Dorri Partain
Managing Editor

Holding hand-made signs reading “Demolition is Forever” and “Save Smith Hall”, a band of preservationists gathered on Sunday, Nov. 2, at the intersection of Independence Boulevard and Highland Avenue with the goal to raise awareness of a near-century-old building’s proposed demolition.

Smith Hall, built in 1927 in the Colonial Revival/ Georgian Revival style designed by architectural team Holt, Price & Barnes, is located at 1710 Independence Blvd., on the Kansas City University (KCU) campus. This osteopathic medical learning facility purchased the original Children’s Mercy Hospital and the nurses’ residence – now Smith Hall – in 1971 and has expanded its campus beyond its original footprint.

On Sept. 26, Newkirk Novak Construction representatives appeared before the City’s Historic Preservation Commission for a hearing of Case No. CH-DM-2025-00090, a request to demolish this structure. Following the National Register of Historic Places Criterion for Evaluation, the Commission granted a 45-day stay of demolition, which will expire on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

In a Letter to the Editor sent to The Northeast News on Oct. 30, Jan Bently, founder of the Kansas City Bungalow Club, wrote, “The 45-day Wait Period was granted only to allow time to nominate the building for the Historic Register.  That takes time and money so 45 days is not enough, and only 3 entities can do it: the Pendleton Heights NA,  a City Council member, or Historic Kansas City.  None of them are doing it. Therefore it can legally be demolished on Nov.11.”

In a separate letter, Chairman of the Northeast Kansas City Historical Society, Kent Dicus, wrote, ”As a good steward to the neighborhood in which it (KCU) resides, one would think it wants to be a good neighbor by respecting the wishes of those who live around its campus. The neighbor’s’ perspective is for the Nurses’ Building to remain standing, especially since in recent years KCU has already demolished at least eight other historic buildings on or near its campus.” 

In 2017, following a similar process, the university acquired and demolished the Colonial Court colonnaded apartments on Maple Blvd. and several century-old homes on Brownell Ave. A parking lot was constructed on the apartment site and vacant lots still remain on Brownell for future expansion.

As outlined in the KCU’s Master Planned Development (MPD) district approved by City Council in 2017, Elizabeth Alex, Executive Director of the University Relations department, offered the following statement.

“Kansas City University (KCU) has been a trusted and engaged member of the Kansas City community for more than a century. Throughout that time, we have remained deeply committed to the health, safety and vitality of our neighborhood and our city.

As part of our ongoing commitment to excellence in medical and sciences education, population health and research, KCU is moving forward with plans to replace an obsolete campus building that has long exceeded its useful life with a modern, state-of-the-art facility dedicated to research and population health. This investment will enhance opportunities for our students and faculty, create new jobs, and strengthen the positive impact we have on the surrounding community. This decision was made following an exhaustive study. We will preserve the clock tower and it will hold a new permanent place of honor on campus. Additionally, we will preserve items of historical significance and provide a space to honor this history in the newly constructed building.

As we have for more than 100 years, Kansas City University will continue to invest significantly in our programs, our students, and our neighborhood—because when we invest in our campus, our neighborhood and our city, all do better.”

The university applied for a demolition permit in August, which went under review by the Historic Preservation Commission during its Sept. 26 docket. This Commission was created by City ordinance to safeguard the city’s historic, cultural, aesthetic and architectural heritage as embodied and reflected in such districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects.

Historic Kansas City (HKC) – a nonprofit focused on preservation of historic buildings in the metro area – also intervened to discuss options with KCU representatives that could save Smith Hall from complete demolition.

Sunday’s protest was mostly composed of members of the Kansas City Bungalow Club, Northeast Kansas City Historical Society and residents of the Pendleton Heights and Scarritt Renaissance neighborhoods.

Deana Bellamaganya, Pendleton Heights resident and owner of Core Coffee, started a Facebook group, Save Historic Smith Hall at KCU, on Oct. 22 in hopes to inform more residents of the planned demolition.

“We were just of the mindset that we wanted to get our word out there and be heard because a lot of the neighbors, a lot of us, didn’t know anything about this, it was happening,” Bellamaganya said on Sunday  “I think there should have been more information out there, for everyone to have a say-so because it doesn’t seem like the people have a say-so in this historic district.”

The Pendleton Heights Historic District was approved in 2008; exterior modifications or pending demolition of structures within district boundaries are reviewed, approved or denied by the City’s Historic Preservation Commission.

Scarritt Renaissance resident and historic homeowner Virginia Bettencourt said she thinks the university could easily repurpose Smith Hall, which shows no outward signs of damage or neglect.

“The building is worth fighting for,” she stated, “and we’re going to keep fighting until we can’t anymore.”

This group plans a final show of protest on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 1 to 3 p.m.