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May is Preservation Month |
This Place Matters
While the theme of this year's National Preservation Month—This Place Matters—is new, the idea behind preservation month remains the same: celebratingthe country's diverse and irreplaceable heritage by participating in local events throughout the nation. The National Trust strongly encourages people to participate in National Preservation Month events being held in their communities.
During the month of May, visitors to the NTHP web site, www.preservationnation.org, can bid on items and help the National Trust for Historic Preservation continue its restoration work in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, help revive downtown main streets nationwide, empower neighborhoods to maintain their unique identity, uncover treasures of our diverse heritage, and raise awareness of the importance of preservation. Auction items range from exotic vacation getaways in historic hotels, behind-the-scene tours, special access to sites, dinner at quality restaurants and other donated items guaranteed to delight and surprise. |
Excepts From Richard Moe’s President’s Report at the 2007 National Preservation Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Our challenge is to help more people realize that it [“Preservation Matters”], to move preservation fully and permanently into the main stream of American life and culture.
Our movement has gone through many phases in its history. In the early years, the emphasis was on historical and cultural values; preservationists saved iconic landmarks—such as Mount Vernon—as patriotic shrines. Later, the focus shifted to preservation’s economic aspects; we preached the dollars-and-cents benefits of adaptive use, Main Street revitalization, and heritage tourism. More recently, we’ve emphasized social values, stressing preservation’s value in enhancing community livability, combating the rootlessness of modern society, celebrating the contributions of diverse segments of our population, and strengthening the bonds that unite and identify us as Americans.
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Read more...
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Proposed National Register Nominations |
The following National Register of Historic Places nominations are being considered by the Landmarks Commission:
- Valentine Hotel, 3724 Broadway
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Bon Air Apartments Building, 4127 Locust Street
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Colonnade Apartment Building, 4302 Oak Street
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Walnut Street Warehouse & Commercial Historic District (Boundary Increase), 1526, 1524, 1520, 1516-18, 1512-14 and 1508 Grand Boulevard
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The Case of the Missing Headers |
While doing restoration work at Grinter Place State Historic Site in Kansas City, the Kansas historical society discovered mystery. The brick wall on the front of the house was missing a key structural component. Read all about the missing headers in the March/April 2008
Kansas Preservation issue, page 14.
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Leavenworth Depot Damaged |
The historic railroad depot in Leavenworth was heavily damages at 1 a.m. February 28, 2008. Police cited a drunken driver for exceeding 60 miles per hour in the 30 mile per hour zone. The driver headed straight into the main floor wall of the depot, which now serves as a community center. The collision left a large hole in a brick wall and destroyed historic windows, brick, and decorative sandstone. Insurance will cover a large portion of the repairs. Expenses not covered by insurance will be added to an existing Kansas Rehabilitation Tax Credit application covering previously proposed work for a deteriorated chimney elsewhere in the building. The former Union Depot was added to the National Register march 11, 1982.
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Threats To Missouri's Historic Tax Credit |
Senate Bill 898, sponsored by Senator Dan Clemens, was amended by Senator Victor Callahan (D-20th) to include language that would sunset ALL tax credit programs in 2011! This legislation passed the Senate on Wednesday, March 12, 2008. The following day, the Missouri Coalition for Historic Preservation and Economic Development's lobbyist in Jefferson City approached Senator Clemens regarding the disastrous effect this Bill with its amendment would have on tax credit programs like those for Historic Preservation and Rebuilding Communities, which the Coalition created in 1998 and 1999, respectively. The Senator agreed to kill the Bill and threat was derailed.
House Bill 1551, sponsored by Representative Bryan P. Stevenson (R-128th District) calls for a gradual elimination of the corporate income tax in Missouri, to be completely in effect as of January 1, 2013. This Bill received a do pass vote on February 12, 2008. Implementation of this Bill would render programs like the Historic Tax Credit practically useless. Representative Stevenson has requested that the Joint Committee on Tax Reform study the Bill as part of its review and potential curtailment of tax credit programs in the name of "fiscal reform".
For more information go to Missouri Coalition for Historic Preservation & Economic Development or call (314) 621 - 6115, if you have any questions.
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KCCVA Opposes Cleaver TIF Hotel |
On 3/25 the Board of Directors of the Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association voted to oppose the Cleaver TIF plan. The KCCVA believes that a small boutique hotel on the Plaza will not generate additional new tax revenue, rather, a hotel of that size at that location will receive hotel business that would have otherwise gone to one of the other hotels in the area. This is called the "substitution effect".
Their belief is that a much larger hotel, downtown, would actually create new demand for conventions downtown, and that if a public subsidy is approved for a hotel, it should be on a large convention hotel downtown that will actually create new tax revenue.
The Cleaver Blvd. TIF is a proposed development that would demolish 10 historically-significant apartment buildings (which are in need of repair) and replace them with a 12-story hotel, luxury condos and newly-constructed apartments. The project cost is approx. $90M. $15M will be publicly-financed via TIF of underground parking.
To find out more about this project go to
Southmoreland Neighborhood Association. |
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The Greenest Building Is...One That Is Already BuiltCarl Elefonte, AIA, LEED AP
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
HKCF is seeking a dynamic executive director to lead the organization in its mission to strengthen community and create a culture of preservation awareness in metropolitan Kansas City.
The executive director will plan, direct and evaluate initiatives that support HKCF’s mission including advocacy, communications and special events. Salary for the full-time position is commensurate with experience.
Projected start date is May 1, 2008. Click on Job Posting for additional information. |
June 2008
Heritage Hikes
Exploring Kansas City, Missouri's First Neighborhoods
June 10—Return to the Riverfront...The Town of Kansas
June 17—The Village of West Port...The Gateway West
June 24—Quality Hill...Kansas City's Silk Stocking Ridge
Each hike highlights the architecture and history of the neighborhood. Participants receive brochures with maps which feature historical and architectural dialogue. Refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the each hike. Hikes are from 9 am to 12 pm.
Fees:
Communiversity at time of registration: $15 for series, $9 per hike
HKCF at time of hike: $25 for series, $10 per hike
Total for series = $40, per hike = $19
To reserve, contact UMKC's Communiversity at (816) 235-1448.
For questions or more information, contact Lucinda.
June 10th hike starts at the Pedestrian Bridge, where Main Street begins.
June 17th hike starts in front of Westport Presbyterian Church, 201 Westport Road.
June 24th hike starts at Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral, 13th & Broadway
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