Historic Preservation

Kansas City is rich with historic resources, from historic homes, residential districts, and developed commercial areas to fountains, monuments, parks, and sculptures to battlefields, archaeological sites, and frontier trails. These unique assets give Kansas City a sense of place and character. To ensure historic resources are preserved, the city must incorporate historic preservation objectives into all city plans, including citywide, area, trails, and community health plans. It is also critical that the city intentionally preserves its most well-known historic resources, including the city’s Historic (Legacy) Parks and Boulevard System and historic commercial and residential districts. By drawing on preservation’s demonstrated strengths, bolstering existing programs, and creating new preservation mechanisms, Kansas City can protect valuable resources and coordinate the processes for this protection.

Preservation efforts must capitalize on the historic assets in the oldest parts of the city, of course, but also in areas developed after World War II (such as Kansas City’s first suburbs) and structures just old enough to be considered for historic designation.

The heritage and cultural tourism industry is growing rapidly, and public support for preservation-related sustainability, such as repurposing building materials or retaining structures rather than demolishing them, is strong. Kansas City can capitalize on both of these trends in its preservation efforts to meet historic preservation and environmental sustainability goals. The preservation and reuse of existing structures results in less environmental degradation and greenhouse gas emissions than what typically results from demolition and new construction.

The Historic Preservation Objective outlines initiatives to fully integrate historic preservation into Kansas City’s development review and approval process. Most importantly, it provides strategies for preservation to play a key role in completing Kansas City’s transformation into a more vibrant, diverse, and cohesive community.


INDICATORS OF SUCCESS

If this Objective is successfully implemented, the city’s collective heritage and diverse communities will be preserved. Kansas City will continue to have a unique, powerful sense of place that is reflected in its historic landmarks, sites, and neighborhoods. People will be more aware of the importance of historic preservation and the tax credits and other programs that make it possible. Historic preservation efforts will revitalize older parts of the city while providing an economic boost through heritage tourism.


BENEFITS

  • Continued preservation of Kansas City’s historic landmarks, sites, and neighborhoods
  • Recognition of the city’s wealth of historical and archaeological resources
  • Creation of rehabilitation jobs (which leads to more construction jobs per project), with income fed back into the local economy
  • Thriving heritage tourism that creates jobs, attracts new businesses, increases property values, improves quality of life, and builds community pride
  • Sustainability in redevelopment efforts by using existing structures, resources, and materials
  • Historic resources that reflect Kansas City’s cultural diversity


CONTEXT

Kansas City’s historic resources helps its resident celebrate and learn from the past. They can also be a powerful catalyst for equitable redevelopment.

For more context, click HERE.


MEASURES OF SUCCESS

  • Historic (or eligible for historic register listing) resource demolition (decrease)


KEY CONCEPTS

Accelerate the identification and evaluation of historic resources

A big part of historic preservation in Kansas City is the ongoing identification and evaluation of historic resources through surveys. Surveys provide historic context that can inform and guide new development in historic areas. Preservation planning works when the city knows the number, location, and significance of standing and buried resources. This knowledge can be used to:

  • Protect significant resources from demolition and unsympathetic alteration
  • Determine the location and distribution of resources for planning, development, and incentive programs
  • Facilitate planning and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations
  • Establish funding priorities for further evaluation and protection

Information from surveys also can be used to implement other plan goals. For example, neighborhood development groups can use survey data to assess resources, so they avoid destroying or significantly altering properties which might qualify for federal, state or local preservation incentives. Archaeological survey data can alert a developer to buried historical resources during the planning stage or allow property owners a chance to donate easements as charitable contributions.

Improve economic viability and better utilize the benefits of historic preservation
Since the early 1980s, preservation has proven to be a useful tool for revitalization. When paired with incentive programs, it’s a particularly powerful tool for economic development. Demonstrated long-term benefits include:
  • New businesses
  • More private investment
  • More tourism
  • Increased property values
  • Enhanced quality of life and community pride
  • New jobs
  • Land-use patterns that are compatible with each other
  • Increased property and sales tax revenues
  • Dilution of pockets of deterioration and poverty

Kansas City can reap these benefits by better using federal, state and local preservation programs and rewarding preservation projects with incentives.

Modify regulatory processes to encourage preservation

City preservation processes, like all governmental programs, should protect historic resources in an efficient, convenient, clear, and reliable way, with the "citizen-as-customer" operating principle. As the preservation movement evolved and merged into city planning programs, it became more complex and varied in its applications. In planning for the future, preservation ordinances, policies and procedures must be fully integrated into all city agencies and partners for planning and economic development.

Increase public awareness of the city’s heritage and preservation values and issues

Promoting appreciation for Kansas City’s collective heritage – the history of its trails, neighborhoods, parks and boulevards, and its great landmark buildings – is vital to build civic pride, respect for the environment and, ultimately, support for preservation. Heritage education should be part of life-long learning in Kansas City. To understand and value their community, future generations must understand how it works, how it formed, who helped shape it, and what gave it meaning. Heritage education encourages people to feel they’re part of a larger whole, part of a community which has meaning and identity.

