CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTS 31ST & MAIN HISTORIC DESIGNATION!

In 2022, HKC in partnership with the Union Hill Neighborhood, remained at the forefront of advocacy efforts to save the historic structures at the corner of 31st and Main Street. Listed on HKC’s “Most Endangered Places List” due to speculative development pressure on Main Street these historic structures were identified by a KC Streetcar federal study as eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

HKC issued a “call to action” upon learning from the Union Hill Neighborhood of the planned demolition of the buildings by the property owner, 31 Main LLC c/o Price Management Co. intention to demolish the properties within 30 days. Price had bought the buildings five years earlier through an online auction with no development plan. HKC’s concern— Price Brothers in 2016 razed the Green Gables apartment buildings designed by architect Nelle Peters west of the Country Club Plaza over the objection of HKC and the community. That site remains vacant.

In collaboration with 4th District representatives Eric Bunch and Katheryn Shields, an application for local historic designation was filed with the city for the 115 year-old Jeserich building, 3041-45 Main, 3035-37 Main Street, 3039 Main Street, and 6-10 E 31st Street. That filing temporarily blocked the demolition. At the Historic Preservation Commission hearing in June, the developer presented a concept for redeveloping the corner, calling for “recreating” the appearance of the existing historic buildings as part of a 12-story residential project. At the City Plan Commission hearing in September, the developer presented a revised concept for a more than 30-story mixed-use project.

The City Council APPROVED the Historic Designation of the 31st & Main Historic District by UNANIMOUS vote. Not since the designation of Union Station has the City Council approved a designation over owner opposition. Historic designation status prevents the buildings from being torn down for three years, and also imposes restrictions and standards on how the buildings can be used.

The landmark designation request was supported by Historic Kansas City, the Union Hill Neighborhood, and over 100 letters of support. Special testimony was provided by Vincent Gauthier, Architect, and Steve Huey, of Wallace Design Engineering. The application for historic designation received support from the Historic Preservation Commission and the City Planning Commission.

 

Photo by Michael Kruse

Backstory:

At City Council Legislative Session, Thursday, October 12th, 2022, the City Council APPROVED the Historic Designation of 31st & Main Street by a UNANIMOUS vote. Not since the designation of Union Station has the City Council approved a designation over owner opposition.

Historic designation status prevents the buildings from being torn down for three years and also imposes restrictions and standards on how the buildings can be used.

Thanks go to 4th District Representatives Shields and Bunch for sponsoring the historic designation application.

The landmark designation request was supported by Historic Kansas City, the Union Hill Neighborhood Association, and over 100 letters of support. With special testimony provided by Vincent Gauthier, Architect and Steve Huey, of Wallace Design. The application for historic designation previously received support and approval from the Historic Preservation Commission and the City Planning Commission.

The cluster of midtown buildings is more than a century old and includes the Jeserich Building, built in 1888, and the Ward Building, built in 1905. Their empty storefronts and Victorian architecture face a busy thoroughfare that will include the streetcar extension in about four years.

Price bought the four buildings at 31st & Main along the planned streetcar route five years ago with no development plan. At the City Plan Commission hearing, the developer presented a 32-story residential concept that calls for “RECREATING” the appearance of the existing historic buildings.

HISTORIC KANSAS CITY works with historic neighborhoods to help them preserve the history and character that is important to them. We believe the residents of the Union Hill neighborhood deserve to have input into such an important decision affecting their neighborhood and that demolition or new construction should not move forward until they have been given a chance to meet with the developer and understand plans.

[Image Michael Kruse]

BACKGROUND HISTORY

TAKE ACTION// SUPPORT HISTORIC DESIGNATION OF 31ST & MAIN STREET

NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

The recommendations of both the City Plan Commission and Historic Preservation Commission now go to the NPDC of the City Council on Wednesday, October 12th at 1:30 PM at city hall, 26th floor.

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Support the historic designation of 31st & Main by submitting a letter or email of support by October 6th  to publicengagement@kcmo.org.

 

See the example template below for your use:

Case No CD-CPC-2022-00120, 31st & Main Historic District
To Members of the _________:
The [NAME OF GROUP] supports the timely listing of the 31st & Main Historic District on the Kansas City Register of Historic Places.
The 31st & Main Historic District is eligible at the local level under National Register Criterion C for ARCHITECTURE as a good example of a grouping of late nineteenth and early twentieth-century commercial architecture and in the area of COMMERCE/TRADE for its example of housing neighborhood businesses and for the John F. Ward Saddlery and Hardware Company. The period of significance is 1888, the construction of the first building, to 1972, the fifty-year cutoff date.
The district includes four structures:
• 3035-37 Main Street, The Ward Building (contributing) Built 1905.
• 3039 Main Street, Union Hill Commons Atrium (noncontributing) Built 1990.
• 3041-45 Main Street, Jeserich Building (contributing) Built 1888.
• 6-10 E 31st Street (contributing) Built 1921.
The 31st & Main Historic District is a good example of a commercial district that served the surrounding neighborhoods in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. It demonstrates commercial Victorian architecture and vernacular commercial architecture of the period. The district with the distinctive Jeserich building at the corner retains integrity and is eligible in the areas of Architecture and Commerce/Trade.
Today, the 31st & Main Historic District contributes [CURRENT BENEFITS TO THE KANSAS CITY].
The [NAME OF GROUP] recommends that the Commission vote to APPROVE Case No CD-CPC-2022-00120, 31st & Main Historic District for listing on the Kansas City Register of Historic Places.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
[NAME OF ORGANIZATION]

