Historic Kansas City works with historic neighborhoods who take the lead and seek our help to preserve the history and character that is important to them. Saving a historic structure takes months to build a coalition, work with city planning and gain the support of councilmembers.
CURRENT STATUS
Friday, May 26th, 2023, the Historic Preservation Commission unanimously recommended the historic designation of the property at 4526 Warwick Blvd against the wishes of the property owner. The decision considered multiple letters of support including Historic Kansas City.
The Southmoreland Neighborhood filed the application and spoke at the hearing. The case will now advance to the City Plan Commission likely in July followed by the City Council. The application triggers a temporary hold on demolition. [Image google earth]
BACKGROUND
A local historic district application was filed by the SOUTHMORELAND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION for the property located at 4526 Warwick Blvd. The application triggers a temporary hold on demolition.
Case CH-PRES-2023-00001 designation application will be heard by the Historic Preservation Commission FRIDAY, MAY 26th, at 9 am at City Hall. The Historic Preservation Commission hearing will be held on the 10th Floor of City Hall and remotely by video conference. Citizens wishing to participate virtually should do so through the video conference platform Zoom, using the link provided by the Historic Preservation Commission.
This is the first of a three-part public hearing process. Only if the Historic Preservation Commission affirms the application by 5 votes will the case advance to the City Plan Commission. View details at CompassKC HERE.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Support the historic designation of 4526 Warwick by submitting a letter or email of support by no later than 5 P.M. WEDNESDAY, MAY 24th to kchp@kcmo.org.
Contact the Southmoreland Neighborhood Association at:
Margot Sims, simsmargot@gmail.com or
Laura Burkhalter, laura.burkhalter@gmail.com
See the example template below for your use:
CH-PRES-2023-00001, 4526 Warwick Blvd
To Members of the Preservation Commission:
The [NAME OF GROUP] supports the timely listing of 4526 Warwick Blvd. on the Kansas City Register of Historic Places.
The George B. Richards house, located at 4526 Warwick Boulevard in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri is eligible for listing to the Kansas City Register of Historic Places under Criterion C, in the area of Architecture. The house and the accompanying carriage house was completed in 1913 for George B Richards, the President of Richards & Conover Hardware Company. The house was designed by Walter C. Root and George M. Siemens of the local prominent firm Root & Siemens, in the popular Classical Revival style. The Richards house and carriage house are architecturally significant as high style examples of the Classical Revival style in Kansas City. Additionally, the George B. Richards house is an integral contributing structure to the historic and cultural fabric of this neighborhood. The primary house and the contributing carriage house retain their integrity and convey their architectural significance through workmanship, materials, placement and design.
Today, 4526 Warwick Blvd contributes [CURRENT BENEFITS TO THE KANSAS CITY].
The [NAME OF GROUP] recommends that the Commission vote to APPROVE CH-PRES-2023-00001, 4526 Warwick Blvd. for listing on the Kansas City Register of Historic Places.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
[NAME OF ORGANIZATION]
BACKGROUND
The property is NOT LISTED on the Kansas City Register of Historic Places; therefore NO PROTECTION is afforded to it.
The permit to kill the water service was issued, April 21, 2023, as WS-E-159901. In addition Public Works issued an excavation permit also as of April 21, 2023 related to the water line [PW-EXC-2023-01851]. Both were applied for by Charles Cacioppo of Industrial Salvage and Wrecking. The traffic control permit is pending. All of this would be preliminary to the demolition permit.
Per the listing agent representing owner they envision a high rise in its location. The agent marketed the property as high-rise. R-0.5, R-5. Yet, the site is within the Plaza Bowl Concept Area within the Midtown Plaza Area Plan, which recommends a MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF 45 FT.
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 demolished without any warning or a meaningful review? We believe the residents of this city deserve to have input into such an important decision affecting their neighborhood and the broader community and that demolition should not move forward until they have been given a chance to meet with the developer and understand their plans. Is any historic building in this city safe when destruction so readily occurs? The historic and cultural assets of the city must be protected and warrant better.
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.