After years of deliberations, work sessions, presentations and indecision, Leawood city councilmembers finally arrived at a consensus on what a future park should look like on the grounds of its original city hall and fire station.
Their decision: The fire station will stay, but the old city hall will be demolished, despite some citizen-led efforts to save it.
Councilmembers spent three and a half hours in a special session on Monday going over proposals to make the roughly two acres at 96th Street and Lee Boulevard into usable public space.
Their vision supports renovation of the fire station with an eye toward creating a future meeting and gathering space. A green space on the site would include play areas and perhaps a demonstration garden.
Two councilmembers pressed for coffee shop plan
The majority of councilmembers were not behind a push to keep the small city hall building, which has numerous health and accessibility problems, intact. They ultimately decided not to pursue offers to buy or lease the property and run it privately, perhaps as a coffee or ice cream shop.
Two councilmembers, Debra Filla and Alan Sunkel, who both represent Ward 1 where the old city hall property stands, urged their colleagues to consider the idea, noting a Change.org petition with nearly 1,000 signatures in support.
Sunkel said cafes have been successful in city parks the world over and noted Meadowbrook Park has one.
“We have an opportunity here to add yet another jewel to our collection,” he said. The risk to the city is “minimal,” he said. “The reward is high. And I think it could really be the sparkle of the gem we’re creating here. I’d like to do this for the people of Leawood.”
Filla referenced the petition, saying it’s unusual to have 1,000 signers in support, rather than against, an issue.
“To lose the opportunity to save these historic buildings would be a shame,” she said. “It would be disappointing to so many people in the neighborhood.”
What other councilmembers said in response
But other councilmembers were concerned about the unforeseen problems that could arise long-term, if cafe ownership changed hands or failed.
Councilmember Lisa Harrison said she was troubled by the fact that the old city hall was in the middle of the property, between the old fire station and the new Fire Station 31. Putting a private owner there could cause problems for people crossing between the other two buildings, she said.
Councilmember Steven Kaster said he liked the coffee shop concept, “I just don’t personally believe old city hall is the place for it.”
Those who were in favor of demolition acknowledged their decision could disappoint residents who had pushed for adding more walkable gathering space in the northern part of the city. But they said the area can still be a big improvement.
“Just because the city wants to retain ownership of the property doesn’t mean something wonderful won’t go there,” said Councilmember Sherrie Gayed.
What to do with old city hall has been studied for years
Leawood governing bodies have been considering — and putting off — decisions on the historic properties at 96th and Lee for about 16 years.
The two buildings both date to the 1950s. Neither is being used now, except as storage. An antique fire truck sits inside the old fire station.
The city hall building has been shuttered for 30 years. The 1,100-square-foot city hall building was often too small even in its day and now has issues with asbestos, mold, lead paint and water damage. It has a basement that is inaccessible for people with disabilities.
A former city council discussed but ultimately rejected the idea of moving the city hall building. Members also considered building a replica. After a break during the COVID-19 pandemic, the current city council began to reconsider the question about a year ago.
Their discussion Monday offered direction for staff toward master planning the area.
Two private offers put on the table
The city council’s first key decision Monday was to neither follow up on offers of private ownership or leasing, nor advertise the property for sale.
Andy and Jaclyn Penn, of Leawood, offered to buy the property and develop it into green space with a coffee shop in the city hall, keeping both buildings intact.
The two former corporate executives proposed a purchase price of $300,000 and a financial commitment of up to $1.2 million for restoration and operations. If leased, the amount for restoration and operations would be up to $1.5 million.
The couple would use their own resources and would not ask for city help with financing, Andy Penn said.
The city also received a last-minute offer hours before its Monday session from Andrew Osman, former Leawood councilmember and owner of ARO Real Estate, for a purchase price of $500,000. Osman’s letter to the city mentioned that his real estate company manages a successful portfolio of bakeries and coffee shops throughout the metro, but the letter did not outline a development plan.
Several councilmembers said the city would need to put out a request for proposals to the general public if they decided the property should be sold.
Although the majority did not want to keep the city hall intact, some proposed salvaging some of its bricks or other elements for use in other park features. Filla said city officials could get creative, maybe putting a miniature city hall as a playground feature. She and others did not express interest in a proposal for a monument memorializing the building, which Filla characterized as a “tombstone.”
Attention turns to the historic fire station
Removing the old city hall puts the focus on the fire station. With the city hall out of the discussion, some councilmembers proposed putting a concession window or expanded kitchenette in the old fire station, possibly to keep the coffee idea going.
Sunkel had reservations about a city concession stand.
“If the city runs the concession it will likely be a bad cup of coffee,” he said. But others said they’d be open to bringing in vendors to provide it.
The details of what will be done to the fire station will be developed further during the master planning process. Councilmembers eyed the interior for meeting space and were interested in opening a side of the building for community gathering, possibly overlooking the park.
They also discussed the 1949 classic fire truck, which was once a model for a Hallmark Christmas ornament. The truck occupies one side of the station’s interior.
Several councilmembers said they’d like to keep the truck on display at the station. Fire Chief Colin Fitzgerald said the truck has some rough metal edges and should not be climbed on. The space for viewing it is also limited.
There’s been some talk of moving the truck, possibly to a yet-to-be-built fire station at least three years away, some councilmembers said. Ultimately, the governing body agreed that at least in the short term, the truck could remain where it is.
Plans for the rest of the grounds
Some rearranging will be done on the grounds to make room for walking and play areas.
Currently there are 32 community garden plots behind the fire station. Councilmembers supported relocating them. Councilmember Mary Larson suggested City Park at 10601 Lee Blvd., saying there’s more space there for a bigger community garden area.
The city council also was open to installing a demonstration garden, an idea that didn’t get much traction in earlier meetings. Demonstration gardens are typically themed as teaching tools and run by the county extension’s volunteer Master Gardeners. Councilmembers said the idea depends on the cost.
The city council also was generally supportive of playground equipment for all ages, possibly with some accessible equipment.
Councilmembers also supported a perimeter sidewalk trail around the play area, but wanted to make sure the boundaries abutting a residential area had buffering and fencing.
The city council will decide the parking layout after learning what the city code requires for the park’s use.
Next steps
The discussion Monday was to give BBN Architects a starting point for some design options. The specifics will follow with a master plan for the park.
Mayor Marc Elkins’ intention is to have the master plan in place by the end of this year.
Keep reading: Leawood open house reveals new designs for repurposing old city hall