 

 

CITY PLAN COMMISSION

On September 20th, 2022, the City Plan Commission recommended approval of case CD-CPC-2022-00120, historic designation of 31st and Main by a vote of 5 – 1.

During the hearing, the PriceMgmtCo. presented a concept for a more than 30-STORY mixed-use development in place of four buildings currently at the corner of 31st and Main streets, though it has not created any development plans to date. The original concept illustrated below was for 12 storys.  Image from case CD-CPC-2022-00120 by B+A ARCHITECTURE for PriceMgmtCo.

 

HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION

On June 24th, the Historic Preservation Commission voted 6-0 to support the Historic Designation of properties at 31st & Main Street to be spared demolition by developer Doug Price of PriceMgmtCo. The landmark designation request submitted by 4th District Representatives Shields and Bunch was supported by Historic Kansas City, the Union Hill Neighborhood Association, and 73 letters of support to the Preservation Commission.

View the Historic District Nomination HERE.

The case will now advance to the City Plan Commission. The application triggers a temporary hold on demolition.

Price bought the four buildings at 31st & Main along the planned streetcar route five years ago with no development plan. At the Historic Preservation Commission hearing, the developer presented a concept for redeveloping the corner that calls for “recreating” the appearance of the existing historic buildings and incorporating them into a 12-story residential project.

Images from Case No CH-PRES-2022-00001, 31st & Main Historic District by B+A ARCHITECTURE for PriceMgmtCo.

 

 

HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION CRITERION

  1. The historic preservation commissionmust hold at least one public hearing on the designation of historic districts. Following the close of the hearing, the historic preservation commission must act to recommend that the proposed designation be approved, approved with modifications, continued for further deliberation, forwarded to the city plan commission with no recommendation, or denied. Five affirmative votes are required to recommend approval or approval with modifications. A majority of those present is required to continue for further deliberation, forward to the city plan commission with no recommendation, or deny the application.

  2. The historic preservation commission may grant a rehearing if the rehearing request includes new evidence to be presented that was not available at the time of the original hearing. The request for a rehearing must be made within 30 days of the date of the historic preservation commission’s original action. No more than one rehearing is permitted.

  3. The findings of the historic preservation commission, must be forwarded to the city plan commission and city councilfor review.

  4. In reviewing and making decisions on proposed historic landmark and historic district designations, the historic preservation commission must consider at least the following factors: a.  the criteria used in determining eligibility for listing on the U.S. Department of Interior’s National Register of Historic Places, including the historic, cultural, aesthetic, or architectural significance of the building, structure, site, object, or district; and b.  conformance with the city’s adopted plans and planning policies; c.  the economic impact of the designation on the subject property and the surrounding area.

 

 

APRIL 28TH – 4TH DISTRICT COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES SPONSOR LOCAL DESIGNATION NOMINATION

TRIGGERS TEMPORARY HOLD ON DEMOLITION!

A local historic district nomination was filed by 4th DISTRICT COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES for properties located at the northeast corner of 31st and Main.

The nomination summary states “The 31st & Main Historic District is a good example of a commercial district that served the surrounding neighborhoods in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. It demonstrates commercial Victorian architecture and vernacular commercial architecture of the period. The district with the distinctive Jeserich building at the corner retains integrity and is eligible in the areas of Architecture and Commerce/Trade.”

The district including four structures:
• 3035-37 Main Street, The Ward Building (contributing) Built 1905.
• 3039 Main Street, Union Hill Commons Atrium (noncontributing) Built 1990.
• 3041-45 Main Street, Jeserich Building (contributing) Built 1888.
• 6-10 E 31st Street (contributing) Built 1921.

View details at CompassKC: https://compasskc.kcmo.org/EnerGov_Prod/SelfService/#/plan/3579fcb9-7f87-416d-a5e4-4a3a8f05ff87

STATEMENT FROM 4th DISTRICT COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES: “These are significant buildings which contribute to the historic integrity of Main Street. We had to act, and we hope to avoid the need to resort to such strong actions in the future.”

