Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoThe gloves are off.
A hearing Tuesday night on the fate of three houses in the 1300 block of Ohio featured the expected he-said, she-said debate between the demolition proponents at Kansas University and opponents from the Oread Neighborhood Assn. and Lawrence Preservation Alliance.
Less predictable was the way the frustration of demolition opponents boiled over Tuesday, with representatives comparing KU to murderers and other unsavory characters.
“They have behaved like deep-pocketed corporate bullies, instead of an institution of higher learning,” said Candice Davis, a resident of the Oread neighborhood.
But KU officials said the houses should come down regardless.
“There is no prudent alternative to demolition,” said James Modig, KU’s director of design and construction management, “followed by new construction.”
KU wants to tear down three dilapidated, century-old houses on Ohio Street to make way for scholarship halls. But the university has been prevented from doing so because of a state preservation officer’s ruling in March that the demolition would harm the historic value of nearby Usher House, 1425 Tenn.
That house, now being used by Beta Theta Pi fraternity, is on the National Register of Historic Places. KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway in June appealed the state preservation officer’s ruling to Gov. Bill Graves, who nearly made a decision without taking public input.
He reversed course July 8, and letters started coming in from proponents and opponents of demolition. And he decided earlier this month to have Tuesday’s public comment hearing in Lawrence.
Graves did not attend the meeting. He was represented by three hearing officers: David Hanson, a Topeka attorney who sits on the Kansas Human Rights Commission; Thaine Hoffman, the state architect, and Trista Beadles, assistant legal counsel to the governor.
l KU officials said it was far cheaper to tear down the houses and rebuild (at a cost of $1.19 million) than to spend $1.455 million renovating them. Opponents said a more accurate estimate would be $1.47 million for rebuilding and $1.37 million on renovation.
KU representatives said the homes had poor foundations, termite damage and lots of mold, but they don’t have heating or plumbing.
“They have been in deplorable condition for some time,” said Jim Pottorff, KU’s general counsel.
Schneider said the homes had been occupied until the KU Endowment Association bought them in 2000. The removal of plumbing and heating systems, he said, must have happened on the university’s watch.
“It reminds me of the story of the young man who killed his parents, went before the judge for sentencing and said, ‘Judge have mercy on me. I’m an orphan,'” said Ronald Schneider, an attorney representing the neighborhood and preservationists.
KU officials said offers by neighborhood residents and preservationists had been far below market price. But opponents said the university got the houses as a gift from the Kansas University Endowment Association.
“Call me dumb, but when you get something for free, profit is automatic,” said Terry Riordan, a resident of Oread Neighborhood.
That argument seemed unlikely to carry the day.
“Let’s not get into that,” Hoffman said. “We all know somebody paid for it.”
Hanson said after the hearing he did not know if his three-person hearing committee would merely compile information from Tuesday’s hearing, or if it will make an outright recommendation to Graves. Officials have said there is no timeline for Graves’ decision.
Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoThe gloves are off.
A hearing Tuesday night on the fate of three houses in the 1300 block of Ohio featured the expected he-said, she-said debate between the demolition proponents at Kansas University and opponents from the Oread Neighborhood Assn. and Lawrence Preservation Alliance.
Less predictable was the way the frustration of demolition opponents boiled over Tuesday, with representatives comparing KU to murderers and other unsavory characters.
“They have behaved like deep-pocketed corporate bullies, instead of an institution of higher learning,” said Candice Davis, a resident of the Oread neighborhood.
But KU officials said the houses should come down regardless.
“There is no prudent alternative to demolition,” said James Modig, KU’s director of design and construction management, “followed by new construction.”
KU wants to tear down three dilapidated, century-old houses on Ohio Street to make way for scholarship halls. But the university has been prevented from doing so because of a state preservation officer’s ruling in March that the demolition would harm the historic value of nearby Usher House, 1425 Tenn.
