When it comes to shuttered and abandoned buildings, the terms “adaptive reuse” and “repurposing” are being heard more and more. Whether talking about the numerous facilities sitting unused within the Kansas City Missouri School District or on iconic building like King Louie West in Overland Park, finding new uses for old sites seems to make good sense for buyers and sellers alike.
Thursday on Up to Date, Steve Kraske talks with Mindi Love and Elizabeth Rosin, both involved in repurposing these local structures. From determining whether a building is worth saving to the advantages of having a historic designation to matching an old building to a new owner, we’ll discover how this process offers new life to old buildings.
Mindi Love has served as director of the Johnson County Museum since 2000. She has over fifteen years of experience in all aspects of museum operations. A native of Johnson County, Love attended the University of Kansas earning degrees in U. S. history and anthropology. This year she president of the Heritage League of Greater Kansas City as well as serving on the governing council of the American Association for State and Local History. Mindi lives in Overland Park with her husband Jeff and son Hank.
Elizabeth Rosin is the founder and principal of Rosin Preservation, LLC. She has over 20 years experience in historic preservation and cultural resource management including five years as a planner with the City of Kansas City, Missouri Landmarks Commission. An expert on historic tax credits, Rosin’s portfolio ranges from an early-19th century log house to iconic mid-twentieth century Modern office buildings. Elizabeth came into the field of historic preservation through the study of archaeology, earning her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in anthropology and geography and went on to earn her master’s degree in historic preservation at the University of Vermont. Shannon Jaax joined Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS) in January 2011 as the Director of the Repurposing Initiative. Most recently, Shannon worked for the City of Kansas City, Mo in the City Planning and Development Department where she led a variety of planning and economic development initiatives. Prior to moving to Kansas City in 2006, Jaax was a Program Manager at Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative (LANI), a non-profit organization that has received national recognition for its collaborative, catalytic approach to neighborhood revitalization. Jaax has received a Master of Planning degree from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA and a BSBA with honors in International Business and Finance from American University, Washington DC.
