It’s the end of an era. Kansas City’s oldest building on Main Street is just weeks away from vanishing forever, and the emotional weight of this loss is palpable. But here’s where it gets even more heartbreaking: the ornate Queen Anne tower of the Tower Building, also known as the Jeserich Building, has already begun its slow descent into history. Built in 1888, just a year before the City of Kansas became Kansas City, this structure has stood as a silent witness to over a century of change. By late Friday, its iconic masonry relief bearing the name “Jeserich”—a fixture for 138 years—was gone, leaving locals and history enthusiasts alike grappling with the inevitability of progress.
Chuck Cacioppo, Jr., president of Industrial Salvage & Wrecking, explained that the deconstruction is being done meticulously, with the first two stories taken down by hand. Yet, despite this care, the building’s fate is sealed. And this is the part most people miss: the Jeserich Building isn’t just a structure; it’s a piece of Kansas City’s identity, a tangible link to its past. Its demolition, part of a larger plan to clear a four-building complex for new development, raises questions about how we balance preservation with growth.
Located at the northeast corner of 31st and Main streets, the site is owned by Thirty-First and Main Properties LLC. Thomas Feyerabend Jr., a principal in the company and owner of the adjacent Union Hill Animal Hospital, has stated that any new development will include a larger animal hospital. But at what cost? For years, neighborhood and preservationist groups fought to save the Jeserich Building, even convincing the Kansas City Council in 2022 to place it on the Kansas City Register of Historic Places—a rare move against the wishes of the then-owners. Yet, the building’s structural issues, deemed beyond repair by engineers, ultimately sealed its fate.
Here’s where it gets controversial: Was enough done to save this historic gem? Feyerabend claims he explored options, including incorporating the façade into new development, but was told the building was unsound. In August, the city declared it a “dangerous building,” giving the owners 30 days to act. Demolition began in November, leaving many to wonder if this was a necessary sacrifice for progress or a missed opportunity to honor the past.
As the Jeserich Building fades into memory, it leaves behind a lingering question: How do we preserve our history while making way for the future? What do you think? Was this demolition unavoidable, or could more have been done to save this piece of Kansas City’s soul? Share your thoughts in the comments—this is a conversation worth having.
