Kansas City has a lot of historic houses that could be great homes if someone would just give them a little attention.
That’s the idea behind the Historic Kansas City Foundation’s (HKC) Historic Home Buyer expo this weekend.
The idea came from a member of the Young Preservationist Group last year, according to HKC director Amanda Crawley. “He said he thought about buying an older house but it seemed overwhelming. So he ended up buying a condo.”
The foundation and the Young Preservationists are guessing there are many others who might consider buying older homes in the urban core if they just had a little help.
The expo is meant to be a starting point for them, and a chance to get new information for those who already own older homes. It offers two days of information and networking about historic houses. And is intended to inspire participants to invest in rehabilitating and restoring older homes.
The expo kicks off Friday with a reception in the late afternoon. On Saturday, ticket holders can stroll around the exhibit hall and attend educational seminars.
The foundation will also have a booth manned by volunteers who can help you research the history of your house. They can help you go online to find tax assessor photos, search online resources and get other research tips.
Education sessions include a panel discussion on what it means to live in a historic district and an overview of historic Kansas City architectural styles. There will also be workshops on historic color schemes, chimney and fireplace renovation, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, and more.
If the expo is successful this year, Crawley says, the foundation may do it again next year.
She recommends buying tickets in advance.
It was a very informative expo! Great talks and vendors! I hope they do it again next year…