Preservation Planning

N June 24, 2004 the Planning Commission approved a Historic Preservation Plan as an element of the City’s Comprehensive Plan.

The goal of the Historic Preservation Plan is to move toward change in a positive manner and to serve as a catalyst for capitalizing on the synergy of the old and new. To achieve this goal, it is necessary first to recognize and understand the assets that contribute to the City’s unique physical and cultural character; to forge a consensus in the community regarding their preservation; and to develop goals, policies and initiatives to assist the City in the future identification, interpretation, evaluation, and protection of its remaining cultural resources.

 

 

Benefits of Historic Preservation

• The physical appearance of its buildings and streetscapes reflects the community’s overall vitality and economic health.
• Maintaining the vitality of our older areas can attract larger commercial ventures to the community.
• Rehabilitated buildings are more attainable and stabilizing to the local economy.
• Cultural resources reflect a community and region’s evolution, history, and distinguishes one community from another.
• Rehabilitated buildings directly benefits adjacent property owners.
• The value of rehabilitated properties in a city’s historic core increases more rapidly than the real estate market in the larger community.
• Older buildings are ideal for many smaller and start-up businesses.

Five goals compose the key elements to achieving historic preservation in the community:

1. Integrate preservation into the City’s planning, land use and property management codes and policies.
2. Increase awareness of historic preservation.
3. Develop and expand appropriate mechanisms for the identification, evaluation, and protection of historic and cultural resources.
4. Develop and complete a coordinated effort to update and replace obsolete and decaying infrastructure.
5. Encourage the utilization of existing and the development of traditional and nontraditional economic incentives.

Image Above: Presbyterian Church, Third and Jefferson, Lee's Summit, MO