Looks like some Nelle Peters-designed apartments on the Plaza could be headed for the wrecking ball

A trio of charming and historic apartment buildings near the Country Club Plaza may be slated for demolition.

City records show that pre-demolition inspection permits were pulled by Industrial Salvage & Wrecking Co. in late May for three apartment buildings, spanning 4728 to 4734 Summit, on the west side of the Plaza. Subsequently, debris-hauling permits were opened for the properties.

The buildings are owned by 47 Summit LLC. Missouri Secretary of State records list Monte Wendler as 47 Summit’s registered agent. He’s also developer for Price Development Group, developer of the nearby 46 Penn apartments.

Wendler didn’t respond to an e-mail seeking comment on his plans for the apartments. A City Hall source indicated that no development plans have yet been submitted to the city’s planning department.

The apartments were designed by the famed Kansas City architect Nelle Peters, a prolific architect in the early 20th century. Some historical sources suggest that she designed about 1,000 buildings in Kansas City. The landmarks that feature her work include the Ambassador Hotel on Broadway, the Rio Vista apartments in Quality Hill, and the Blenheim and Sylvester apartments in old Hyde Park.

A Nelle Peters Thematic District was established on Summit Street to protect some of her “Poets and Painters” buildings on the Plaza, but the three buildings in question fall just outside the district’s boundaries. 

Amanda Crawley, executive director of Historic Kansas City, has concerns about the Plaza area losing these historic properties. She sends us this statement.

Historic Kansas City is exploring all options to retain these important and distinctive buildings which contribute to the historic character of the Plaza. We hope to have a meeting with the owners soon and representatives of our organizations have reached out to set up such a meeting.

The buildings are not currently included in the Nelle Peters Thematic District designated in 1988, but are likely to be eligible for inclusion in that district as they were also designed by Peters, a prolific and noted female Kansas City architect.

We will update this story as we learn more about it.