Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning & Development Services

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Lynne Braddock Zollner, Historic Resources Administrator
CC:	Scott McCullough, Director, PDS Sheila Stogsdill, Assistant Director Planning
Date:	11/02/2009
RE:	Identification and Prioritization of Historic Cultural Resources of Lawrence

This memo updates the City Commission on the continuation of the City’s planning efforts related to historic resources in Lawrence and completing inventories of historical structures, a stated goal of the 2009 City Commission goal setting work session.

Inventory of historic structures.  The Conservation of Historic Resources Chapter of the City Code (Chapter 22) establishes mechanisms for the identification, documentation, evaluation and conservation of historic cultural resources in Lawrence.

• Chapter 22 of the Code of the City of Lawrence was adopted on November 29, 1988 (Ordinance 5950).
• The code identifies a seven member commission, the Historic Resources Commission (HRC), to be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Commission.  
• One of the responsibilities of the HRC is to conduct an ongoing survey to identify historically and architecturally significant properties, structures, and areas that exemplify the cultural, social, economic, political, or architectural history of the nation, region, state, or city.
• The HRC has adopted a method of survey established by the Kansas State Historical Society and approved by the National Park Service.

Because of the costs associated with historic resources surveys (manpower, photography, research, documentation), the City of Lawrence has depended on Certified Local Government Grants to help pay for survey costs. CLG grants are pass-thru grants from the National Park Service to the Kansas State Historical Society that pay 60% of approved survey activity. Since Lawrence became a CLG in 1989, the City has been awarded 20 CLG grants of which 9 paid for surveys within the city.

Once the initial survey and documentation has been completed, the HRC investigates and recommends to the City Commission the adoption of ordinances designating sites, structures, objects, and areas (districts) having special historical, community, or architectural value as landmarks and historic districts. 

• Properties that are deemed to meet the criteria established in Chapter 22 are placed on the Lawrence Register of Historic Places.
• This register is maintained by the Historic Resources Administrator (HRA) at the direction of the HRC.
• Since the adoption of Chapter 22, the HRC has recommended and the City Commission has listed 32 landmarks and 1 historic district on the Lawrence Register of Historic Places. (See attached map.) 
• Four City-owned properties are listed in the Lawrence Register (South Park, Hobbs Park, Grover Barn, and Fire Station #2).

In addition to the on going survey of historically and architecturally significant properties for local designation to the Lawrence Register, the HRC also makes recommendations to the Kansas Historic Sites Board of Review and the National Park Service for properties that meet the criteria for designation and listing in the Register of Historic Kansas Places and the National Register of Historic Places.  Designation in these registers has been very popular in Lawrence and Douglas County as there are tax credits associated with the rehabilitation of structures listed in the Kansas and National Registers. 

• Currently Lawrence has 46 properties individually listed and 10 historic districts listed in the National and Kansas Registers.
• Properties listed in the National Register are automatically listed in the Kansas Register. (See attached map.)
• Six City-owned properties are listed in the National or Kansas Registers (Union Pacific Depot, Carnegie Library, Community Building, Fire Station #1, South Park, and the Breezedale Monuments located in the City right-of-way at 23^rd and Massachusetts Street).

Current Historic Resources Projects related to Inventory and Prioritization.

The HRC has approved and recommended and the Lawrence Douglas County Planning Commission has recommended to the Lawrence City Commission and the Douglas County Commission a revised Chapter 11 Historic Resources to Horizon 2020 The Comprehensive Plan for Lawrence and Unincorporated Douglas County. This chapter update includes a specific plan that prioritizes survey activities for Lawrence and the unincorporated areas of Douglas County.  At their meeting on October 15, 2009, the HRC directed staff to identify dates for Chapter 11 to revisit the HRC and Planning Commission and to be placed on an agenda for the City Commission and the Douglas County Commission.

The City of Lawrence was awarded a 2009 Certified Local Government Grant to survey the area north of Memorial Stadium. This survey should take place over the winter and be available for analysis in the spring.

Future Historic Resources Projects related to Inventory and Prioritization.

The HRC has established a subcommittee to work with staff to identify a process whereby all properties listed in the National and Kansas registers would be listed in the Lawrence Register.  The criteria for listing in the National Register are the most stringent and the criteria for listing in the Lawrence Register are the least stringent.  Not all properties that are or could be listed in the Lawrence Register would meet the criteria for listing in the Kansas or National registers; however, all properties that are listed in the Kansas and National registers meet the criteria for listing in the Lawrence Register.  The benefit to having all of the Kansas and National register properties listed in the Lawrence Register would be one combined list that could be used for educational and heritage tourism efforts.

The HRC will continue to research and recommend properties to the Lawrence Register as they are identified by applications submitted by constituents to the Planning office.

Staff will continue to apply for funding to survey, research and evaluate historic resources in Lawrence.