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Board reviews Secretary of the Interior standards in training; staff to apply for $25,000 historic-preservation grant
Summary
The Arkansas City Historic Preservation Board watched a recorded training on the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and learned staff will apply for a $25,000 Historic Preservation Fund grant to revise the downtown district, with city commission support and an anticipated consultant procurement.
Board members viewed a recorded training Jan. 27 that reviewed the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and discussed a proposed Historic Preservation Fund grant application staff plans to submit to revise the downtown historic district.
The training was led by Katrina Wrangler (recorded presentation from a Lawrence historic board meeting). Wrangler reviewed the standards used nationwide when assessing changes to historic properties, including the importance of character-defining features, repairing rather than replacing historic materials, avoiding conjectural restorations without evidence, and designing new work to be differentiated yet compatible with historic materials.
In the meeting, Wrangler said, “properties are recognized as a physical record of their time, place, and use,” emphasizing that changes that create a false sense of historic development are not recommended.
After the video, city preservation staff said they intend to apply for a $25,000 Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) grant to update and potentially expand Arkansas City’s downtown district inventory and nominations. Staff told the board the city commission unanimously supported the application at its recent meeting and that the request would not require a cash match; the project would rely on in-kind municipal contributions and there is a possibility the state historic preservation office (SHPO) could cover shortfalls.
Staff said the grant scope could include evaluating whether the police department building and Ben Givens Park should be added to the district and that the city will hire a consultant to prepare the district revision. Staff noted the consultant who prepared prior work has retired, and staff is reaching out to preservation firms in the Kansas City area; Elizabeth Rosin of a Kansas City firm was identified as a potential contact.
City staff stated, “I’m gonna apply for $25,000,” and said they expect to submit the application soon and will keep the board informed about award status and consultant selection.
Board members asked clarifying questions about how the standards apply to storefronts, rooftop additions, and archaeological resources. Staff and board members discussed prior local projects and the importance of archival photos and physical evidence in deciding whether to restore or retain later historic changes. No formal board vote was recorded on the grant application at this meeting; the board had previously indicated support for pursuing funding and staff said the city commission approved the application submittal.
Next steps include completing the HPF application, issuing an RFP or otherwise procuring a consultant, and returning to the board with the consultant and proposed work plan if the grant is awarded.
