Kansas City's Historic Tower Building Faces Demolition

The iconic Jeserich building, dating back to 1888, is being razed to make way for new development.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 3:56am

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An extremely blurred and abstracted photograph of a historic downtown city street, with the iconic Tower Building visible in the background through a haze of warm, soft light and color.As Kansas City bids farewell to its oldest structure, the demolition of the historic Tower Building evokes a bittersweet sense of nostalgia for the city's past.Kansas City Today

After over a century standing as one of Kansas City's oldest structures, the historic Tower Building, also known as the Jeserich building, is facing demolition. Despite efforts by neighborhood groups and preservationists to save the ornate Queen Anne-style building, the owners have moved forward with plans to raze it and the adjacent Ward building to clear the site for new development.

Why it matters

The Tower Building is an integral part of Kansas City's history, having witnessed the city's evolution over the decades. Its demolition represents the ongoing tension between progress and preservation, raising questions about whether new development should always take priority over historic structures.

The details

The top half of the Tower Building's iconic tower has already been brought down, and the "Jeserich" name that adorned the building for over a century is no more. The building, located on the bustling Main Street corridor, is part of a four-building complex owned by Thirty-First and Main Properties LLC. The company plans to send out requests for proposals once the buildings are demolished, with the promise of a larger animal hospital to replace the neighboring Union Hill Animal Hospital.

  • The Tower Building has stood since 1888, just one year before Kansas City adopted its current name.
  • In October 2022, the Kansas City Council placed the Jeserich and other buildings on the corner on the Kansas City Register of Historic Places.
  • In August 2023, the city declared the building dangerous, giving the owners 30 days to act.
  • In September 2023, the owners confirmed the demolition, and the process began in November.

The players

Thirty-First and Main Properties LLC

The company that owns the four-building complex, including the Tower Building and the 1905 Ward building, and has plans to redevelop the site.

Thomas Feyerabend Jr.

A principal in Thirty-First and Main Properties LLC and the owner of the neighboring Union Hill Animal Hospital, who plans to send out requests for proposals once the buildings are demolished.

Chuck Cacioppo, Jr.

The president of Industrial Salvage & Wrecking, who explained the careful process of deconstructing the Tower Building.

Kansas City Council

The local government body that placed the Jeserich and other buildings on the Kansas City Register of Historic Places in October 2022, going against the wishes of the previous owners.

Neighborhood groups and preservationists

Individuals and organizations that have fought tirelessly to save the Jeserich building from demolition.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The city has given the owners 30 days to act on the dangerous building declaration, and the demolition process has already begun. The future of the site remains uncertain, as Thirty-First and Main Properties LLC plans to send out requests for proposals once the buildings are gone.

The takeaway

The demolition of the historic Tower Building highlights the ongoing tension between progress and preservation in Kansas City. While new development is often seen as necessary for a city's growth, the loss of iconic structures like the Jeserich building raises questions about whether there are ways to balance modernization with the preservation of a city's rich history and cultural identity.