An historic district is a special area established by City Ordinance or
National Register Nomination, with defined boundaries, which contain a high concentration of
historically and/or architecturally significant buildings. An historic district is a group
of historic resources that are deemed significant as a collection of structures. The principal
purpose of the district is to protect significant buildings within its boundaries from unnecessary
or insensitive destruction, alteration or removal. The Old West Lawrence Historic District and the Oread Neighborhood Historic District are examples of historic districts.
The City's historic preservation ordinance and the state historic preservation
statutes require projects within a certain distance of the listed property be
reviewed for possible effects on the listed property. Structures or sites located
within 250 feet of a property listed on the Lawrence Register of Historic Places are
considered to be within the environs of the listed property and are subject to review.
Structures or sites located within 500 feet of a property listed on the Register of Historic
Places of Kansas or the National Register of Historic Places are considered to be
within the environs of the listed property and subject to state law review.
