Clay Center Downtown Historic Preservation Survey

Nimz, Dale

Recommendations: "The objectives of the Clay Center Downtown Historic Preservation Survey were to evaluate the community's architectural resources through a survey of ninety-seven properties in the downtown business district. Survey inventories, historic context statement, and report will support the economic development and historic preservation activities of the Clay Center Action Network and the Clay County Economic Development Group. Information from the project may be used in marketing and promoting the downtown commercial district. The Clay Center downtown business district does appear to have potential for a nomination to the Kansas Register or the National Register of Historic Places. The potential historic district occupies an area of approximately four blocks. The proposed district extends from the U.S. Post Office (806 6th Street, northeast corner 6th & Court) west on the north side of Court Street to 401 Court, then south to 406 Lincoln, then east on the south side of Lincoln to 512 Lincoln. On the east side of Sixth Street, the district includes five commercial buildings and the landmark Library (706 6th Street, northeast corner 6th & Lincoln). The proposed district includes the courthouse square (a significant historic landscape). Post Office, Carnegie Library, County Courthouse, and two municipal buildings. The proposed district includes 72 properties, 55 contributing and 17 non-contributing. The potential district includes two properties already listed on the National Register of Historic Places (Clay County Courthouse and Clay Center Carnegie Library). For a few buildings, facade alterations may be reversible so those buildings that are now evaluated as non-contributing might someday contribute to the proposed district. Although a nomination depends on strong local support, particularly of the downtown property owners, designation of a downtown historic district would qualify properties for financial incentives from the Federal and state tax credit programs as well as the Kansas Heritage Trust Fund. Technical assistance on storefront rehabilitation and masonry repair and maintenance. Designation also could be the basis for a facade rehabilitation revolving loan fund or development of a Clay Center Main Street program. With such programs, several downtown commercial buildings with relatively minor alterations could be rehabilitated. That would reinforce the historic architectural character of the district. Finally, a historic district nomination would recognize the community's pride in the Clay Center downtown business district and give business owners a possible comparative advantage in the regional competition for customers" Project funding was provided in part by a Historic Preservation Fund grant to the Kansas Historical Society administered by the State, Tribal, Local Plans and Grants division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior (grant number P18AF00077).

Clay Center Downtown Historic Preservation Survey

Collections