A Historic Preservation Ordinance, Chapter 22 – Conservation of Historic Resources Code, has been enacted by the City of Lawrence to help protect and encourage the preservation of Lawrence’s historic and architectural resources. The Ordinance establishes the Historic Resources Commission (HRC) and calls for the establishment of local historic districts and local landmarks.
In addition to the City of Lawrence’s Historic Preservation Ordinance, the State of Kansas has adopted the Kansas Historic Preservation Act (K.S.A. 75-2715 – 75-2725) which provides for the protection of properties listed on the Register of Historic Kansas Places and the National Register of Historic Places. Currently, the City of Lawrence has entered into an agreement with the State Historic Preservation Officer for the HRC to conduct reviews required by this statute in Lawrence.
Listed Properties and Context Areas
The City of Lawrence has developed an interactive map which identifies all historic properties and context areas.
Landmark Designation
The City of Lawrence established the Lawrence Register of Historic Places in 1988. This register identifies architectural characteristics and other historic resources of the city which represent elements of the city’s cultural, social, economic, political, and architectural history. Landmarks and historic districts may include structures, property, interiors of structures, objects, or landscape features.
The Lawrence Historic Resources Commission (HRC) reviews nominations for designation and makes its recommendation to the City Commission. The City Commission is the designating authority for Landmarks and Historic Districts. A pre-application meeting is required before submitting a nomination. Nomination information should include a history of the property, a development history of the area, and photographs of the property. Nomination application may be made through the City’s Enterprise Permitting & Licensing system.
State Preservation Law Review
The City of Lawrence has entered into an agreement with the State Historic Preservation Officer to conduct reviews required by K.S.A. 75-2724. When rezoning, building, demolition or other permit or license is required for work on a state or national register property, the project should be submitted for Historic Resources Commission review using the Design Review application through the City’s Enterprise Permitting & Licensing system.
The Historic Resources Administrator will determine whether the project is “major” or “minor.” Generally, a minor project is any maintenance, repair, replacement that uses materials which are identical to the original or existing materials. A major project is one that uses materials that are different than those that are currently there or changes in appearance to the structure such as additions or modifications.
Minor projects may be approved by the Historic Resources Administrator and a building permit may be obtained from the Building Safety Division. Major projects must be approved by the Lawrence Historic Resources Commission (HRC) at its regular monthly meeting. Meetings are generally held on the third Thursday of the month in the City Commission Room of City Hall (1st floor, 6 E. 6th Street). The HRC may approve, approve with amendments or deny an application. Appeals of the HRC’s determinations may be made to the City Commission.
The Historic Resources Commission uses the Secretary of the Interior Standards and Guidelines for Rehabilitation to make its determination on the proposed project. Failure to comply with the State Historic Preservation Act may result in civil fines up to $25,000.
Certificate of Approval
A Certificate of Approval is required before the following actions affecting a designated landmark or property within a designated historic district may be taken:
- Any exterior construction, alteration, or removal requiring a building permit from the City.
- Any demolition, in whole or in part, requiring a demolition or building permit from the City.
- Any sign permit.
- Any development activity or entitlement, including site improvements and the subdivision of land.
- Any ground-disturbing projects.
- Any improvements or development in the public right-of-way.
- Any construction, alteration, demolition, or removal affecting the exterior of a site, structure, or object or any historical feature as specified in the ordinance designating the landmark or the historic district.
A Certificate of Approval is also required before the following actions affecting property within the context area of a landmark or historic district may be taken:
- Any exterior construction or alteration visible from the public right-of-way and requiring a building permit from the City.
- Any demolition, in whole or in part, requiring a demolition or building permit from the City.
- Any sign permit.
- Any development activity or entitlement, including site improvements and the subdivision of land.
- Any ground-disturbing projects.
- Any improvements or development in the public right-of-way.
The context area is 250 feet surround the listed property.
To prevent unnecessary delay in construction, the Historic Resources Administrator will review applications for Certificates of Approval for projects located within the context areas of designated landmarks or historic districts, excluding those projects involving demolition of primary structures, new construction, building additions exceeding 20% of the existing building footprint, or upper-floor additions.
To apply for a Certificate of Approval, submit a Design Review application in the City’s Enterprise Permitting & Licensing system. A pre-submittal meeting is required 7 days in advance of the application submittal. You may also submit this pre-submittal meeting request through the City’s Enterprise Permitting & Licensing system.
Submittal requirements include photographs of the property, scaled elevation drawings of the proposed project, existing and proposed floor plans, materials list, and a site plan. Additional information may be requested depending on the scope of the project.
Teaching with Oak Hill Cemetery is a four-part series which is part of Kansas standards–based lessons developed to enable students to understand, summarize, and evaluate materials provided related to the history, design and development of Oak Hill Cemetery. Each lesson was designed to stand-alone, but they may be used in multiple combinations to suit the needs of the educator. Taken together they tell a rich history of Kansas and Oak Hill Cemetery. This series is inspired by the National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places standards.
