A historic building in Kansas City, dating back to 1874, has been saved from demolition after part of its roof collapsed and city inspectors ordered its emergency removal.
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inspectors → date → removal
The former Seiden's Furs building at 935 Broadway is widely considered the oldest surviving commercial building in downtown Kansas City's Downtown Loop.
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building → consider → Loop
It is now being renovated into a Midwestern restaurant called Loretta Jean's, with apartments planned for the upper floors.
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apartments → renovate → floors
The rescue was led by local developer Chris Sally, who stepped in to buy the property in October 2023, shortly after city officials issued an emergency demolition order.
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officials → lead → order
This was reported by the Kansas City Business Journal and Flatland KC.
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This → report → Journal
The project required major cleaning and structural repairs.
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project → require → cleaning
Workers removed more than 20 dumpsters of abandoned stock and rubbish that had built up over several decades.
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that → remove → decades
They also pumped out dangerous standing water that had collected in the basement.
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that → pump → basement
Collapse and municipal action
The building began falling into serious disrepair in July 2021, when heavy rainfall caused a large section of its roof to collapse.
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section → begin → roof
After the damage, city building inspectors officially declared the property dangerous.
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property → declare → damage
This led to several years of uncertainty about whether the historic building would survive.
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building → lead → uncertainty
According to records cited by the non-profit preservation group Preserve Missouri, early engineering estimates placed the cost of necessary repairs at around $2.1 million (£1.6 million).
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estimates → accord → million
An early report by Flatland KC described it as covering 14,000 square feet.
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report → describe → feet
However, a later report published by The KC Pulse listed its size as 7,500 square feet.
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report → publish → feet
Jackson County's property tax records valued the building at $316,135 in 2019, before the roof collapsed.
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roof → value → 2019
Before Sally agreed to buy the property, several other ideas were suggested to save it.
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ideas → agree → it
Local reports by Flatland KC mentioned plans ranging from an underground speakeasy bar to workspaces for artists.
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reports → mention → artists
One proposal came from artist Peregrine Honig, who wanted to create affordable artist studios with monthly rents of $200 to $400.
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who → come → 400
Built 152 years ago, the building first opened as the Brackett Brothers Drug Store.
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building → build → Store
It later became a fur shop in 1935, according to coverage by the Kansas City Star.
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It → become → Star
The business, known as Seiden's Furs, operated at the Broadway location for many years.
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business → know → years
However, historical records differ slightly about when it finally closed.
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it → differ → ?
The Kansas City Star reported that the fur shop remained open until 2006, while historical records kept by Preserve Missouri state that it closed in 2007.
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it → report → 2007
Sally's redevelopment plans aim to keep several features from the building's retail history.
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plans → aim → history
According to reports by Axios and the Kansas City Star, the new restaurant will include a preserved walk-in fur storage vault, an old metal safe used to store money, vintage advertising posters, and original fashion mannequins.
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restaurant → accord → money
These items will help maintain the building's historic character.
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items → help → character
Restoration workers have installed a completely new roof, repaired the mortar between the exterior bricks, and returned the second-floor windows to their original sizes, according to project updates from The KC Pulse.
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workers → instal → Pulse
Restaurant plans and preservation honors
The renovated building will house Loretta Jean's, a restaurant being developed by chef Rick Mullins and Candice Moore.
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building → renovate → Mullins
According to details reported by Axios, the plans also include a separate private dining area or basement bar called Josephine's.
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plans → accord → area
The entire upper floor will be converted into residential apartments.
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floor → convert → apartments
The project received recognition from regional historic preservation groups even before the restaurant officially opened.
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restaurant → receive → groups
According to Kansas City Magazine, the redevelopment received a 2025 Historic Kansas City Preservation Award for Neighborhood Stabilization.
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redevelopment → accord → Stabilization
The publication reported that Loretta Jean's is expected to open in autumn 2026.
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Jean → report → autumn
The rescue of the Seiden's Furs building is part of a growing effort to save old and damaged historic buildings across downtown Kansas City.
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rescue → grow → City
According to reporting by Flatland KC, a similar project saved the former Cosby Hotel, a building dating back to 1881.
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project → accord → 1881
The property was close to demolition before private developers stepped in and turned it into commercial offices and dining space.
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developers → step → offices
The problem of neglected historic buildings has also led to action from local government officials and community leaders.
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problem → neglect → officials
Reporting by public broadcaster KCUR confirms that Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas recently introduced three city ordinances aimed at stopping historic buildings from falling into serious disrepair.
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Lucas → confirm → disrepair
At the same time, the non-profit organisation Historic KC published its first Most Endangered Places list in five years.
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organisation → publish → years
The list aims to draw public attention to historic buildings and architecture across the region, according to additional reporting by KCUR.
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list → aim → KCUR
The Aporia
