In KC, a $1.3 million historic Tudor near Ward Parkway falls to bulldozer
A 3,000-square-foot Kansas City home, located just off Ward Parkway and valued by Zillow at $1.3 million, is now a pile of bricks.
The demolition of the home, built in 1930 in the Tudor-style, took place only weeks after the house was automatically approved for demolition, per city ordinance.
In January, the home’s owners, Christopher and Andrea Ketcherside sought permission from the city to raze the house they have lived in, in the affluent Sunset Hill neighborhood, for 13 years. They said the house, having stood for 96 years, had developed problems such as constant flooding, drainage and foundation issues that had become costly and endemic.
The couple’s plan is to erect a new home, designed and built by Homoley Design + Build of Kansas City, that not only is evocative of the Tudor-style, but also includes elements reclaimed from their former home, including its wood beams.
In a previous interview, Andrea Ketcherside told The Star that she is sympathetic to the dismay many people feel over the destruction of a beautiful old home in an era of tear-towns and rebuilds. Ketcherside said that the family never intended to raze the house until problems continued to mount.
“The reason we bought the house is because of the aesthetic,” Ketcherside said. “We love where we live. We love the look of that neighborhood. I totally understand the ruffled feathers.”
“Our intent was, I guess, restoration—rebuild. We are taking the design from the inside and reapplying it to the new house, the same Gothic archways, and the big, big beautiful beams, which are actually going to be saved from the current house and used again.”
To help preserve Kansas City’s historic structures, the Kansas City Council in December 2024 passes an ordinance to pause immediate demolitions.
The law requires the staff of Kansas City Office of Historic Preservation to assess the proposed demolition of any building 50 years old or older (other than sheds, or others on the dangerous buildings list) to see if those buildings meet the criteria to be listed on the Kansas City Register of Historic Places or the National Register of Historic Places.
If the staff determines that a building is eligible, the staff’s recommendation must be presented before the Historic Preservation Commission for a public hearing within 45 days of receipt of the demolition application.
The hearing is meant to allow time for neighborhood or preservationist groups or other interested parties to possibly file applications for a building to be placed on one of the historic registries.
If an application for historic status is pending, demolition can be further postponed. In its Feb. 20, 2026 report, the staff of the Office of Historic Preservation recommended that the home’s demolition be delayed for 45 days.
It notes that the quality, style and craftsmanship of the Ketchersides’ 1930 Tudor Revival house, in the 5200 block of Mercier Street, met one of four criteria for possible listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
The staff’s recommendation was set to go before the Historic Preservation Commission at its monthly meeting on Feb. 27. The meeting, however, was canceled that day for a “lack of quorum.” Three days then passed. Monday, March 2, marked the 45th day from the time of the Ketcherside’s demolition application on Jan. 16. Their application was thus automatically approved without public comment.
Construction is estimated to take 12 to 14 months.
