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Atchison accepts $22,000 historic-preservation grant to fund downtown survey; city commits minimum $16,000
Summary
The commission approved a $22,000 Historic Preservation Fund grant from the Kansas Historical Society for a downtown historic-resources survey; the city must commit a minimum $16,000 as local matching funds and would later decide whether to pursue a historic district listing.
The Atchison City Commission authorized the mayor or city manager to sign a project agreement for a $22,000 Historic Preservation Fund grant from the Kansas Historical Society to finance a downtown historic-resources survey; the commission approved the agreement by voice vote.
Mr. Prejean, who presented the item, said the federal funds flow through the state and that the city applied in collaboration with the chamber and Main Street program. “We received that award, which was for $22,000,” Prejean said. He described the survey as the first necessary step to determine which downtown buildings would be contributing resources if the city later sought to establish a downtown historic district.
Prejean described two primary financial incentives tied to historic designation in Kansas: the Heritage Trust Fund (competitive grants that can assist projects up to $100,000 with varying share rules) and the state historic tax credit, which Prejean said was effectively 40 percent following recent legislative change. He said the tax credit is not competitive — if a project follows the program rules it is awarded the certificate — and that the program requires adherence to rehabilitation standards.
Prejean said the grant comes with a minimum local commitment of $16,000; the exact local match will depend on consultant bids and the scope the city chooses. He said the city can complete the survey and later choose not to proceed with listing if public discourse and property-owner interest do not support a district.
Commissioners asked about district footprint, property eligibility, and whether certain downtown buildings would be considered contributing; Prejean said the survey would review hundreds of downtown buildings and that the city’s previously defined downtown footprint (roughly railroad tracks to Kansas or Santa Fe in places, and river to Tenth Street) would be the starting area for the consultant’s work.
The commission approved the grant agreement and Prejean said the next step is to issue a consultant solicitation under the terms of the grant.
