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Final Vote Dooms Plaza Apartments Tied To Kansas City Architect Nelle Peters

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The full Kansas City Council followed a committee recommendation this week and voted down an ordinance that sought to preserve three apartment buildings in the 4700 block of Summit. 

The final vote was 9-3 not to seek historic status to save the buildings.

Historic Kansas City Foundation preservationists had said the three half-timbered brick, stucco and stone buildings are examples of the work of prominent female Kansas City architect Nelle Peters and should be saved.

Owner Doug Price and his attorney told a council committee he had sought bids from a half-dozen parties interested in restoring the buildings, but came up with only two offers, neither approaching the $3.6 million he had paid for the buildings. 

Price offered council members some reassurance about his plan to build a new apartment complex on the site.

“I'm not putting up glass and steel," Price told them. "It will fit the neighborhood. I sound like Donald Trump: it will be beautiful."

Price said he is a builder who is in it for the long term.  He said he might have considered some sort of restoration plan but that it is impossible to provide adequate parking for tenants without starting from scratch.

Demolition of the three buildings is expected to begin soon.

Steve Bell is afternoon news anchor and business news reporter for KCUR.  He may be reached at 816-235-5173 or by e-mail as steveb@kcur.org

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