July - August 2004 Vol. 25, No. 4 KansasKansas PreservationPreservation Newsletter of the Cultural Resources Division Kansas State Historical Society Topeka’s historic Monroe School–rescued from possible demolition–was dedicated on May 17, 2004, as the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site by President George W. Bush. Article on page 11 2005 Historic Preservation Fund Grant Applications Now Available Application materials for the fiscal other Kansas communities, surveys in year 2005 round of the Historic Pres- areas facing development pressures, ervation Fund (HPF) grant program are and projects that have the potential now available from the Kansas Historic for increasing knowledge and aware- Contents Preservation Office (KHPO). ness of historic resources concerning The Historic Preservation Fund is minority populations in Kansas. a federal grant program from the Because the statewide preservation 3 National Park Service (NPS), Depart- conference for 2006 will be hosted by Walgreens Targets Historic ment of the Interior. The NPS passes the City of Lawrence, additional Kansas Properties funds through state preservation applications are not being solicited for offices to assist local organizations conferences. and governments in implementing Proposed HPF projects are 7 activities that will contribute to evaluated according to several criteria. planning for the preservation of our These include the need for the project Prairie Style Homes built environment and archeological resources. Historic Preservation Fund grants Eligible activities include 11 surveys of historic struc- are awarded to organizations such Brown v. Board of Education tures and archeological sites, the production of as historical societies, universities, National Historic Site nominations to the National regional planning commissions, Register of Historic Places, the development of historic nonprofit corporations, Certified 13 - 22 preservation plans, and Kansas Archeology Training historic preservation-related Local Governments (CLG), and educational programs. Program Field School Activities financed by the city and county governments. HPF should be directed toward to address historic preservation issues providing individuals and organiza- in the state, the soundness of the KANSAS PRESERVATION tions with the information and means proposed project, the administrative Published bimonthly by the Cultural Resources Division, Kansas State Historical Society, 6425 S.W. to support preservation efforts in their ability of the applicant, and the Sixth Avenue, Topeka, KS 66615-1099. own communities. educational potential of the project. Historic Preservation Fund grants Well-developed grant proposals that Please send change of address information to the above address or e-mail are awarded to organizations such as address priorities established by the [email protected]. historical societies, universities, KHPO will have a competitive Third-class postage paid at Topeka, Kansas regional planning commissions, advantage in the evaluation process. Terry W. Marmet, nonprofit corporations, Certified Local Potential applicants may submit Interim State Historic Preservation Officer Governments (CLG), and city and preliminary applications for staff Richard Pankratz, Editor Virginia Wulfkuhle, Associate Editor county governments. Up to 60 percent review. The preliminary application Tracy Campbell, Editorial & Design Services of the project costs may be financed deadline is October 1, 2004. by the HPF. The other 40 percent must Applications for the HPF grants Partial funding for this publication is provided by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. be furnished by the project sponsor must be postmarked no later than The contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect and can be provided in cash or in-kind November 15, 2004, or delivered in the views or policies of the Department of the Interior, nor does the mention of trade names or services and materials. person to the KHPO in its offices at commercial products constitute an endorsement or The KHPO expects to have 6425 SW Sixth Avenue, Topeka, by recommendation by the Department of the Interior. approximately $100,000 to award for 4:30 p.m. on that date. This program receives federal funds from the projects in 2005. A minimum of For more information on this National Park Service. Regulations of the U.S. approximately $60,000 is reserved for program, please contact the grants Department of the Interior strictly prohibit unlawful projects proposed by CLGs. In fiscal manager at (785) 272-8681 Ext. 216 or discrimination in departmental federally assisted programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, year 2005 applications for the follow- [email protected]. age, or handicap. Any person who believes he or ing activities will be given a higher she has been discriminated against in any program, This article was prepared by Teresa Kiss, activity, or facility operated by a recipient of federal priority: surveys in downtown assistance should write to: Office of Equal business districts in designated grants manager in the Cultural Opportunity, National Park Service, 1849 C Street Mainstreet Partnership Cities and Resources Division. NW, Washington, DC 20240. 1 Use of Federal Tax Incentives in Kansas Increases (Right) The Midland Hotel in Wilson was rehabilitated and reopened as a hotel in 2003. (Below) The old Lincoln School in Newton was rehabilitated for senior housing in 2002. in historic preservation and rehabilitation projects in Kansas. With the addition of a state income tax credit equal to 25 percent of qualifying project expenses, property owners could recoup up to 45 percent of their projects’ expenses in the form of tax credits. For the first time this made rehabilitation projects for many historic properties financially feasible. As developers and property owners submitted applications for these programs and began to complete projects, the statistics for Kansas rose. In fiscal year 2003 seventeen projects were completed in Kansas utilizing the federal tax credit More than 31,000 historic buildings years have seen its use grow. In federal program. These projects represented a across the United States have been fiscal year 2000 there was only one total private investment of more than $27 revitalized through a program started in rehabilitation project completed through million. The increase in projects and total 1976 to offer federal income tax incentives this program with a private investment of investments put Kansas in the middle of to property owners who rehabilitate $37,000. Kansas was among the states the state rankings. As the number of new historic buildings for an income-produc- with the fewest projects and ranked forty- projects in Kansas continues to rise, the ing purpose. Those rehabilitations seventh in private investments. By fiscal number of historic buildings being saved represent a private investment in historic year 2002 completed projects in the state from demolition and neglect also in- properties of more than $31 billion since grew to three with a total private invest- creases. 1977. Property owners receive federal ment of $2.8 million. However, this still For more information on tax incen- income tax credit equal to 20 percent of a left Kansas toward the bottom of the tives for rehabilitation of historic build- qualifying project’s expenses if the ranking of states utilizing the program. ings, including private residences and rehabilitation is completed according to Oklahoma had seven completed projects other non-income producing properties, the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards in 2002 with a total investment of $7.5 please contact the Cultural Resources for Rehabilitation. The program is million while Missouri ranked much Division of the Kansas State Historical administered by the National Park Service higher with forty-five completed projects Society at (785) 272-8681 Ext. 240 or in coordination with the Internal Revenue totaling more than $87.5 million in private [email protected]. Service and the State Historic Preserva- investment. tion Offices in each state. The added incentive of a state This article was prepared by Katrina L. This tax credit has been available to income tax credit signed into law in 2001 Klingaman, tax credits coordinator in the Kansans since its inception, but recent has gradually attracted more investment Cultural Resources Division. 2 The Alf Landon House in Independence, Kansas, was the home of the Kansas governor and 1936 U.S. presidential candidate from 1915 to the late 1930s. 3 Walgreens Chain Targets Historic Kansas This Walgreens store replaced the Fleming Mansion at the southwest corner of 10th Properties and Gage in Topeka. he Walgreen Company has plans to century, preservationists and community of the nation. He urged national clear a block of buildings near leaders have banded together to protect drugstore chains to follow the lead of Tdowntown Independence, Kansas, historic buildings from the corner- other national retailers, which retrofit to make room for a new drive-thru pharmacy onslaught. existing buildings for their stores. pharmacy. Among the historic buildings Residents of Buffalo, New York’s threatened by the proposed action is the Elmwood neighborhood fought the Saving the Fleming Mansion Independence home of famed Kansas demolition of nine homes for the con- Historic Kansas buildings have not governor and 1936 presidential candidate struction of a 14,000 square-foot store in been