TRIGGERS TEMPORARY HOLD ON DEMOLITION Once an application has been filed, no building permit for alteration, construction, demolition, or removal of a property being considered for designation under an application for an HO district may be issued until the historic preservation commission has dismissed or denied the application for designation, or until the city council has denied designation in accordance with the procedures established in 88-580-01-C. and 88-580- 01-E., though no stay on the issuance of a permit may be for more than six months from the filing of the application. Some exemptions can apply.

 

UPDATE APRIL 21// The City’s parcel viewer map, under permits indicates that Industrial Salvage & Wrecking Co. Inc. has applied for a pre-demolition inspection. That is pending. They applied today. It has not yet been assigned to a particular person, only the Permit Section. It is assigned #CPDC-2022-00076 in COMPASS. The addresses listed as impacted are: 3031, 3037, 3039 and 3041 Main, 4, 6, and 8 E. 31st St.

 

 

STATEMENT Wednesday, April 21, 2022//  Historic Kansas City has learned that the Jeserich building, 3041-45 Main, built in 1888, and Lutfi’s Fried Fish, 3035-37 Main, built in 1905, identified by a KC Streetcar federal study as eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, are scheduled to be demolished beginning Wednesday, April 20th. These historic resources tell a unique and important story, define the development history of the community, and provide tangible reminders of the past that create a unique sense of place.

Listed on Historic Kansas City’s “Most Endangered Places List” since 2019, these historic structures are located at the corner of 31st and Main, where a half-dozen properties were acquired by 31 Main LLC C/O Price Management Co. In 2016, this group, previously associated with Price Brothers, razed the Green Gables apartment buildings designed by architect Nelle Peters west of the Country Club Plaza over the objection of HKC and the community. That site remains vacant.

Historic Kansas City has been in contact with the Union Hill Neighborhood, who over the past weekend learned of the planned demolition. At this point, scant information is available. The developer, 31 Main LLC C/O Price Management Co., has not met with the neighborhood to discuss the demolition or any plans for redevelopment on the site. The Union Hill neighborhood supports future development and improvements in the area of 31st and Main, but would like to see as much of the original corner preserved as possible, especially the Jeserich Building which ties in with the predominantly Victorian aesthetic of the adjacent residential area. Incorporating any portion of the original building into any future project would lend authenticity to any newer development and visually connect the neighborhood better to its future streetcar stop.
Although the Main Street Corridor is under the jurisdiction of the Main Street Special Character Overlay District, that status does not include demolition review. Kansas City ordinances do not currently allow pre-demolition review for most historic structures. Snap demolitions proceed with little more than an application filed with the City and a quick counter review. How can an historic building be slated for demolition without any warning or a meaningful review?
The Main Street corridor has lost many historic buildings and many that are left are threatened. The City has no ordinance protection for any significant and meaningful review of snap demolitions of most historic buildings. This building is not protected by listing on the Kansas City Register of Historic Places.

Land assemblage and speculative development is underway, with various developers purchasing large swaths of commercial blocks on Main Street. As the corridor continues to be developed there will be more pressure on the remaining historic buildings to be demolished to make way for large-scale development projects. Developers have now snapped up strategic corners at four of the six streetcar stops between downtown and the Country Club Plaza: 31st, 39th, 45th streets and Armour Blvd.

“In addition to individual properties, Historic Kansas City works with historic neighborhoods to help them preserve the history and character that is important to them. We believe the residents of the Union Hill neighborhood deserve to have input into such an important decision affecting their neighborhood and that demolition should not move forward until they have been given a chance to meet with the developer and understand plans,” said Greg Allen, President, Historic Kansas City.

Is any historic building in this city safe when destruction so readily occurs? The historic and scenic assets of the city must be protected and warrant better.

BACKSTORY//  The Kansas City Streetcar Main Street extension will flank or pass through numerous historic districts as well as several individually listed National Register properties. A significant issue is the loss of the corridor’s remaining historic identity as a unique community within the Midtown area. Land assemblage and speculative development is underway, with various developers purchasing large swaths of commercial blocks on Main Street. As the corridor continues to be successful there will be more pressure on the historic buildings to be demolished to make way for large-scale development projects. Developers have now snapped up strategic corners at four of the six streetcar stops between downtown and the Country Club Plaza: 31st, 39th, and 45th streets, and Armour Blvd.

Although the Main Street Corridor is under the jurisdiction of the Main Street Special Character Overlay District, that status does not include demolition review. In addition, only select areas are included in local historic districts, which do necessitate demolition review. Other locations are without historic district protection, such as the corner of 31st and Main. A half-dozen properties have been acquired by an entity controlled by Price Brothers of Overland Park, including two structures identified by a KC Streetcar federal study as eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places: the 115 year-old Jeserich building, 3041-45 Main; and Lutfi’s Fried Fish, 3035-37 Main. The fate of these properties remains unknown. HKC remains ever watchful and has reached out to area stakeholders.

View Backstory Video Regarding Speculative Development along the Main Street Corridor: https://vimeo.com/581354089