In the “What is a Rural Cemetery?” lesson students will be asked to analyze and evaluate the similarities and differences between Oak Hill, Greenwood, and Mount Auburn Cemeteries. Using a step-by-step process, students will acquire historical thinking skills and learn to analyze and assess primary and secondary source materials. Through close reading and comparative analysis students will make logical inferences building on the central question “What is a Rural Cemetery?”
In the “Symbolism in the Cemetery” lesson students will analyze the symbology utilized on grave markers in Oak Hill Cemetery. Using a step-by-step process they will acquire historical thinking skills and learn to read the meaning of these commemorative graphical depictions.
In the “Civil War Veterans” lesson students will investigate the histories of Civil War Veterans buried at Oak Hill Cemetery. Using a step-by-step process, students will acquire historical thinking skills, work with and organize data, and learn to analyze and assess primary and secondary source materials. Lastly, students will research and produce a story covering a Civil War Veteran’s history.
In the “People of Oak Hill” lesson students will explore the lives of notable Kansans buried at Oak Hill Cemetery. Using a step-by-step process, students will acquire historical thinking skills and will organize and analyze data. Lastly, students will develop and defend position statements and opinions about the importance of the contributions these Kansans have made to our society.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Lawrence Preservation Ordinance applies to all properties listed on the Lawrence Register of Historic Places and to those properties within 250′ of the Lawrence Registered listed Landmarks or Historic Districts.
The ordinance provides protection to a property owner or a neighborhood because it provides a forum for review and control of proposed development and redevelopment projects before a public body which could have an impact on the physical appearance, historic context, and value of a Register property or properties. At this time, there are no monetary benefits directly related to the listing of a property on the local register.
The City has an interactive map that shows properties listed in the Lawrence Register and located in context areas. Contact the Planning Office for the most current information.
The Historic Resources Commission (HRC) is a 7-member, city appointed advisory board to the City Commission.
- Two members are architects,
- Two members are professionals in preservation-related fields such as architectural historians, archeologists, conservators, historians, landscape architects, or planners, as recognized by the relevant standards of those professions or fields; and
- Three members are either professionals or lay persons with a demonstrated interest, knowledge, or training in a profession or field closely related to historic preservation such as history, architecture, landscape architecture, architectural history, cultural anthropology, archeology, planning, real estate, law, finance, a construction trade, urban design, curation engineering, folklore, museum studies, public history, or geography.
Chapter 22 of the City Code establishes the authority of the Historic Resources Commission to review projects for their impact on historic resources and recommend properties to be listed int he Lawrence Register of Historic Places.
- Identifying distinctive architectural characteristics and historic resources of the city which are representative of the city and which are representative of elements of the city’s cultural, social, economic, political, and architectural history;
- Fostering civic pride in the past accomplishments of the City; Conserving and improving the value of property in and around designated Historic Landmarks, and Historic Districts;
- Fostering and encouraging preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation of structures, areas, and neighborhoods; and, Educating the general public in the what is historic in the community and how these resources can benefit the individual property owners and the community at large.
Generally, they meet on the third Thursday of every month in the City Commission room on the first floor of city hall, 6 E 6th St. To confirm a meeting date it is best to call 832-7700 prior to the meeting date. Meetings begin at 6:00 p.m. See schedule for dates and times.
An individual with a general question or concern may attend a meeting and speak under COMMUNICATIONS or PUBLIC COMMENTS, at the discretion of the chairman. Projects for review are scheduled according to the submittal date.
Safeguarding the city’s historic, aesthetic, and cultural heritage helps to stabilize and improve property values in historic districts, encourages civic pride in the beauty and accomplishments of the past, protects and enhances the city’s attractions for tourists, thereby benefiting business and industry and strengthening the city’s economy and promotes the use of landmarks for the education, pleasure and welfare of the people of the city.
An historic district is a special area established by City Ordinance or National Register Nomination, with defined boundaries, which contain a high concentration of historically and/or architecturally significant buildings. An historic district is a group of historic resources that are deemed significant as a collection of structures. The principal purpose of the district is to protect significant buildings within its boundaries from unnecessary or insensitive destruction, alteration or removal. The Old West Lawrence Historic District and the Oread Neighborhood Historic District are examples of historic districts.
A historic landmark is recommended for listing by the Historic Resources Commission and designated by the City Commission because of has a special character or special historic or architectural values as part of the development, heritage, or cultural characteristics of the city, state or nation. The House Building (729-731 Massachusetts Street) and the Eldrige House (945 Rhode Island Street) are examples of historic landmarks.
The Lawrence Register of Historic Places, the Register of Historic Kansas Places, and the National Register of Historic Places are the city’s, state’s and nation’s official list of cultural resources worthy of recognition and preservation. Properties listed on the Lawrence Register of Historic Places are subject to regulation by the City of Lawrence under the City’s Historic Preservation Ordinance. Properties listed on the Register of Historic Kansas Places and the National Register of Historic Places are subject to regulation by the State Historic Preservation Act.
The City has developed an interactive map that shows listed properties and context areas.
