Southmoor Gardens Neighborhood Association

NOPPS Announcement

Important dates:

Saturday, May 20th, Overland Park's 100 year celebration of William B. Strang in downtown OP - statue dedication at noon
Please help NOPPS hand out literature and "historic preservation" signs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Monday, May, 22nd, planning commission hearing on the 71st & Metcalf rezoning - 1:30 p.m., city hall, council chambers
Please help your Southmoor neighbors by attending - Southmoor definitely needs a large turnout to be effective

Wednesday, June 14th, landmarks commission hearing on 71st and Metcalf - 3:30 p.m., city hall, council chambers
Please help support the Overland Park Historical Society by attending (more on this below).

Letter to Neighbors

Dear NOPPS members and friends,

As you know, the North Overland Park Preservation Society was formed as a grassroots effort to help save the historic homes along Metcalf and throughout the area. In January, board member Linda Hanson submitted an application to designate Southmoor as a historic neighborhood. The city's landmarks commission felt that Southmoor is too large of an area with too many dissimilar types of homes to consider as one large historic neighborhood. They recommended that Ms. Hanson resubmit an application for a smaller, more homogenous area. Based on the commission's recommendation, Linda withdrew her application prior to it being heard by the city council.

On March 31st, Linda submitted applications to designate two individual homes on Metcalf as historic landmarks. These applications were heard by the landmark's commission on April 27th and received a unanimous recommendation for approval. The commissioners noted the age, unique architecture, and location of the homes in Southmoor, one of the original Strang neighborhoods, in their decision.

On May 15th, the city council heard the applications and voted 11-1 to deny historic landmark designation to both homes, despite the unanimous recommendation of the landmarks commission, and despite the expert testimony of Janine Joslin, executive director of the Kansas Preservation Alliance. The mayor's treatment of Ms. Hanson and Ms. Joslin was simply dreadful. Mr. Gerlach interrupted the speakers several times and cut off Ms. Joslin before she could deliver her remarks.

NOPPS believes the mayor and city council are hostile towards historic preservation because they do not want anything to interfere with their plans to redevelop Metcalf, and other major thoroughfares, with higher-density, multifamily housing. Having to deal with historic landmarks on Metcalf would impede developers wanting to demolish the old homes on large lots.

Additionally, on April 28th, the Overland Park Historical Society (OPHS) filed an application to designate the nearly-100-year-old house on the NEC of 71st and Metcalf as a historic landmark. The attempt to protect the old house, despite its being targeted for demolition and redevelopment, is a very bold and controversial move by the OPHS. The landmarks commission is scheduled to hear this application on June 14th at 3:30 p.m., in the council chambers at city hall.

The city council's community development committee discussed the OPHS application at length on May 3rd. The city's legal department stated that the application is perfectly legal. Several committee members voiced strong opposition to the application. Councilman Dave White suggested raising the fee to $1,000 in order to prevent historic preservation groups from submitting landmark applications. Other onerous requirements were also bandied about.

The OPHS and NOPPS are trying to raise the city's awareness of historic preservation in general, and the need to protect historic homes before they are demolished. Our mayor and city council want to maintain the status quo of allowing developers to plan our future rather than embracing a new vision created by the community - one that seeks a better balance between redevelopment and historic preservation. The city is resisting the change that's needed to create successful redevelopment projects with community support.

We need your help. On Saturday, please attend the 100 year celebration and Strang statue dedication and help us pass out literature and signs. It will be a fun day with food and beverages galore, and lots of media on hand at the dedication ceremony. There is no better opportunity to showcase our support for historic preservation than at the 100-year-celebration of William B. Strang.

On Monday, your neighbors in Southmoor definitely need you to attend the planning commission hearing to create a strong show of support. The Southmoor Team has put together a comprehensive presentation for the commission to review. You may choose to speak, or not speak at the meeting, however, your attendance is definitely needed.

A strong showing at these two events will help our elected officials, and our fellow citizens, better understand the importance of the 71st and Metcalf rezoning case, and the need for historic preservation.

I look forward to seeing you at these events and thank you in advance for your help.

Please call me should you have any questions or would like additional information.

David Conrad
913-544-1726