Promote heritage tourism as an economic development program
Kansas City has a great economic opportunity with its historic resources. Counting only the spending attributable to the heritage portion of their travels, expenditures of Missouri heritage travelers amount to $660 million annually. This translates into annual economic benefits to the state of 20,077 jobs, $325 million in income, $574 million in gross state product, $79 million in state and local taxes and annual instate wealth creation of $506 million. Between 10 and 20 percent of every dollar spent by visitors goes into the coffers of state and local government. One-third of all vacationing families visit historic sites.


COMMUNITY SUPPORTED ACTIONS (CSAs)


Accelerate the identification and evaluation of historic resources
HP-1
Increase the volume of historic/architectural properties surveyed beyond current levels
  • Create volunteer survey guide as part of creation of online survey database
  • Create an online survey database with mapping that allows the public to view and submit survey information on historic properties
  • Create a framework to prioritize survey areas that includes equity, underrepresented communities and resources and sustainability goals for the city
  • Create an online map to identify future areas for preservation and survey
HP-2
Establish a formal archaeological survey program in conformance with “Planning for the Past: Archaeological Resources Management in Kansas City, Missouri - Program Recommendations”
  • Update predictive model for Kansas City to identify areas of high, medium and low probability for archaeological sites
  • Update Kansas City Archaeological Survey Master Plan
  • Provide guidance to individuals whose projects impact archaeological resources to minimize impacts and what are the appropriate procedures to recover resources
HP-3
Improve ability to evaluate, apply, and disseminate survey data
  • Update Kansas City's Historic Resource Survey Plan
  • Post existing historic resource surveys online
HP-4
Work with Parks Departments on strategies to preserve the historic character of the system.
  • Complete the National Register of Historic Places Nomination for the historic resources identified in the Kansas City System of Parks and Boulevards National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form
  • Develop historic landscape preservation guidelines
  • Collaborate with the Parks Department when adding new facilities to the boulevard system, such as bike lanes
  • Initiate a historic resource management plan for Parks and Recreation according to the Certified Local Government Standards which incorporate a project impact analysis by independent preservation professionals in an advisory capacity to the staff and Board of Park Commissioners