That house, now being used by Beta Theta Pi fraternity, is on the National Register of Historic Places. KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway in June appealed the state preservation officer’s ruling to Gov. Bill Graves, who nearly made a decision without taking public input.
He reversed course July 8, and letters started coming in from proponents and opponents of demolition. And he decided earlier this month to have Tuesday’s public comment hearing in Lawrence.
Graves did not attend the meeting. He was represented by three hearing officers: David Hanson, a Topeka attorney who sits on the Kansas Human Rights Commission; Thaine Hoffman, the state architect, and Trista Beadles, assistant legal counsel to the governor.
l KU officials said it was far cheaper to tear down the houses and rebuild (at a cost of $1.19 million) than to spend $1.455 million renovating them. Opponents said a more accurate estimate would be $1.47 million for rebuilding and $1.37 million on renovation.
KU representatives said the homes had poor foundations, termite damage and lots of mold, but they don’t have heating or plumbing.
“They have been in deplorable condition for some time,” said Jim Pottorff, KU’s general counsel.
Schneider said the homes had been occupied until the KU Endowment Association bought them in 2000. The removal of plumbing and heating systems, he said, must have happened on the university’s watch.
“It reminds me of the story of the young man who killed his parents, went before the judge for sentencing and said, ‘Judge have mercy on me. I’m an orphan,'” said Ronald Schneider, an attorney representing the neighborhood and preservationists.
KU officials said offers by neighborhood residents and preservationists had been far below market price. But opponents said the university got the houses as a gift from the Kansas University Endowment Association.
“Call me dumb, but when you get something for free, profit is automatic,” said Terry Riordan, a resident of Oread Neighborhood.
That argument seemed unlikely to carry the day.
“Let’s not get into that,” Hoffman said. “We all know somebody paid for it.”
Hanson said after the hearing he did not know if his three-person hearing committee would merely compile information from Tuesday’s hearing, or if it will make an outright recommendation to Graves. Officials have said there is no timeline for Graves’ decision.
Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoThe gloves are off.
A hearing Tuesday night on the fate of three houses in the 1300 block of Ohio featured the expected he-said, she-said debate between the demolition proponents at Kansas University and opponents from the Oread Neighborhood Assn. and Lawrence Preservation Alliance.
Less predictable was the way the frustration of demolition opponents boiled over Tuesday, with representatives comparing KU to murderers and other unsavory characters.
“They have behaved like deep-pocketed corporate bullies, instead of an institution of higher learning,” said Candice Davis, a resident of the Oread neighborhood.
But KU officials said the houses should come down regardless.
“There is no prudent alternative to demolition,” said James Modig, KU’s director of design and construction management, “followed by new construction.”
KU wants to tear down three dilapidated, century-old houses on Ohio Street to make way for scholarship halls. But the university has been prevented from doing so because of a state preservation officer’s ruling in March that the demolition would harm the historic value of nearby Usher House, 1425 Tenn.
That house, now being used by Beta Theta Pi fraternity, is on the National Register of Historic Places. KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway in June appealed the state preservation officer’s ruling to Gov. Bill Graves, who nearly made a decision without taking public input.
He reversed course July 8, and letters started coming in from proponents and opponents of demolition. And he decided earlier this month to have Tuesday’s public comment hearing in Lawrence.
Graves did not attend the meeting. He was represented by three hearing officers: David Hanson, a Topeka attorney who sits on the Kansas Human Rights Commission; Thaine Hoffman, the state architect, and Trista Beadles, assistant legal counsel to the governor.
l KU officials said it was far cheaper to tear down the houses and rebuild (at a cost of $1.19 million) than to spend $1.455 million renovating them. Opponents said a more accurate estimate would be $1.47 million for rebuilding and $1.37 million on renovation.
KU representatives said the homes had poor foundations, termite damage and lots of mold, but they don’t have heating or plumbing.
“They have been in deplorable condition for some time,” said Jim Pottorff, KU’s general counsel.
