Rehabilitating an Historic Structure

 

Introduction

Kansas Historic Preservation Law

State and Federal Preservation Standards

The Kansas Historical Preservation Office

The National Register

Listing a Property on the National Register

Grants and Incentives

The Historical Preservation  Board of Review

A List of Historic Sites in Wyandotte County

Unified Government Landmarks Ordinance

The Landmarks Commission

Homeowner's Guide to Real Estate Property Tax

A Guide to appealing your Real Estate Tax Valuation

Back to Historic Westheight Neighborhood Association Home Page

REHABILITATING AN HISTORIC STRUCTURE

WESTHEIGHT MANOR
KANSAS CITY, KANSAS

Welcome to Westheight Manor. You have now purchased a home in a neighborhood that has long been recognized as one of the most historically significant in all of the Kansas City area, due to the large number of architecturally significant structures in Westheight. Much of Westheight Manor has been listed as an Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places since 1975 and the Register of Historic Kansas Places since 1977, and in 1981-82, all of the houses in Westheight were included in both the State and National Registers. This significant honor was accorded to Westheight because of the overall character of the neighborhood and the beauty and quality of the structures therein.

As a new homeowner in Westheight, you may have questions about the requirements for maintaining an architecturally significant house. Common questions may be; "What can I do? What can I not do? What am I required to do to maintain the historic character of the house?"

This publication has been put together to attempt to answer those questions. While the definitive answer to many situations may require different considerations, this paper can guide you and answer most questions that may arise.

The information contained herein comes from several sources, including the Kansas State Historical Society, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas and the Kansas City, Kansas Landmarks Commission. Those sources may be consulted for further information about specific requirements, or to answer more detailed questions than may be answered here. Also, board members of the Historic Westheight Neighborhood Association may be able to answer specific questions, or direct you to someone who may know the answer to any question you may have. Please feel free to call upon any of them.

For more general information about the history of Westheight Manor and many of the significant houses in the neighborhood, read the 137-page historic study of the area that was published by the City in 1990. While they last, printed copies of this study may still be obtained from either the Historic Westheight Neighborhood Association or the Planning and Zoning Division of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, KS.

Enjoy your new, old house!

DISCLAIMER: Information and links on these pages are offered as a public service. The Historic Westheight Neighborhood Association does not guarantee the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the information provided on these pages. Anyone contemplating rehabilitation of an historic structure should consult all proper authorities before beginning work.