In a recent city commission meeting, discussions centered around the proposed historic designation of the First Presbyterian Church and its implications for neighboring properties, particularly the Park 25 Apartments. Concerns were raised regarding the financial burden of ongoing lawsuits related to the church's historic designation, with calls for transparency on the city's legal expenditures.

James Peterson, president of Park 25 Inc., expressed opposition to the inclusion of their property within the context area that would be created by the church's application for local historic recognition. He argued that the designation could impose unnecessary regulatory burdens on surrounding businesses and suggested limiting the historic recognition to the church's Trinity doorway, which would align with city precedents of recognizing individual elements rather than entire structures.

Marissa Peterson, also representing Park 25, highlighted research indicating that historic preservation ordinances often hinder affordable housing development. She urged the commission to restrict the church's historic designation to a 250-foot radius around the Trinity doorway to mitigate adverse effects on neighboring housing providers.

Other stakeholders, including representatives from the Kansas University Endowment Association and legal counsel for Park 25, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for a more focused approach to historic designation that would not adversely impact ongoing and future housing projects. They argued that the current proposal could extend regulatory oversight to properties far removed from the church, complicating development efforts.

The commission was urged to reconsider the application, with suggestions to either deny it until the related lawsuit is resolved or approve it with a more limited scope. The discussions underscored the tension between historic preservation efforts and the need for affordable housing in the community, highlighting the complexities involved in balancing these competing interests.