Improve economic viability and better utilize the benefits of historic preservation
HP-5
Target public incentives to projects in areas with existing public infrastructure and significant historic resources
  • Give incentive priority to significant historic resources that are economically viable and/or those that will have an impact on surrounding properties
  • Partner with the Economic Development Corporation to train a staff person to specialize in the rehabilitation of historic properties
  • Maximize the use of incentives by combining them into tool kits to address preservation in the context of other issues in older neighborhoods and commercial centers
  • Target the use of CDBG funds to programs which positively affect areas with historic resources
  • Target historic multi-family residential development and small to medium neighborhood commercial centers for incentives
HP-6
Develop new economic and regulatory incentives to encourage the renovation and occupancy of historic buildings
  • Develop a tax abatement program for the rehabilitation of Kansas City Register designated properties
  • Provide incentives to owners who occupy or businesses who lease space in historic non-residential buildings
  • Provide financial assistance for home improvements within residential historic districts
  • Utilize Federal and State grant funding to establish revolving rehabilitation loan funds and emergency stabilization loans for significant residential and commercial historic properties in neighborhoods which have adopted revitalization plans
  • Complete a study of the economic impacts of historic preservation in Kansas City to guide future incentives
HP-7
Eliminate disincentives to preservation of historically significant commercial and residential properties
  • Revise appraisal policies for historic properties to reduce property taxes and, therefore, reduce incentive to demolish or allow demolition by neglect
  • Revise the property tax code to encourage rehabilitation rather than demolition
  • Utilize, where possible, incentive programs for abatement of environmental hazards in significant historic buildings
  • Provide small development projects funding support for the administrative costs of incentive programs
  • Develop a fee schedule for building permits that is lower for rehabilitation than for new construction
  • Exempt owners of property listed on the Kansas City Register from building permit fees upon issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness
Modify regulatory processes to encourage preservation
HP-8
Strengthen and streamline the historic preservation ordinance
  • Create a demolition delay review as part of historic preservation ordinance and a deconstruction requirement
  • Integrate assessor building dates into parcel viewer to assist in the determination of potentially historic buildings that are over 40 years old
  • Create regulations to specifically address protection of historic landscapes, greenspaces, parks and boulevards
  • Work with Parks Department on guidelines and a review process for properties adjacent to historic boulevards and within a local historic district
  • Create strategies to increase awareness of requirements within a local historic district and new enforcement methods
  • Work with counties on agreement to notify new property owners of the historic designation of their properties
HP-9
Streamline and tailor the City's general review and regulatory processes to keep them from becoming a disincentive for renovation projects
  • Amend the Zoning Ordinance to be compatible with Citywide preservation goals
  • Ensure the compatibility of new development and discourage the destruction of sound, older buildings in neighborhoods with a cohesive character
  • Provide for protection of significant archaeological resources
  • Allow for mixed uses in large, older buildings that are economically difficult to maintain as single use buildings and that would otherwise fall into disrepair or be abandoned
  • Allow for partial use of a larger historic building and complexes that are to be completed in phases
  • Permit compatible infill development of small vacant lots which are otherwise a blighting influence on neighborhoods
  • Allow for flexible setback regulations in established neighborhoods so that a new building can be constructed with respect to adjacent building setbacks
  • Continue the revitalization and 24-hour use of the Urban Core by allowing new mixed-use development and higher density in some areas
  • Require the consideration of harmony between new and existing development as a criterion in development plan review and for special exceptions
  • Provide for pedestrian-oriented neighborhood commercial developments which would serve older, established areas
  • Provide for transitional height allowances around lower scale historic districts and residential areas adjacent to the central business district
  • Provide for improved design standards for new commercial, industrial and higher density residential developments
  • Continue to update building and fire code for older buildings as the city adopts updates to the International Building Code
  • Accelerate the review process for construction and renovation projects within historic districts
  • Create district specific guidelines to clarify the requirements for rehabilitations and infill to streamline the approval process
  • Create guidelines for historic properties that address proposed alterations for sustainability and climate change goals but balance the preservation of historic character of buildings and landscapes
HP-10
Integrate preservation goals into city processes, policies, and plans
  • Develop a historic resources analysis process to assist in determining the impact of all public funding and local incentive projects on significant historic resources early in the planning process. In addition to determining the significance of an older property, it should also include a determination of the economic viability for rehabilitation.
  • Develop a vehicle to consistently utilize the Main Street program in and along small neighborhood commercial centers
  • Develop and adopt proactive rehabilitation alternatives and coordinate polices to actively promote rehabilitation of deteriorated and dangerous buildings in addition to demolition, which would include:
    • Expanding the minor home repair program
    • Develop legal mechanisms to stop decline and pursue rehabilitation of abandoned properties
    • Market programs for rehabilitated, vacant and deteriorated, properties prior to and after rehabilitation
    • In low-income historic neighborhoods, involve the city as a financial partner with banks in the development of historic residential and commercial properties
  • Develop programs to protect significant abandoned and endangered historic properties, including:
    • Establishing policy and procedures on how the Homesteading Authority might prioritize acquisition of abandoned historic properties
    • Establishing a mothball and marketing fund for vacant buildings listed in National and Local registers
    • Developing a land conservation program to protect historic, natural and scenic resources, including parks, open space, scenic views, trails, archaeological sites, and other landscape elements
  • Work with neighborhoods and public entities to notify property owners about incentives and/or restrictions related to designated properties or properties eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places
  • Incorporate institutional planning into the development and land use regulatory process
  • Implement an institutional zoning overlay with design guidelines and parameters compatible with base zoning designation
  • Create incentives and disincentives which are aimed at securing participation in comprehensive neighborhood planning and mitigating the impact on significant historic resources
  • Integrate historic preservation recommendations into the area plans by using historic survey data, property age, recommendations from the survey master plan and the public to prioritize the preservation of buildings and neighborhoods
  • Identify resources which are eligible for preservation grant-in-aid funds and other federal incentives.
