University asks governor to authorize demolition of vacant properties

LAWRENCE -- The University of Kansas today asked Gov. Bill Graves to exercise his authority under Kansas historic preservation law and authorize demolition of three severely deteriorated former rental properties on Ohio Street to permit construction of a scholarship hall.

A letter from KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway, dated June 18, 2002, requests that the governor conclude "there is no feasible and prudent alternative to demolition" of the vacant rental properties at 1323-1333 Ohio Street and that KU is committed to minimizing effects to the environs of a nearby fraternity house, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The letter also states that:

 • Community input would be sought and considered in the building design process.

 • The university would make every effort to minimize disruption to the neighborhood during demolition and construction.

 • Architects would be directed to look to the John Palmer Usher House for developing a compatible design.

The properties, which had been cited by the City of Lawrence for environmental code violations under previous ownership, were purchased by the Kansas University Endowment Association in October 2000 and transferred to the university in February 2001. The vacant properties are adjacent to two other KU scholarship halls, K.K. and Margaret Amini scholarship halls.

The university considered alternatives to demolition such as renovation but concluded they would be prohibitively expensive, given the structural deterioration of the buildings and the code requirements for structures owned by public institutions. Renovation of the existing structures also would be insufficient to meet the housing needs for a scholarship hall.

Because the properties are within 500 feet of the Usher House, a fraternity house on the national register, their proposed demolition was reviewed by KU's Campus Historic Preservation Board and the city's Historic Resources Commission. After hearings, the committees remained deadlocked, and the issue was forwarded to State Historic Preservation Officer Ramon Powers. On March 15, Powers issued his opinion that demolition would "encroach upon" the historic environs of the Usher House and pointed the way to review by the governor. Powers retired the day his opinion was issued and has since been replaced by a new state historic preservation officer, Mary Allman.