Online Historic Resources
Unified Government’s “Dot Maps”
To confirm the status of your property regarding being in (or in the “environs” of) a historic district, the UG’s online mapping service has a wealth of information. To identify a historic property, go to:
https://www.wycokck.org/Departments/Knowledge/Maps-and-GIS/DotMaps.
There, first ”Agree” to the website’s terms, then once the screen FULLY refreshes to a map, click “Show Layer List” and find “Landmarks.” Click that plus sign to open more layers. Scroll and check the four boxes that begin “Historic.” Then use the “Search…” box at the top to zoom to your address. [Note: You’ll discover “Dot Maps” has a lot of good information, not just historic districts!]
Note: Westheight Manor Historic District is approximately L-shaped - primarily State Avenue on the south; 18th Street on the east, with the north & west boundary a zig-sag from 18th & Wood, west on Wood, south on 22nd, west again on Everett, then south again on 25th to State.
https://www.wycokck.org/Departments/Knowledge/Maps-and-GIS/DotMaps.
There, first ”Agree” to the website’s terms, then once the screen FULLY refreshes to a map, click “Show Layer List” and find “Landmarks.” Click that plus sign to open more layers. Scroll and check the four boxes that begin “Historic.” Then use the “Search…” box at the top to zoom to your address. [Note: You’ll discover “Dot Maps” has a lot of good information, not just historic districts!]
Note: Westheight Manor Historic District is approximately L-shaped - primarily State Avenue on the south; 18th Street on the east, with the north & west boundary a zig-sag from 18th & Wood, west on Wood, south on 22nd, west again on Everett, then south again on 25th to State.
Unified Government’s Historic Preservation Rules & Regulations
In a nutshell, UG ordinances require that no changes to Westheight homes shall be made in such a manner or of such a character as to change the exterior appearance or exterior architectural features thereof which shall be visible from any public street, park or other public place, without prior approval of the KCK Landmarks Commission [UG Building Code Sec. 27-149]. It’s best when thinking about rehabilitating your home in a historic district just to work directly with the UG’s Planning & Urban Design Department ([email protected] or 913-573-5750). For reference, a copy of the ordinance is here: http://online.encodeplus.com/regs/kansascity-ks/doc-viewer.aspx#secid-17
Planning and Urban Design’s Historic Preservation Information
Even before you contact UG Planning, they have a lot of good reference material available online.
(This survey also is on our neighborhood website: https://www.historicwestheight.org/history.html)
- Historic Preservation FAQs:
- In this 1988 Westheight Manor Historic Survey, there may be more information regarding your specific home:
(This survey also is on our neighborhood website: https://www.historicwestheight.org/history.html)
State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and Kansas Historic Resource Inventory
Use the Kansas Historic Resource Inventory or KHRI (www.khri.kansasgis.org) to check how your house within the historic district is recorded in state records. Open “Search” tab and a long list of fill-in boxes appear. Just fill in the top 7 boxes to include your complete address, being sure to utilize each pull-down menu. Then scroll to the bottom of the page to press “Search.” The listing for your home should come up highlighted. Click on it and the complete detailed listing with record photos should appear. Note: What got put online was a 1980s paper database.
- Look for “Physical Description/Remarks” – This data, mostly from the 1980s, is often what regulators use when determining what may or may not have been “original” regarding your home
- Look for “Register Status” – Note that homes need to be marked “Contributing” to the historic district to be able to qualify for the state’s historic rehabilitation income tax credits
- Look for “Images” – Similar to what’s listed under “Physical Description/Remarks,” the earliest photos often will be what regulators use when determining what may or may not be “original.”
Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation
During your rehabilitation approval process, reference may be made to these “Standards.” Applied to our historic district homes, the “Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings and the Guidelines on Sustainability for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings” portions of the “Standards” are advisory but nevertheless likely will be required for local permit applications and state tax credit applications.
Here are those ten “Standards”: https://www.nps.gov/tps/standards/rehabilitation.htm
The much more detailed “Guidelines” (if you REALLY want to get “in the weeds”) are here:
https://www.nps.gov/tps/standards/treatment-guidelines-2017.pdf
Here are those ten “Standards”: https://www.nps.gov/tps/standards/rehabilitation.htm
The much more detailed “Guidelines” (if you REALLY want to get “in the weeds”) are here:
https://www.nps.gov/tps/standards/treatment-guidelines-2017.pdf