  • Provide consistent criteria for rehabilitation vs. demolition
  • Assist in targeting properties for local incentives
  • Provide design guidelines for rehabilitation and new construction in older neighborhoods without design review which have proven to stabilize property values and provide long-term viability
  • Include the protection of historic resources as a criterion in the acquisition of public parks
  • Establish policies to direct the city's role as a participant on the Land Bank of Kansas City, MO which include guidelines for addressing significant historic properties
  • Establish notice and coordination procedures between the professional staff of all regulatory bodies
  • As a part of budgetary expenditures, require an inventory and cyclical maintenance program for all city-owned historic institutional buildings, including those under the administrative jurisdiction of appointed boards
  • Encourage public entities to own or lease space in historic buildings
  • Use historic institutional buildings as locations for community anchors and for other city programs
  • Identify single and multi-family housing types in existing or potentially historic areas that can provide affordable and missing middle housing
  • Encourage the use of overlays, such as Neighborhood Character, Special Character and Pedestrian Oriented Overlays to conserve the character of neighborhoods that are not historically listed
Increase public awareness of the city’s heritage and preservation values and issues
HP-11
Create and promote a Heritage Tourism program or other tourist destinations that will attract visitors to Kansas City (like the African American Heritage Trail)
HP-12
Promote existing cultural programs, community events and festivals and partner in new programs that highlight the character of the variety of cultures in Kansas City
HP-13
Pursue strategies to enhance cultural tourism, improve arts promotion, facilitate redevelopment through the arts, leverage the arts to help “brand” Kansas City, and other opportunities
HP-14
Utilize the city as a laboratory for heritage education for lifelong learning
  • Encourage area schools to make the history of Kansas City part of the history curriculum, just as national and state history are now incorporated into the curriculum
  • Encourage area schools to require in-service training for educators at historic sites through grants, incentives and regular budgetary allocations
  • Develop guided and self-guided walking tours designed for all ages and available at public sites in tour areas
    • Integrate this into the city and region's tourism program
  • Develop educational curricula that links historic preservation with environmental issues
  • Develop a public archaeology program in cooperation with other metropolitan area sites to provide learning experiences in the field
  • Work with local contracting, trade, building, and educational institutions to create programs to train craftsmen who specialize in the rehabilitation and restoration of historic properties
HP-15
Develop marketing/education programs to promote economic investment in heritage areas.
  • Publish a building rehabilitation guidebook containing information collected from all city and private programs relating to building rehabilitation
  • Create a building rehabilitation guide for smaller historic apartment buildings that includes historic guidelines and possible incentives
  • Develop press packets with preservation contacts, long lead articles about upcoming preservation events, and special interest topics useful for research or "filler" copy
  • Cultivate media interest in preservation issues around a consistent set of messages, including:
    • Preservation as a tool for revitalization
    • Preservation as a contribution to quality of life
    • Heritage tourism
    • Promotion of expanded use of the rehabilitation tax credits and façade and open space easements
    • Story ideas around themes formatted for all types of media by public relations professionals
  • Develop a marketing program to encourage use of historic properties, including:
    • Listing of available historical commercial properties for lease or sale
    • Listing of historic commercial and residential properties for sale
    • Listing of rentable historic facilities for special events
    • Listing of vacant historic properties available for redevelopment
    • Training real estate professionals in marketing historic properties
  • Create guide to programs that address environmental issues that are common with rehabilitating historic properties
  • Publish a summary of preservation programs and procedures. Use neighborhood associations to distribute information to both property owners and residents
  • Establish public/private partnership with the preservation community to continue or created the following programs:
    • Create an association of local historic districts for educational and advocacy purposes and to "mentor" other neighborhoods in initiating preservation programs
    • Include "in progress" renovations in homes tours
    • Conduct regular workshop series demonstrating preservation techniques
    • Create a research index which outlines how to research a property and where to find different types of information
    • Create an ongoing index which outlines the various sources of information available on restoration and rehabilitation techniques
    • Create webpage with links to preservation and rehabilitation information
    • Encourage area public libraries to carry materials on preservation and rehabilitation topics
HP-16
Create products and activities to educate elected officials and city staff, developers, investors, planners, contractors and design professionals about the advantages of preservation.
  • Create an annual report on historic preservation activities in the city and present during Historic Preservation Month.
  • Target private groups for specific educational programs, including:
    • Annual seminars for the lending community about the economic benefits of rehabilitation and which encourage compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977
    • Cooperative programs with professionals, contractor associations, and building trades to train in preservation methodology and procedures. Include training as part of a "certification" process and as a criterion for referral listing.
  • Develop training modules for city staff on the processes, applications and benefits of historic preservation, including:
    • A Staff Preservation Handbook which explains the preservation policies and criteria, designation process, and available incentives.
      • Include information on Federal compliance, code requirements and the American with Disabilities Act.
    • Regularly distribute information on preservation activities directed to elected and appointed officials and city agencies.
Promote heritage tourism as an economic development program
HP-17
Develop a comprehensive heritage tourism program which integrates historic sites and vendors into program planning and implementation.
  • Develop a significant historic destination at the Kansas City River Front area which incorporates the Town of Kansas Archaeological Site.
  • Create a Kansas City Heritage Corridor. Use technology to engage the public in preservation of historic assets, similar to the African American Heritage Trail and the Riverfront Heritage Trail.
  • Through the National Trust Heritage Tourism Program, enlist the participation of all metropolitan historic sites and museums to conduct a comprehensive management and interpretive assessment and develop a cooperative marketing and program plan, including:
    • Assessing current attractions, visitor services, organizational capabilities, preservation resources and marketing programs
    • Establishing priorities and measurable goals through organizing human and financial resources
    • Preparing for visitors through development of long-term management goals which protect historic resources
    • Marketing for success through development of a multi-year, multiple-tier targeted marketing plan involving local, regional, state, and national partners


