The state's top historic preservation official flip-flopped Thursday, saying he will hold a public hearing on the fate of homes in the 1300 block of Ohio.
Ramon Powers, the state historic preservation officer did a last-minute reversal of his decision to hold no hearing about the properties. Powers had 30 days from the matter's Dec. 13 submittal to break the deadlock between two historic review boards or call for more investigation.
His office had said last week there would be no more public hearings on the matter, despite requests of preservationists who oppose Kansas University's proposed destruction of the homes.
"Dr. Powers has changed his mind about a public hearing," his deputy, Dick Pankratz, said Thursday. "That is going to be the next step."
Pankratz would not explain the reversal, saying only that it came "on the advice of our attorney." No date has been scheduled for the meeting, and no timeline set for a decision.
Pat Kehde, president of the Lawrence Preservation Alliance, said she was pleased with Powers' change of heart.
"I think it's such an important issue, it needs to be thoroughly investigated," she said.
KU officials, who had not opposed a public hearing, said they would do whatever is required in the process.
KU wants to raze the century-old houses to make way for future scholarship halls. The Oread Neighborhood and LPA are against that proposal, saying the homes should be restored and that the construction would represent too much encroachment by KU into the neighborhood.
The matter came before both the Campus Historic Preservation Board and the city's Historic Resources Commission because the houses are near two buildings on the National Register of Historic Places: Spooner Hall, at 14th Street and Oread Avenue, and Usher House, 1425 Tenn. Changes to the "environs" buildings and property near historic sites must be reviewed before proceeding.
The campus board voted in August to approve demolition. The city board voted against it in September. A joint October meeting of the bodies was the last chance to solve the impasse before sending the matter to the state historic preservation officer, but neither side gave any ground. Powers' decision would break the deadlock between the two boards.
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