The Colonial Court apartment complex.
The Colonial Court apartment complex.

By Paul Thompson

Northeast News

April 28, 2017

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – During it’s Friday, April 28 meeting, the KCMO Historic Preservation Commission recommended against a Kansas City University plan to remove eight KCU-owned parcels from the Pendleton Heights Historic District.

The proposal would pave the way for KCU to proceed with expansion plans that include construction of a $30 million Center for Medical and Surgical Simulation, demolition of the Colonial Court apartments, and the donation of two homes to the Pendleton Heights Neighborhood Association. During the meeting, KCU representatives contended that the historic district designation conflicted with the Master Planned Development (MPD) district passed by the City Council on February 23, 2017.

Though the Commission voted 4-1 in favor of the request, the plan needed five votes to earn the recommendation of the body. As it fell short of unanimous support, the motion to approve the revocation of the historic district designation failed. From here, KCU will go first before the City Plan Commission, and then appear before the City Council’s Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development Committee on May 17.

KCU attorney Jim Bowers said after the meeting that he’d hoped to get the recommendation of all relevant bodies before moving forward, but added that KCU will not be deterred by the Historic Preservation ruling.

“It will go before the City Council,” said Bowers. “You’ve got a staff recommendation, you’ve got a Historic Preservation Commission recommendation, and we’ll have a City Plan Commission recommendation.”

Watch out next week for more details about the Historic Preservation Commission decision. In the meantime, click on the link below to read a Twitter thread put together by the Northeast News during the lengthy April 28 discussion.