Two more historic apartment buildings being demolished at Taxpayer Expense

Two more old buildings in an historic neighborhood in Kansas City are coming down -- and KC Tax Payers are paying for it.

In the Union Hill neighborhood, there are two old homes (that are, honestly, in horrific shape) that are coming down, along with several apartment buildings. A couple of the apartment buildings are 1950s-ish style apartments whose style is not a fit for the neighborhood and probably never should have been built there in the first place.

However, the two pictured here, are original to the neighborhood and actually don't appear to be in terrible shape. But they're coming down -- to be replaced by single-family homes (which I'm told will be designed to match the neighborhood, but we'll see).

These two buildings have been run down for awhile and been a haven for a host of nefarious activities. However, it seems like such a shame to use tax money to a) destroy historic buildings and b) to remove density from our downtown area (and Union Hill is officially in the "downtown" via the Downtown Council's definition).

 

Comments

[Tacitkc]

So where's the call to action?

[Brent]

At this point it seems like a pretty done deal...not sure there is much action one can take.

[Brad]

I agree that these buildings have historic and architectural value. This city has a real problem thinking outside the box. I know this particular style of tenement apartments have inherent problems; the fronts are often very interesting, but the buildings go back many units in depth, often occupying the entire lot, with small porchless units and general lack of amenities i.e. eventual roach traps. How about saving the frontages, only to the depth of say, an average house depth, tear the back two-thirds of the building off, recycle the brick to create a new rear for the building, and take the gained space now open in the back of the lot and put in owner occupied parking? Now you have 6 upper end condos instead of 25 low end boarding rooms, saving an old building, and keeping a higher density building than a single family home. Tadaa!

[Megan Payne]

I wish the ones that will be replacing those 50-ish houses will be far better than the demolished ones. Has the demolition team started with the project? When is it scheduled to finish?

[replica zenith]

the scenery is very beautiful,However, the two pictured here, are original to the neighborhood and actually don't appear to be in terrible shape. But they're coming down -- to be replaced by single-family homes (which I'm told will be designed to match the neighborhood, but we'll see).

[Alphonse Daigle]

It should be, Megan, because that's one major factor why homeowners would want to renovate their houses. Personally, historical buildings should be, as much as possible, preserved. However, due to their age, the building starts to weaken, and this is where, renovating, or at this point, restoration comes in to help.