Schneider said the homes had been occupied until the KU Endowment Association bought them in 2000. The removal of plumbing and heating systems, he said, must have happened on the university’s watch.
“It reminds me of the story of the young man who killed his parents, went before the judge for sentencing and said, ‘Judge have mercy on me. I’m an orphan,'” said Ronald Schneider, an attorney representing the neighborhood and preservationists.
KU officials said offers by neighborhood residents and preservationists had been far below market price. But opponents said the university got the houses as a gift from the Kansas University Endowment Association.
“Call me dumb, but when you get something for free, profit is automatic,” said Terry Riordan, a resident of Oread Neighborhood.
That argument seemed unlikely to carry the day.
“Let’s not get into that,” Hoffman said. “We all know somebody paid for it.”
Hanson said after the hearing he did not know if his three-person hearing committee would merely compile information from Tuesday’s hearing, or if it will make an outright recommendation to Graves. Officials have said there is no timeline for Graves’ decision.
Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoThe gloves are off.
A hearing Tuesday night on the fate of three houses in the 1300 block of Ohio featured the expected he-said, she-said debate between the demolition proponents at Kansas University and opponents from the Oread Neighborhood Assn. and Lawrence Preservation Alliance.
Less predictable was the way the frustration of demolition opponents boiled over Tuesday, with representatives comparing KU to murderers and other unsavory characters.
“They have behaved like deep-pocketed corporate bullies, instead of an institution of higher learning,” said Candice Davis, a resident of the Oread neighborhood.
But KU officials said the houses should come down regardless.
“There is no prudent alternative to demolition,” said James Modig, KU’s director of design and construction management, “followed by new construction.”
KU wants to tear down three dilapidated, century-old houses on Ohio Street to make way for scholarship halls. But the university has been prevented from doing so because of a state preservation officer’s ruling in March that the demolition would harm the historic value of nearby Usher House, 1425 Tenn.
That house, now being used by Beta Theta Pi fraternity, is on the National Register of Historic Places. KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway in June appealed the state preservation officer’s ruling to Gov. Bill Graves, who nearly made a decision without taking public input.
He reversed course July 8, and letters started coming in from proponents and opponents of demolition. And he decided earlier this month to have Tuesday’s public comment hearing in Lawrence.
Graves did not attend the meeting. He was represented by three hearing officers: David Hanson, a Topeka attorney who sits on the Kansas Human Rights Commission; Thaine Hoffman, the state architect, and Trista Beadles, assistant legal counsel to the governor.
l KU officials said it was far cheaper to tear down the houses and rebuild (at a cost of $1.19 million) than to spend $1.455 million renovating them. Opponents said a more accurate estimate would be $1.47 million for rebuilding and $1.37 million on renovation.
KU representatives said the homes had poor foundations, termite damage and lots of mold, but they don’t have heating or plumbing.
“They have been in deplorable condition for some time,” said Jim Pottorff, KU’s general counsel.
Schneider said the homes had been occupied until the KU Endowment Association bought them in 2000. The removal of plumbing and heating systems, he said, must have happened on the university’s watch.
“It reminds me of the story of the young man who killed his parents, went before the judge for sentencing and said, ‘Judge have mercy on me. I’m an orphan,'” said Ronald Schneider, an attorney representing the neighborhood and preservationists.
KU officials said offers by neighborhood residents and preservationists had been far below market price. But opponents said the university got the houses as a gift from the Kansas University Endowment Association.
“Call me dumb, but when you get something for free, profit is automatic,” said Terry Riordan, a resident of Oread Neighborhood.
That argument seemed unlikely to carry the day.
“Let’s not get into that,” Hoffman said. “We all know somebody paid for it.”
Hanson said after the hearing he did not know if his three-person hearing committee would merely compile information from Tuesday’s hearing, or if it will make an outright recommendation to Graves. Officials have said there is no timeline for Graves’ decision.
