Northeast News
May 3, 2017

It is said that those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. No better model for this exists locally than the current make-up of the city’s Landmarks Commission, especially after last week’s 4-1 vote, which nearly recommended the de-listing of eight parcels in the Pendleton Heights Historic District. Apparently all of the work of the previous Pendleton Heights Neighborhood Association to have the entire neighborhood listed as a registered Historic District was all for naught, given the decision of four out of five Landmarks Commissioners in last week’s hearing to de-list parcels that fall within KCU’s MPD – including five Historic colonnaded buildings at the Colonial Court apartment complex. Those buildings will now meet the wrecking ball in favor of more asphalt parking lots. Historic neighborhoods city-wide should take specific note how easily historic structures disappear with the wave of a hand or the casting of a vote.
As a side note, this isn’t the first time this Commission has elected to demolish history at the behest of development lawyers. Last year the Nelle Peters-designed apartment buildings on the Country Club Plaza were demolished after the threat of protracted litigation from high dollar lawyers who inaccurately stated the buildings were outdated and lacked sufficient means for restoration and rehab. Sound familiar? It’s no surprise that historic buildings in this cow town tumble to the wrecking ball at twice the rate of those in cities with effective preservation ordinances. Why you ask? Older cities such as St. Louis or say for example Charlestown, South Carolina actually have a Landmarks Commission that will stand up to developer attorneys instead of folding like a cheap card table in a stiff wind.
While we laud the single holdout in last week’s vote, who kept the proposal to de-list the eight parcels from earning the Commission’s recommendation, this preservation minded News-dog thinks it’s high time for the replacement of the Mayoral appointed board of yes-man wanna-be historic preservationists. Hint: you don’t advance the cause of Historic Preservation by voting to de-list certain properties in a historic district because they’re now an inconvenient impediment to future development. Do us all a favor – resign now and let some experienced historic preservationists fill those seats so that the city’s designated landmarks buildings and districts can be saved instead of having to be looked for in some off-the-map landfill.