Landmarks Commission: Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas, Kansas (April 6, 2026)
By Carolyn Tragasz, Kansas City Documenter
These notes were produced through Kansas City Documenters, which trains and pays community members to take fact-checked notes at public meetings, strengthening transparency and accountability in local government.
Summary
- The commission recommended that the Board of Commissioners of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, approve the demolition of two properties on Quindaro Boulevard.
- Commissioners heard that UG zoning code updates might eliminate environs provisions.
- Randy Greeves, Wyandotte County historic preservationist, gave a presentation discussing the nature of historic preservation, what makes a building historic and the criteria the commission uses to inform decisions about historic buildings.
Notes
Meeting Attendance
- Chairman Jim Schraeder
- Vice Chairman Micki Welcome-Hill
- Steve Curtis, commissioner
- Jeff Fendorf, commissioner
- Linda Gerber, commissioner (virtually)
- Bill Hutton, commissioner
Opening
- The late David Meditz, former Landmarks Commission chairman, was honored, and his family members were present to receive a plaque.
- Approval of the Feb. 2, 2026, commission meeting minutes.
Demolition
- Two properties were considered for demolition, at 933 Quindaro Blvd. and 1015 Quindaro Blvd.
- Neither property is itself historic, but both were presented to the commission for review because they are within the environs of the Parkwood Historic District.
- Buildings within 200 feet of a historic property or district are considered within its environs under Wyandotte County law and subject to environs reviews.
- The commission considered the effect on the historic district if these properties were to be demolished.
- The house at 933 Quindaro has fire damage. Property owners had expressed a desire to repair the structure, but they were unable to get their application for repairs in on time, though they submitted building plans.
- During public comment, one speaker talked about the house at 933 Quindaro, but after looking at photos of the property, said he was unconcerned about it.
- Meditz’s daughter, Jessica Porter, asked the commission whether a fund existed to pay for demolition of such a building. Porter said she was asking as a community member who works in business development for a mortgage company that does business with a land bank. Greeves said the UG would demolish the building and then bill the property owner for the cost.
- The property owner could lose the property for failure to pay taxes or voluntarily surrender the property, which would then be transferred to the Land Bank.
- Gerber asked when the fire occurred. It happened in 2025.
- Welcome-Hill asked whether the taxes were paid on the property. Staff did not know.
- Robin Smith, a neighbor who lives behind the property at 940 Cleveland Ave., participated in the meeting via Zoom. Smith expressed support for the demolition, asked what method of demolition would be used and expressed concern for the well-being of wild animals that lived on the property. Details about the demolition method were not clearly provided.
- The property owner did not participate in the meeting.
- Motion to approve passed unanimously.
- The property at 1015 Quindaro was considered next. City staff said they had no contact with the property owner.
- This was the third time the property had come up for an environs review since 2019. It had been approved for repairs.
- Motion to approve passed unanimously.
Updates
- Applicants are being reviewed for a consultant to help with the Historic District guidelines for downtown Kansas City, Kansas. Work is being done so properties can be registered with the state and residents can apply for local and state assistance to help pay for work on the buildings.
- Greeves said this would be the final commission meeting he would attend because he would leave his job with the UG soon. Another UG employee attended the meeting to observe Greeves’ work there.
- The commission has three vacant seats to be filled by appointments.
- The UG is reviewing historic preservation in its zoning code updates, including codifying certificate of appropriateness procedures and possibly eliminating environs legislation. Commissioners expressed concern that environs reviews are a large part of the commission’s work. Schraeder said he saw pros and cons to this.
Presentation on Historic Preservation
- Greeves presented.
- The first preservationist group was the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. It formed a grassroots movement to restore and preserve George Washington’s home. They care for it to this day.
- Kansas City, Kansas, is one of about 20 municipalities with the ability to conduct its own reviews. Most reviews are performed by the State Historic Preservation Office.
- To be considered historic, a property must be:
- Listed on a local, state or federal historic register.
- Related to significant historical people, architecture, events or archaeology.
- Retain enough architectural integrity to convey its significance.
- Greeves discussed some of the work he does for the city, including environs reviews. He also conducts administrative reviews, which:
- Usually occur when permits are requested for buildings on state or national registers, to ensure changes won’t destroy historically significant features.
- Follow principles laid out by the Kansas secretary of the interior.
- Those principles recommend buildings should be minimally changed, favor repairs over replacements, and hold that replacement should conform historically with the original structures.
- Commissioners suggested the state might want to provide them more training on these principles.
- Gerber asked about sites other than buildings, such as trails and other sites. These fall under national historic landmarks.
- The meeting was adjourned.
Observations & Follow-Up Questions
- What is the process for properties to be considered for demolition in Wyandotte County if they are not historic properties or within the environs of one? Is the difference meaningful?
- What would the potential effect be on the commission if environs regulations were removed?
- What is the history of the property at 1015 Quindaro? Why did the commission approve its demolition despite the fact that it had been approved for repairs?
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