Original Town Survey Olathe

SCOPE OF WORK: Survey & Historic Preservation
Management Recommendations
CLIENT: The City of Olathe
COMPLETED: January 2004

The City of Olathe, Kansas contracted with Elizabeth Rosin in 2003 to prepare historic preservation management recommendations for the Original Town area of Olathe, the historic heart of a community that is experiencing rapid suburban growth. Funded by a Community Capacity Building Grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing, the project complemented an update of the City’s Original Town Enhancement plan. The report findings included recommendations for future survey efforts, identified individual buildings and groups of buildings that may be eligible for register listing, and described strategies and tools that the City could adopt to promote historic preservation in the Original Town area.

During the fall of 2003, Rosin conducted a windshield survey of roughly 6,000 properties in the Original Town area and conducted very basic research to determine the approximate ages of the buildings surveyed. After mapping information about age and integrity, Rosin identified 25 individual properties and 9 districts that may be eligible for the state or national historic register. In addition to these resources, Rosin noted 6 potential conservation districts, areas that tell the story of Olathe’s history and development but that are not eligible for register listing due to age (less than 50 years old) or alterations to historic character.


Original Town Survey Olathe - Photo 1


Original Town Survey Olathe - Photo 2


Original Town Survey Olathe - Photo 3

Work completed by Elizabeth Rosin as partner with
Historic Preservation Services, LLC