READ THE RECENTLY ADOPTED CITYWIDE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN
The Historic Preservation Plan was adopted November 30, 2023 as part of the broader PlanKCK Citywide Comprehensive Plan. Read the plan below.
Historic Preservation is the conservation and safeguarding of historically significant properties and buildings. This is done through the continued use of historic and/or in-kind materials to repair and maintain the property and sharing the history of the property with the community.
Please direct any questions or comments to Randy Greeves, Historic Preservationist, at 913-573-5763 or rlgreeves@wycokck.org.
Citywide Historic Preservation Plan
In 2023, the Department of Planning + Urban Design launched the first ever Citywide Historic Preservation Plan in Kansas City, Kansas. This plan will define areas in need of historic surveys, project that can support existing landmarks and districts, and define a historic preservation strategy for the next 10 years. This planning effort will rely on the engagement from and support of community members and businesses to realize future preservation efforts.
Creation of a Kansas City, Kansas Historic Commercial District
The creation of a Historic District in Downtown Kansas City, Kansas will bring recognition to the city's history and preserve that history for future generations. This project is 30 years in the making and represents one of the largest undertaking by the Department of Planning and Urban Design through its Historic Preservation office. This listing on the National Register of Historic Places will pave the way for historic buildings to have access to tax rebates and grants to repair and rehabilitate those buildings and help bring economic revitalization to Downtown Kansas City.
Unified Government DotMaps allows the public to see their community through different layers of data, which includes historic landmarks, districts, and environs. When using this program for historic preservation, choose “Landmarks” in the layer list and click the check marks for Historic Districts, Historic District Environs, Historic Landmarks, and Historic Landmarks Environs to learn more about the historic resources in your community.
The majority of historically designated homes are in the Parkwood, Westheight Manor, and Hanover Heights Neighborhoods. If you are unsure if your home is historic or not, open DotMaps, click the layer list, select Landmarks, and ensure that the layers for Historic Districts, Historic District Environs, Historic Landmarks, and Historic Landmarks Environs are on and then search your address. When in doubt feel free to contact our Historic Preservationist, Randy Greeves at (913) 573-5763 or rlgreeves@wycokck.org.
Another online resource is the Kansas Historic Resources Inventory (KHRI), where you can simply type in your address and any information about your property will be provided.
“My House is Historic, what do I have to do differently?”
Any new construction or exterior renovations to properties within a Historic District or Historic Landmark, or within a buffer zone (environs) of either or both is required to be reviewed by the Kansas State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and/or the Unified Government Department of Planning + Urban Design before seeking building permits to ensure that the proposed work is within the standards set by the Secretary of the Interior, Kansas State Law, and Kansas City, Kansas ordinances.
This also means that Historic Tax Credits are available to help offset the cost of repairing a Historic Building.
Any new construction or exterior renovations to properties within a Historic District or Historic Landmark, or within a buffer zone (environs) of either or both is required to be reviewed by the Kansas State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and/or the Unified Government Department of Planning + Urban Design before seeking building permits to ensure that the proposed work is within the standards set by the Secretary of the Interior, Kansas State Law, and Kansas City, Kansas ordinances.
The first step is to fill out a Landmarks Application (linked below) and submit it along with pictures of your home, your building plans, and your material specifications sheets (maybe provide some examples of what that looks like).
Once you submit these documents the Unified Government’s Historic Preservationist will advise you which historic review process will be required based on what kind of historic designation the property has and what kind of work is being proposed. The are three (3) types of reviews, including:
Certificate of Appropriateness: Local review process for all properties listed on the Local, State, and Federal Register of Historic Places. This review takes around 60 days to complete and requires approval from the Landmarks Commission.
Kansas State Law Review: Used on all permits listed on the State and Federal Register of Historic Places as required by Kansas State Law (K.S.A 75-2724). This review can be done administratively by staff or done as part of a Certificate of Appropriateness review.
Environs Review: Local review process of any property located within 200 feet of a building or district listed on the Kansas City, Kansas Register of Historic Places. This review process is done administratively and takes up to 30 days to complete.
There is a review time of up to (30) business days with SHPO in addition to the technical review time of construction drawings with the UG. No Building Permits will be issued until a Historic Landmarks Review is complete.
If you hire a contractor to do the work, ensure that they obtain the proper permits before they begin work.
The Kansas City, Kansas Landmarks Commission is responsible for overseeing the preservation of the KCK’s heritage by recommending the designation of historic sites, districts, environs, historic applications, and educating the public as well as decision makers of the value of historic preservation.
Established by Sec. 27-100 et.seq and consists of (11) members, which are appointed by the UG Board of Commissioners. The members of the Commission shall be residents of Wyandotte County and shall be persons who have demonstrated special interest, knowledge, or experience in fields related to Historic Preservation.
Responsibilities
Members
| David Meditz, Chairman |
Karen French, Vice Chairperson |
| Beverly Easterwood |
Charles Van Middlesworth |
| Hank Chamberlain |
James Schraeder |
| Loren Taylor |
Micki Welcome-Hill |
| Murrel Bland |
Stephen Craddock |
A historic landmarks review performed by our Historic Preservationist, anytime there are any alterations to a historic landmark, a property within a historic district, or a property that is within the environs of a historic district and/or landmark, as well as any time a property is nominated for listing on the local, state, or federal register of historic places.
Found below is our historic landmarks review application, landmarks commission deadlines calendar, minimum submission requirements, fee schedule, and file naming standards.
There have been numerous surveys taken within KCK’s historic districts and neighborhoods, including surveys for Strawberry Hill, Parkwood, Westheight Manor, Downtown KCK, and the Quindaro Townsite. For all historical surveys, see below:
Historic Surveys and Other Resources
Strawberry Hill – A Neighborhood Study (October 1, 1982)(PDF, 41MB)
Quindaro and Western University Historic District (March 1, 1984)(PDF, 701KB)
Historic Inventory – Phase 1 Survey Parkwood The Third Ward 10th Street and Shawnee Road Hanover Heights (September 30, 1987)(PDF, 16MB)
Historic Inventory – Phase 2 Survey_Kerr Park, Arickaree, and Westheight Manor_St. Peter Parish Kansas City University (August 31, 1988)(PDF, 31MB)
Historic Inventory – Phase 3 Survey Westheight Manor (April 30, 1989)(PDF, 49MB)
Historic Inventory – Phase 4 Survey Rose and Peterson Architects (March 31, 1992)(PDF, 28MB)
Historic Inventory – Phase 5 Survey Downtown Kansas City, Kansas (December 31, 1993)(PDF, 3MB)
Strawberry Hill Neighborhood - Cultural Resource Survey (August 29, 2012)(PDF, 5MB)
Downtown Kansas City, Kansas Historic Resource Survey (September 1, 2016)(PDF, 6MB)
Quindaro – Kansas Territorial Free-State Port on the Missouri River Historical Background(PDF, 3MB)
"The Afro-American Community in KCK - A History" - 1982(PDF, 119MB)