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When they met Tuesday, Leavenworth city commissioners approved a demolition permit for the old East Middle School building.
The permit was sought by the First United Methodist Church, which owns the former school building at 400 Chestnut St. Church officials say they want to tear down the old school in order to expand the neighboring First United Methodist Church building.
Tuesday’s action by the City Commission reversed a Sept. 1 decision by the Leavenworth Preservation Commission. Members of the Preservation Commission unanimously denied the church’s request on the basis the demolition would adversely impact the environs of the three nearby historic structures.
When making a decision Tuesday, city commissioners were asked to consider whether there were “feasible and prudent alternatives” to the church’s proposal.
City commissioners voted 3-2 to authorize the permit with Lisa Weakley and Davis Moulden voting against the motion.
The school building originally served as Leavenworth High School when it opened in 1933. Four of the five city commissioners said they had attended high school or middle school classes there.
Mayor Pro Tem Mark Preisinger said it was time to allow the owner of the building to do what it sees fit.
“I would love to see this building stay,” said Commissioner Shay Baker.
But Baker said she believes in owners’ rights.
“I too believe in owners’ rights,” Mayor Larry Dedeke said.
He suggested the building may stand empty if the permit was denied, leading to the city condemning the structure in the future.
Moulden said he can’t believe someone cannot find a use for the building.
“It’s just too good of a building,” he said.
Weakley, a member of the First United Methodist Church, said she would like to be assured the church has the financial resources to carry out its plans.
Weakley also noted a developer had made offers for the building. Baker later asked about this developer’s offers.
Weakley read a message from developer Steve Foutch in which he stated he’d offered $100,000 for the building. Foutch’s e-mail message had been provided to commissioners.
Preisinger said the church as the owner of the property has the right to accept or reject offers for the building.
Commissioners heard from representatives of the First United Methodist Church.
Randy Herrman, chairman of the church’s building committee, said the old school building was purchased in 2000 because officials knew additional space would be needed for the church.
When they met Tuesday, Leavenworth city commissioners approved a demolition permit for the old East Middle School building.
The permit was sought by the First United Methodist Church, which owns the former school building at 400 Chestnut St. Church officials say they want to tear down the old school in order to expand the neighboring First United Methodist Church building.
Tuesday’s action by the City Commission reversed a Sept. 1 decision by the Leavenworth Preservation Commission. Members of the Preservation Commission unanimously denied the church’s request on the basis the demolition would adversely impact the environs of the three nearby historic structures.
When making a decision Tuesday, city commissioners were asked to consider whether there were “feasible and prudent alternatives” to the church’s proposal.
City commissioners voted 3-2 to authorize the permit with Lisa Weakley and Davis Moulden voting against the motion.
The school building originally served as Leavenworth High School when it opened in 1933. Four of the five city commissioners said they had attended high school or middle school classes there.
Mayor Pro Tem Mark Preisinger said it was time to allow the owner of the building to do what it sees fit.
“I would love to see this building stay,” said Commissioner Shay Baker.
But Baker said she believes in owners’ rights.
“I too believe in owners’ rights,” Mayor Larry Dedeke said.
He suggested the building may stand empty if the permit was denied, leading to the city condemning the structure in the future.
Moulden said he can’t believe someone cannot find a use for the building.
“It’s just too good of a building,” he said.
Weakley, a member of the First United Methodist Church, said she would like to be assured the church has the financial resources to carry out its plans.
Weakley also noted a developer had made offers for the building. Baker later asked about this developer’s offers.
Weakley read a message from developer Steve Foutch in which he stated he’d offered $100,000 for the building. Foutch’s e-mail message had been provided to commissioners.
Preisinger said the church as the owner of the property has the right to accept or reject offers for the building.
Commissioners heard from representatives of the First United Methodist Church.
Randy Herrman, chairman of the church’s building committee, said the old school building was purchased in 2000 because officials knew additional space would be needed for the church.
“As you know, we were landlocked at the time,” he said.
He said the school building has never been usable for the church.
Marguerite Strange addressed commissioners as a member of the Board of Elders for the First Presbyterian Church, which also neighbors the old East Middle School building.
She said the Board of Elders had authorized a letter of support for the demolition request.
“We feel that it will not be detrimental to our church,” she said.
Sally Hatcher, a member of the Preservation Commission, said she also belongs to the First Presbyterian Church. She said the support from the Board of Elders is not the opinion of all members of the church.
Debra Bates-Lamborn, a downtown business owner, spoke against the demolition of the old school building. She’d prepared slides of photographs of old Leavenworth buildings for which people had found alternative uses. She also showed commissioners photographs of buildings that had been torn down in the city.
She said there may not be an alternative use for the former school building now, but one may exist in a year or two. She suggested the building should be sold if the church doesn’t want it.
Ken Bower, a member of the Preservation Commission, suggested tabling the issue until a future meeting. He said the needs of the church and historic preservation are not mutually exclusive. He offered to assist in working out a solution.
Weakley made a motion to deny the demolition permit but the measure didn’t pass.
City commissioners voted Tuesday to reverse another decision of the Preservation Commission.
The Preservation Commission had denied a request from Computers-R-Us for a permit for a back-lit sign and an LED message sign at 603 Shawnee St., which is in the downtown historic district.
City commissioners reversed the Preservation Commission decision with a vote of 3-1. Weakley voted against the motion. Moulden recused himself because he is an owner of the building where Computers-R-Us is located.
