Very few things last more than a century, but the Colonial Court apartments have withstood the test of time, until recently.
Dorri Partain has lived in the area for more than 30 years.
“I understand this building was built in 1916. In the course of 100 years, how many thousands of people lived here and called it their home?” Partain asked.
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Charles Haynes was one of the thousands. He said in September he was given 30-day notice by the owners after Kansas City University purchased the property. The university plans to demolish it and turn it into a parking lot.
Haynes said he was blindsided by the move.
“Without contacting the neighborhood associations, without contacting entities like that. Certainly not the tenants that lived there," Haynes said.
Utility crews have now removed most of the meters and pipes outside the apartment complex. The next hurdle is a city council vote to approve KCU’s expansion plan.
Councilman Quinton Lucas said he’s listened to all sides involved.
“This is not just a historic preservation issue, but it’s also one about neighborhood improvement. And so the council certainly has listened and we’ll continue to converse with community activists to make sure we are recognizing all voices,” Lucas said.
Meanwhile, people like Haynes feel voiceless. He’s now living in the apartment complex next door and fearful that too could become history.
“I wish the neighborhood could’ve kept it, but they bought it real quick on the sly. There were just a handful of us left at the end of it," Haynes said.
A spokesman for KCU said the university is trying its best to preserve history, but found it’s difficult to satisfy everyone. According to the university some of the buildings recently purchased are in such disrepair it’s not economically viable to bring them up to standard.
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Kevin Holmes can be reached at Kevin.Holmes@KSHB.com