RELATED LINKS

  • Affordable Community
  • Cultural Amenities
  • Desirable Place
  • Equitable and Fiscally Sustainable
  • History and Heritage
  • KC Uniqueness
  • Livable Neighborhoods and Diverse Housing
  • Physical Beauty
  • Addressing Disinvestment
  • Community Engagement
  • Housing Affordability
  • Welcoming Spaces
Related Plans and Policies

REFERENCES

[1] Economic Impacts of Historic Preservation in Missouri, 2002.




Kansas City is rich with historic resources, from historic homes, residential districts, and developed commercial areas to fountains, monuments, parks, and sculptures to battlefields, archaeological sites, and frontier trails. These unique assets give Kansas City a sense of place and character. To ensure historic resources are preserved, the city must incorporate historic preservation objectives into all city plans, including citywide, area, trails, and community health plans. It is also critical that the city intentionally preserves its most well-known historic resources, including the city’s Historic (Legacy) Parks and Boulevard System and historic commercial and residential districts. By drawing on preservation’s demonstrated strengths, bolstering existing programs, and creating new preservation mechanisms, Kansas City can protect valuable resources and coordinate the processes for this protection.

Preservation efforts must capitalize on the historic assets in the oldest parts of the city, of course, but also in areas developed after World War II (such as Kansas City’s first suburbs) and structures just old enough to be considered for historic designation.

The heritage and cultural tourism industry is growing rapidly, and public support for preservation-related sustainability, such as repurposing building materials or retaining structures rather than demolishing them, is strong. Kansas City can capitalize on both of these trends in its preservation efforts to meet historic preservation and environmental sustainability goals. The preservation and reuse of existing structures results in less environmental degradation and greenhouse gas emissions than what typically results from demolition and new construction.

The Historic Preservation Objective outlines initiatives to fully integrate historic preservation into Kansas City’s development review and approval process. Most importantly, it provides strategies for preservation to play a key role in completing Kansas City’s transformation into a more vibrant, diverse, and cohesive community.


INDICATORS OF SUCCESS

If this Objective is successfully implemented, the city’s collective heritage and diverse communities will be preserved. Kansas City will continue to have a unique, powerful sense of place that is reflected in its historic landmarks, sites, and neighborhoods. People will be more aware of the importance of historic preservation and the tax credits and other programs that make it possible. Historic preservation efforts will revitalize older parts of the city while providing an economic boost through heritage tourism.


BENEFITS

  • Continued preservation of Kansas City’s historic landmarks, sites, and neighborhoods
  • Recognition of the city’s wealth of historical and archaeological resources
  • Creation of rehabilitation jobs (which leads to more construction jobs per project), with income fed back into the local economy
  • Thriving heritage tourism that creates jobs, attracts new businesses, increases property values, improves quality of life, and builds community pride
  • Sustainability in redevelopment efforts by using existing structures, resources, and materials
  • Historic resources that reflect Kansas City’s cultural diversity


CONTEXT

Kansas City’s historic resources helps its resident celebrate and learn from the past. They can also be a powerful catalyst for equitable redevelopment.

For more context, click HERE.


MEASURES OF SUCCESS

  • Historic (or eligible for historic register listing) resource demolition (decrease)


KEY CONCEPTS

Accelerate the identification and evaluation of historic resources

A big part of historic preservation in Kansas City is the ongoing identification and evaluation of historic resources through surveys. Surveys provide historic context that can inform and guide new development in historic areas. Preservation planning works when the city knows the number, location, and significance of standing and buried resources. This knowledge can be used to:

  • Protect significant resources from demolition and unsympathetic alteration
  • Determine the location and distribution of resources for planning, development, and incentive programs
  • Facilitate planning and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations
  • Establish funding priorities for further evaluation and protection

Information from surveys also can be used to implement other plan goals. For example, neighborhood development groups can use survey data to assess resources, so they avoid destroying or significantly altering properties which might qualify for federal, state or local preservation incentives. Archaeological survey data can alert a developer to buried historical resources during the planning stage or allow property owners a chance to donate easements as charitable contributions.

Improve economic viability and better utilize the benefits of historic preservation
Since the early 1980s, preservation has proven to be a useful tool for revitalization. When paired with incentive programs, it’s a particularly powerful tool for economic development. Demonstrated long-term benefits include:
  • New businesses
  • More private investment
  • More tourism
  • Increased property values
  • Enhanced quality of life and community pride
  • New jobs
  • Land-use patterns that are compatible with each other
  • Increased property and sales tax revenues
  • Dilution of pockets of deterioration and poverty

Kansas City can reap these benefits by better using federal, state and local preservation programs and rewarding preservation projects with incentives.

Modify regulatory processes to encourage preservation

City preservation processes, like all governmental programs, should protect historic resources in an efficient, convenient, clear, and reliable way, with the "citizen-as-customer" operating principle. As the preservation movement evolved and merged into city planning programs, it became more complex and varied in its applications. In planning for the future, preservation ordinances, policies and procedures must be fully integrated into all city agencies and partners for planning and economic development.

Increase public awareness of the city’s heritage and preservation values and issues

Promoting appreciation for Kansas City’s collective heritage – the history of its trails, neighborhoods, parks and boulevards, and its great landmark buildings – is vital to build civic pride, respect for the environment and, ultimately, support for preservation. Heritage education should be part of life-long learning in Kansas City. To understand and value their community, future generations must understand how it works, how it formed, who helped shape it, and what gave it meaning. Heritage education encourages people to feel they’re part of a larger whole, part of a community which has meaning and identity.

