FRIDAY,FEB.8,2002
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A
Hearing set to decide fate of Oread homes
By Lauren Beatty Kansan staff writer
When it comes to the demolition or preservation of homes owned by the University of Kansas in the 1300 block of Ohio Street, one man has the final word.
ramon Powers, the state historic preservation officer at the Kansas State Historical Society, will have a chance to gather the facts at a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St.
Since the University has purchased the homes, the University of Kansas and the Oread Neighborhood Association have disagreed whether the homes should be torn down to make room for new scholarship halls. University officials say the homes do not contribute to the historic environment, but members of the Oread Neighborhood Association say they should be preserved. Powers declined to be interviewed until after the hearing.
Christy Davis, assistant division director of cultural resources for the society, said most decisions in about the demolition of older buildings in Lawrence were made locally. But the two sides couldn't agree, she said, and asked Powers to decide.
After the public hearing, Powers will have 30 days to make a decision, which can be appealed.
Powers has a set of regulations to follow when making this type of decision, Davis said.
"We operate under a state statute," she said. "We protect historic properties listed on the Kansas Register of Historic Sites."
She said if someone demolished a structure within 500 feet of a historic site, they would have to prove it didn't disrupt the historic environment.
Janet Gerstner, secretary of the Oread Neighborhood Association, said the homes contributed to the history of the area.
"Other universities have used historic homes as residence halls and have been successful," she said.
She said that if the homes were torn down, it would be "heart-breaking" for the community.
"We've lost scores of houses to KU." Gerstner said. "When does it stop? Do you go all the way to Mass. Street? Do we lose all our neighborhoods?"
Ken Stoner, director of student housing, said the only thing to consider was whether the houses should be torn down. He said the University had undergone a thorough investigation and found that the homes did not contribute to the historic environment that surrounds Usher House and Spooner Hall, both registered as historic landmarks.
"Hopefully in the final analysis, they will find that demolition is appropriate and that the houses to not contribute to the environs." Stoner said.
Stoner said the addition of scholarship halls would provide a greater benefit.
"Scholarship halls are a wonderful experience for students who come here," Stoner said. "They provide a great learning environment, a great social environment. There are leadership opportunities. There's nothing quite like them."
KIMBERLY THOMPSON/KANSAN
Josh Boots, president of the All Scholarship Hall Council and Plano, Texas, senior said he agreed with Stoner, although not all scholarship hall residents do. He said KU needs more low-cost student housing for students without financial support.
One of three houses that may be razed to build a new scholarship hall sits boarded up behind K.K. Amini Scholarship Hall.
Boots will attend the meeting and said he is trying to get as many scholarship hall residents as possible to attend the meeting.
"The houses in question are not historic," Boots said. "They are more of a detriment to the community than anything."
Contact Beauty at lbeatty@kansan.com. This story was edited by Gillian Titus.