The old Leeper building is in poor but stable condition. That’s the conclusion in a report issued by the firm of Trabue, Hansen and Hinshaw Inc., of Columbia, Mo., which was hired by Main Street Chillicothe and Chillicothe Development Corp. to perform a visual observation of the general condition of the building.
The full report will be presented and discussed by Main Street Chillicothe representatives during the regular City Council meeting at 6:30 p.m. tonight (Monday). In the study, the Columbia firm was also to place emphasis on studying the structural stability and necessary measures to maintain the stability of the structure.
The city recently acquired the historic building.
The building has been unoccupied for many years, with little or no preventative maintenance performed, the report states. This has resulted in deterioration of several structural elements.
“Based upon our observation, we do not feel that the building presently is in danger of collapse; however, its deterioration is remarkably advanced in some areas and should be addressed as soon as possible to prevent further, accelerated decay,” the report stated.
Observations of both the interior and exterior show the foundations to be in generally good condition. No settlement was observed and no significant cracking was observed in the foundations.
The report states that portions of the floors are in good condition, however regions where the roof or walls are compromised exhibit varying degrees of deterioration resulting from constant exposure to moisture. The localized deterioration of the floors poses a safety issue to occupants, but it does not compromise the overall stability of the structure.