Promote heritage tourism as an economic development program
Kansas City has a great economic opportunity with its historic resources. Counting only the spending attributable to the heritage portion of their travels, expenditures of Missouri heritage travelers amount to $660 million annually. This translates into annual economic benefits to the state of 20,077 jobs, $325 million in income, $574 million in gross state product, $79 million in state and local taxes and annual instate wealth creation of $506 million. Between 10 and 20 percent of every dollar spent by visitors goes into the coffers of state and local government. One-third of all vacationing families visit historic sites.


COMMUNITY SUPPORTED ACTIONS (CSAs)


Accelerate the identification and evaluation of historic resources
HP-1
Increase the volume of historic/architectural properties surveyed beyond current levels
  • Create volunteer survey guide as part of creation of online survey database
  • Create an online survey database with mapping that allows the public to view and submit survey information on historic properties
  • Create a framework to prioritize survey areas that includes equity, underrepresented communities and resources and sustainability goals for the city
  • Create an online map to identify future areas for preservation and survey
HP-2
Establish a formal archaeological survey program in conformance with “Planning for the Past: Archaeological Resources Management in Kansas City, Missouri - Program Recommendations”
  • Update predictive model for Kansas City to identify areas of high, medium and low probability for archaeological sites
  • Update Kansas City Archaeological Survey Master Plan
  • Provide guidance to individuals whose projects impact archaeological resources to minimize impacts and what are the appropriate procedures to recover resources
HP-3
Improve ability to evaluate, apply, and disseminate survey data
  • Update Kansas City's Historic Resource Survey Plan
  • Post existing historic resource surveys online
HP-4
Work with Parks Departments on strategies to preserve the historic character of the system.
  • Complete the National Register of Historic Places Nomination for the historic resources identified in the Kansas City System of Parks and Boulevards National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form
  • Develop historic landscape preservation guidelines
  • Collaborate with the Parks Department when adding new facilities to the boulevard system, such as bike lanes
  • Initiate a historic resource management plan for Parks and Recreation according to the Certified Local Government Standards which incorporate a project impact analysis by independent preservation professionals in an advisory capacity to the staff and Board of Park Commissioners


