the making
Haley Swaino
SEDALIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Sedalia city officials are seeking to demolish a 95-year-old downtown building as it continues to deteriorate since a storm rolled through the area Thursday.
In support of public understanding and being transparent, the city released documents about the property at 207 W. Main Street.
The city said it’s received many inquiries about the ongoing situation.
“We understand the concern,” the city said in a social media post Tuesday. “This property raises important questions about safety, accountability, and preservation.”
A hearing was scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday and summons were issued for the building’s owners, Dana Melton and Travis Dixon.
The city filed a petition to have a court declare the vacant property an immediate danger and requested to have it demolished on July 23, according to previous reporting.
The city said in the post that the process to demolish it dates back to 2012, when the neighboring building was demolished.
After the former interior wall of 207 West Main St. was exposed, the city paid to have a coating applied to protect the masonry, according to the city.
In 2017, the city said early warnings of failing masonry, water infiltration, and other structural red flags by Wallace Engineering were ignored.
Wallace Assessment Report 2017Download
“Their report called for further evaluation, but the necessary repairs never came,” the city stated.
Three years later, an old coal shaft was discovered during a sidewalk replacement project outside the property. Documents state the shaft is located beneath the front of the already unstable building.
Credit: City of Sedalia
Credit: City of Sedalia
Credit: City of Sedalia
“Construction paused while engineers developed a stabilization plan,” documents state. “The city and its contractors took time to properly fill and reinforce the area to ensure safety. Despite these efforts, no repairs were initiated by the property owners themselves.”
It is stated that the condition of the building had visibly continued to deteriorate by 2023.
“Missing bricks, crumbling mortar, and structural separation at the foundation and parapet were noted in official violation notices,” the city said. “Still, no substantial action was taken.”
Code Violations 69-108Download
Records show 207 West Main St. was transferred to Dana Melton and David Dixon in October 2024. The property was transferred to new owners despite an active code case and an open violation notice.
“According to City Ordinance 10-460, it is illegal to transfer a property deemed dangerous unless violations are first corrected or a formal compliance agreement is in place,” the city said. “Neither condition was met.”
The city said it issued a “fresh” round of notices and tried to work with Melton and Dixon to get the property into compliance. The condition of the building continued to worsen and suffered more damage after a storm in June 2024.
Currently, the City of Sedalia says it’s committed to transparency and safety when it comes to how to move forward with 207 West Main St.
“The City of Sedalia understands that building demolitions–especially downtown–come with emotion, history, and concern,” the city said in a post Tuesday. “The City’s preference, from the beginning, was for the building to be repaired. Code Enforcement staff worked for years to prompt action and provide opportunities for compliance. But no amount of reminders, warnings, or engineering reports can substitute for responsible ownership.”
The city said it is now unavoidable that the building must be demolished.
Court proceedings are scheduled to resume Thursday at 10:00 a.m. Judge Jeff Mittelhauser has asked the city to provide additional information.
ABC 17 News has reached out to the attorney representing Melton and Dixon.