The Hutchinson Landmarks Commission met July 29 and denied a demolition request for Barnard’s (2100 South Bonebrake Street), a property on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. At the Aug. 5 council meeting staff updated council on the commission’s action and on the owner’s subsequent appeal prospects.

The commission’s denial reflected the Secretary of the Interior’s standards for rehabilitation, which the commission applies when evaluating work on historic properties. Commission members also issued a unanimous recommendation to council asking for a one-year extension to allow for full or partial renovation, citing the property’s historic significance — including ties to local African American heritage and to a long-standing woman-owned business — and recent delays in the owner’s efforts connected to staffing shortages and family deaths.

City staff recommended a contingency path: authorize filing a demolition permit on the city’s behalf so the city can proceed if the private permit and owner-led path lapse. Council voted to authorize staff to proceed with filing a city demolition permit in parallel with the owner’s existing demolition permit. Council members emphasized the contingency permit would not mean immediate demolition; the city would move forward only if the owner’s permit expired or the owner failed to act and the council found no feasible and prudent alternative.

Why it matters: Barnard's is listed on state and national historic registers; demolition would therefore require the city to find that no feasible and prudent alternatives exist and that demolition is the last resort. The Landmark Commission urged the city to pursue preservation and to allow time for funding or rehabilitation plans.

Owner and contractor statements: Contractor Rick Friar of R & D Construction said his company had applied for a demolition permit and that discussions with the owner included demolition as one possible path; Friar said he believed portions of the building could be saved but that demolition was moving forward because of site conditions. Owner Susie Gress and contractor representatives told the commission and city staff they would explore funding options if given more time. Friar and others asked council to consider extensions where owners show progress rather than immediate demolition; the Landmark Commission recommended an extension of one year.

Next steps: Staff will file the city demolition permit as a contingency and will present any demolition bids to council before taking physical action. If the owner proceeds with demolition under a private permit, the city permit will remain a parallel option only; if the owner abandons the demolition permit and no feasible rehabilitation path exists, the city may move to authorize demolition by resolution after required hearings and findings under state statute and local preservation rules.

Ending: The Landmark Commission and owner representatives urged preservation and additional time to seek funding; council authorized the contingency permit to protect the city’s ability to act if the owner does not complete demolition or rehabilitation on a timely basis.