Improve economic viability and better utilize the benefits of historic preservation
HP-5
Target public incentives to projects in areas with existing public infrastructure and significant historic resources
  • Give incentive priority to significant historic resources that are economically viable and/or those that will have an impact on surrounding properties
  • Partner with the Economic Development Corporation to train a staff person to specialize in the rehabilitation of historic properties
  • Maximize the use of incentives by combining them into tool kits to address preservation in the context of other issues in older neighborhoods and commercial centers
  • Target the use of CDBG funds to programs which positively affect areas with historic resources
  • Target historic multi-family residential development and small to medium neighborhood commercial centers for incentives
HP-6
Develop new economic and regulatory incentives to encourage the renovation and occupancy of historic buildings
  • Develop a tax abatement program for the rehabilitation of Kansas City Register designated properties
  • Provide incentives to owners who occupy or businesses who lease space in historic non-residential buildings
  • Provide financial assistance for home improvements within residential historic districts
  • Utilize Federal and State grant funding to establish revolving rehabilitation loan funds and emergency stabilization loans for significant residential and commercial historic properties in neighborhoods which have adopted revitalization plans
  • Complete a study of the economic impacts of historic preservation in Kansas City to guide future incentives
HP-7
Eliminate disincentives to preservation of historically significant commercial and residential properties
  • Revise appraisal policies for historic properties to reduce property taxes and, therefore, reduce incentive to demolish or allow demolition by neglect
  • Revise the property tax code to encourage rehabilitation rather than demolition
  • Utilize, where possible, incentive programs for abatement of environmental hazards in significant historic buildings
  • Provide small development projects funding support for the administrative costs of incentive programs
  • Develop a fee schedule for building permits that is lower for rehabilitation than for new construction
  • Exempt owners of property listed on the Kansas City Register from building permit fees upon issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness
Modify regulatory processes to encourage preservation
HP-8
Strengthen and streamline the historic preservation ordinance
  • Create a demolition delay review as part of historic preservation ordinance and a deconstruction requirement
  • Integrate assessor building dates into parcel viewer to assist in the determination of potentially historic buildings that are over 40 years old
  • Create regulations to specifically address protection of historic landscapes, greenspaces, parks and boulevards
  • Work with Parks Department on guidelines and a review process for properties adjacent to historic boulevards and within a local historic district
  • Create strategies to increase awareness of requirements within a local historic district and new enforcement methods
  • Work with counties on agreement to notify new property owners of the historic designation of their properties
HP-9
Streamline and tailor the City's general review and regulatory processes to keep them from becoming a disincentive for renovation projects
  • Amend the Zoning Ordinance to be compatible with Citywide preservation goals
  • Ensure the compatibility of new development and discourage the destruction of sound, older buildings in neighborhoods with a cohesive character
  • Provide for protection of significant archaeological resources
  • Allow for mixed uses in large, older buildings that are economically difficult to maintain as single use buildings and that would otherwise fall into disrepair or be abandoned
  • Allow for partial use of a larger historic building and complexes that are to be completed in phases
  • Permit compatible infill development of small vacant lots which are otherwise a blighting influence on neighborhoods
  • Allow for flexible setback regulations in established neighborhoods so that a new building can be constructed with respect to adjacent building setbacks
  • Continue the revitalization and 24-hour use of the Urban Core by allowing new mixed-use development and higher density in some areas
  • Require the consideration of harmony between new and existing development as a criterion in development plan review and for special exceptions
  • Provide for pedestrian-oriented neighborhood commercial developments which would serve older, established areas
  • Provide for transitional height allowances around lower scale historic districts and residential areas adjacent to the central business district
  • Provide for improved design standards for new commercial, industrial and higher density residential developments
  • Continue to update building and fire code for older buildings as the city adopts updates to the International Building Code
  • Accelerate the review process for construction and renovation projects within historic districts
  • Create district specific guidelines to clarify the requirements for rehabilitations and infill to streamline the approval process
  • Create guidelines for historic properties that address proposed alterations for sustainability and climate change goals but balance the preservation of historic character of buildings and landscapes
HP-10
Integrate preservation goals into city processes, policies, and plans
  • Develop a historic resources analysis process to assist in determining the impact of all public funding and local incentive projects on significant historic resources early in the planning process. In addition to determining the significance of an older property, it should also include a determination of the economic viability for rehabilitation.
  • Develop a vehicle to consistently utilize the Main Street program in and along small neighborhood commercial centers
  • Develop and adopt proactive rehabilitation alternatives and coordinate polices to actively promote rehabilitation of deteriorated and dangerous buildings in addition to demolition, which would include:
    • Expanding the minor home repair program
    • Develop legal mechanisms to stop decline and pursue rehabilitation of abandoned properties
    • Market programs for rehabilitated, vacant and deteriorated, properties prior to and after rehabilitation
    • In low-income historic neighborhoods, involve the city as a financial partner with banks in the development of historic residential and commercial properties
  • Develop programs to protect significant abandoned and endangered historic properties, including:
    • Establishing policy and procedures on how the Homesteading Authority might prioritize acquisition of abandoned historic properties
    • Establishing a mothball and marketing fund for vacant buildings listed in National and Local registers
    • Developing a land conservation program to protect historic, natural and scenic resources, including parks, open space, scenic views, trails, archaeological sites, and other landscape elements
  • Work with neighborhoods and public entities to notify property owners about incentives and/or restrictions related to designated properties or properties eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places
  • Incorporate institutional planning into the development and land use regulatory process
  • Implement an institutional zoning overlay with design guidelines and parameters compatible with base zoning designation
  • Create incentives and disincentives which are aimed at securing participation in comprehensive neighborhood planning and mitigating the impact on significant historic resources
  • Integrate historic preservation recommendations into the area plans by using historic survey data, property age, recommendations from the survey master plan and the public to prioritize the preservation of buildings and neighborhoods
  • Identify resources which are eligible for preservation grant-in-aid funds and other federal incentives.
  • Provide consistent criteria for rehabilitation vs. demolition
  • Assist in targeting properties for local incentives
