Mayor Bob McDavid and the City of Columbia's Historic Preservation Commission announced today that a tentative agreement has been reached that will preserve the historic Niedermeyer Apartments, 920 Cherry St., in downtown Columbia. Built in 1837 by Gen. Richard and Ann Hawkins Gentry, the iconic building was the home of the Columbia Female Academy and the Gordon Hotel before becoming the Niedermeyer Apartments in 1921. Gen. Gentry is widely considered to be the founder of the City of Columbia. The historic building has been frequented by Mark Twain, William Jennings Bryan and Mary Todd Lincoln. 

Under the agreement, a private buyer has tentatively agreed to purchase the building from Collegiate Housing Partners, the contract holder of Niedermeyer Apartments.  Additional details of the agreement will be released pending the approval of a memorandum of understanding among all parties.

"Today I am proud to say we are honoring the history of Columbia by announcing a tentative agreement has been reached to preserve the historic Niedermeyer Apartments," McDavid said. "The Historic Preservation Commission deserves to be commended for originating this historic agreement to preserve Columbia's oldest, historic building."

"I am proud that all parties have reached an agreement in principle," said Brent Gardner, a realtor and member of the Historic Preservation Commission. "This is a complex agreement that relies on conventional financing and equity in the short-term." 

Gardner said that preservation in the long-term may utilize a combination of existing resources and tools currently available to property owners, including historic preservation tax credits, affordable housing tax credits, energy efficiency grants and loans and other programs offered by the city.