The Lawrence Historic Resources Commission Thursday night voted to "enthusiastically endorse and recommend" a rezoning proposal aimed at preserving historic houses in the western portion of Old West Lawrence.
Residents of the area, which extends from Arkansas through Alabama streets and Sixth through Ninth streets, are asking that it be rezoned from duplex to single-family to prevent history-rich homes from being demolished and replaced with duplexes.
A movement by residents of the western half of the Old West Lawrence neighborhood to protect historic homes from being replaced by duplex housing is moving forward. Thursday night, the Historic Resources Commission heartily endorsed the measure. Earlier in the day, Lawrence letter carrier Tom Krause delivered mail on the eastern side of the neighborhood and received a friendly greeting from some neighborhood dogs.
Ann Goans, coordinator of the rezoning project and neighborhood resident, presented commissioners on Thursday with a petition bearing the signatures of 91 percent of the neighborhood's 211 property owners in favor of dropping the duplex zoning.
"It is a good thing not to tear down the fabric of historic neighborhoods," Goans said. "It should be there for everybody to enjoy."
Supporters also argue the project would bring the neighborhood's zoning into conformity with the actual usage there, which is 72 percent single-family.
Neighborhood residents first approached Lawrence city commissioners about the rezoning in mid-November. Before the proposal comes back to the city commission for final approval, it must first be reviewed by the Historic Resources Commission and the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission. The latter body will consider the rezoning project at its Feb. 27 meeting.
Along the way, Goans said there had been a misconception by some that by dropping duplex zoning, neighborhood residents sought to drive out students and other renters. That couldn't be further from the truth, she said.
"This is about not tearing down historic homes," she said. "Historic homes are lived in in our neighborhood by renters of all ages. The diversity of our neighborhood is one of the things that makes it so wonderful."
All existing duplexes would be allowed in the rezoning under a grandfather clause.
Historic Resources Commissioner Jeff Messick said Thursday that he was relieved the project was moving forward. In the past, when property owners had come before the commission requesting to raze old homes to make way for duplexes, commissioners' hands were tied because zoning allowed for the changes.
"I am absolutely 100 percent in favor of this," he said. "I think it's long overdue."
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