  • Provide design guidelines for rehabilitation and new construction in older neighborhoods without design review which have proven to stabilize property values and provide long-term viability
  • Include the protection of historic resources as a criterion in the acquisition of public parks
  • Establish policies to direct the city's role as a participant on the Land Bank of Kansas City, MO which include guidelines for addressing significant historic properties
  • Establish notice and coordination procedures between the professional staff of all regulatory bodies
  • As a part of budgetary expenditures, require an inventory and cyclical maintenance program for all city-owned historic institutional buildings, including those under the administrative jurisdiction of appointed boards
  • Encourage public entities to own or lease space in historic buildings
  • Use historic institutional buildings as locations for community anchors and for other city programs
  • Identify single and multi-family housing types in existing or potentially historic areas that can provide affordable and missing middle housing
  • Encourage the use of overlays, such as Neighborhood Character, Special Character and Pedestrian Oriented Overlays to conserve the character of neighborhoods that are not historically listed
Increase public awareness of the city’s heritage and preservation values and issues
HP-11
Create and promote a Heritage Tourism program or other tourist destinations that will attract visitors to Kansas City (like the African American Heritage Trail)
HP-12
Promote existing cultural programs, community events and festivals and partner in new programs that highlight the character of the variety of cultures in Kansas City
HP-13
Pursue strategies to enhance cultural tourism, improve arts promotion, facilitate redevelopment through the arts, leverage the arts to help “brand” Kansas City, and other opportunities
HP-14
Utilize the city as a laboratory for heritage education for lifelong learning
  • Encourage area schools to make the history of Kansas City part of the history curriculum, just as national and state history are now incorporated into the curriculum
  • Encourage area schools to require in-service training for educators at historic sites through grants, incentives and regular budgetary allocations
  • Develop guided and self-guided walking tours designed for all ages and available at public sites in tour areas
    • Integrate this into the city and region's tourism program
  • Develop educational curricula that links historic preservation with environmental issues
  • Develop a public archaeology program in cooperation with other metropolitan area sites to provide learning experiences in the field
  • Work with local contracting, trade, building, and educational institutions to create programs to train craftsmen who specialize in the rehabilitation and restoration of historic properties
HP-15
Develop marketing/education programs to promote economic investment in heritage areas.
  • Publish a building rehabilitation guidebook containing information collected from all city and private programs relating to building rehabilitation
  • Create a building rehabilitation guide for smaller historic apartment buildings that includes historic guidelines and possible incentives
  • Develop press packets with preservation contacts, long lead articles about upcoming preservation events, and special interest topics useful for research or "filler" copy
  • Cultivate media interest in preservation issues around a consistent set of messages, including:
    • Preservation as a tool for revitalization
    • Preservation as a contribution to quality of life
    • Heritage tourism
    • Promotion of expanded use of the rehabilitation tax credits and façade and open space easements
    • Story ideas around themes formatted for all types of media by public relations professionals
  • Develop a marketing program to encourage use of historic properties, including:
    • Listing of available historical commercial properties for lease or sale
    • Listing of historic commercial and residential properties for sale
    • Listing of rentable historic facilities for special events
    • Listing of vacant historic properties available for redevelopment
    • Training real estate professionals in marketing historic properties
  • Create guide to programs that address environmental issues that are common with rehabilitating historic properties
  • Publish a summary of preservation programs and procedures. Use neighborhood associations to distribute information to both property owners and residents
  • Establish public/private partnership with the preservation community to continue or created the following programs:
    • Create an association of local historic districts for educational and advocacy purposes and to "mentor" other neighborhoods in initiating preservation programs
    • Include "in progress" renovations in homes tours
    • Conduct regular workshop series demonstrating preservation techniques
    • Create a research index which outlines how to research a property and where to find different types of information
    • Create an ongoing index which outlines the various sources of information available on restoration and rehabilitation techniques
    • Create webpage with links to preservation and rehabilitation information
    • Encourage area public libraries to carry materials on preservation and rehabilitation topics
HP-16
Create products and activities to educate elected officials and city staff, developers, investors, planners, contractors and design professionals about the advantages of preservation.
  • Create an annual report on historic preservation activities in the city and present during Historic Preservation Month.
  • Target private groups for specific educational programs, including:
    • Annual seminars for the lending community about the economic benefits of rehabilitation and which encourage compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977
    • Cooperative programs with professionals, contractor associations, and building trades to train in preservation methodology and procedures. Include training as part of a "certification" process and as a criterion for referral listing.
  • Develop training modules for city staff on the processes, applications and benefits of historic preservation, including:
    • A Staff Preservation Handbook which explains the preservation policies and criteria, designation process, and available incentives.
      • Include information on Federal compliance, code requirements and the American with Disabilities Act.
    • Regularly distribute information on preservation activities directed to elected and appointed officials and city agencies.
Promote heritage tourism as an economic development program
HP-17
Develop a comprehensive heritage tourism program which integrates historic sites and vendors into program planning and implementation.
  • Develop a significant historic destination at the Kansas City River Front area which incorporates the Town of Kansas Archaeological Site.
  • Create a Kansas City Heritage Corridor. Use technology to engage the public in preservation of historic assets, similar to the African American Heritage Trail and the Riverfront Heritage Trail.
  • Through the National Trust Heritage Tourism Program, enlist the participation of all metropolitan historic sites and museums to conduct a comprehensive management and interpretive assessment and develop a cooperative marketing and program plan, including:
    • Assessing current attractions, visitor services, organizational capabilities, preservation resources and marketing programs
    • Establishing priorities and measurable goals through organizing human and financial resources
    • Preparing for visitors through development of long-term management goals which protect historic resources
    • Marketing for success through development of a multi-year, multiple-tier targeted marketing plan involving local, regional, state, and national partners


RELATED LINKS

  • Affordable Community
  • Cultural Amenities
  • Desirable Place
  • Equitable and Fiscally Sustainable
  • History and Heritage
  • KC Uniqueness
  • Livable Neighborhoods and Diverse Housing
  • Physical Beauty
  • Addressing Disinvestment
  • Community Engagement
  • Housing Affordability
  • Welcoming Spaces
Related Plans and Policies

REFERENCES

[1] Economic Impacts of Historic Preservation in Missouri, 2002.




Page last updated: 10 Jan 2024, 08:11 PM