Beutner Residence - Demolition of Louis Curtiss House @ 1311 MANHEIM RD

[voltopt]

I don't know if this has been posted anywhere on the website yet, but the Louis Curtiss house on 39th street, just east of Troost in the Squire Park neighborhood, appears to be in terrible shape and near demolition.

I'm not sure if the demolition has been averted by the owner, but it may be worth investigating.  It would be a shame to lose this house.

http://kivaweb.kcmo.org/kivanet/2/rfs/s ... _id=400523

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... iwloc=addr


It is the modern house in the center of this photo...

http://www.kchistory.org/cdm4/item_view ... OX=1&REC=1

[voltopt]

Also, some nice flickr photos of the house.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hypnoraygu ... 957499514/

[Midtownkid]

Humm, that is too bad.    It's not actually my favorite work if his though.  Looks similar to a few other houses around town, one in Valentine comes to mind.  Anyone know if that one is his too?

[moderne]

Anybody driven by to see if its gone?  What a shame that it deteriorated so badly, and in one of the coolest old hoods between Hyde Park and the Paseo.

[moderne]

Looking at those photos, it sure shows the Frank Lloyd Wright influence, if not in the details, in the massing and that east wing.  Like something in Oak Park IL.

[lock+load]

Drove by today, it's still there.  Looks terrible though.

[HypnoRaygun]

The last time I took those photos (already referenced on here) the place actually looked like someone had been working on it. It was in better shape outside than it has been in the past.

I hope it doesn't get torn down and someone will save it. I look about once a week to see if it is for sale, nothing yet.

If you look at picture of Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity temple in Oak Park, IL, this home is a direct take off of it. The main portion of the house.

If there are any more updates that would be nice.

[HypnoRaygun]

I went by a few weeks ago and it is still there luckily. I think I did see someone (homeless?) outside of it, in the back. Any other news?

[natehofer]

Here's some new info based on a little sleuthing:

Unfortunately my fiance found an obit for a "Mable Lee". This name is based upon a name found in two places.

"Mable Page" here in a city document condemning the home (provided in the kcrag forum):
kivaweb.kcmo.org/kivanet/2/land/summary/index.cfm?pin=134916

"Mable Page Lee" here (with 1311 addy):
Jackson County Republican Committee Chairwomen
www.jacksongov.org/06Election/PDF/06Unoffic_Rep.pdf

"Mable Lee" obit:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kansas ... earch.aspx...

So I think if we assume the owner is deceased, our next question is: Now what? Because there's nothing in the above documentation that really provides real insight to what will happen to this house.

Who can help us at least understand this situation and maybe at most help ensure this house is preserved?

[HypnoRaygun]

Whatever happened with this? Anyone know? I don't live in KC, so I can not check on this myself.. Anyone have any updates?

[FangKC]

The house is still there. The family of the former owner is reportedly trying to sell it for $130,000. It's in terrible shape though, so I doubt they will get it, and whomever buys it will probably have to pay cash for it.

There was some discussion of that house at this thread:

http://forum.kcrag.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=17998

[chaglang]

There's a chance the neighborhood will get on the National Register as a district, so a renovation could be in line for historic tax credits.

[92Tempo]

I called the owner and was told they were asking only $35,000. I was also told it needed a new roof and "well, pretty much everything." I don't know if I woke the guy up or what, but he didn't seem too happy that I had called.

[chaglang]

I called the owner and was told they were asking only $35,000. I was also told it needed a new roof and "well, pretty much everything." I don't know if I woke the guy up or what, but he didn't seem too happy that I had called.

Well, that's what I get for listening to the neighborhood scuttlebutt. $35k is still probably 2x what the house is worth given its condition, but at that price there's a glimmer of hope. Hopefully the National Register nomination for Squier Park goes through. That would make the renovation eligible for tax credits.