The Lyon County Historical Society announced this morning that it is dropping its lawsuit to block demolition of Kenyon Hall on the former College of Emporia campus. The release said the decision was made because the building’s owner Markowitz-Mitchell is “making a good-faith effort to utilize tax credits that would make rehabilitation of the structure financially feasible.”
The society filed its lawsuit last year when Markowitz-Mitchell filed for a permit to demolish the building. Kenyon Hall once housed the administrative offices of the college, classrooms and a large auditorium. The building sits next to Anderson Library, now the home of the Emporia State University archive.
Anderson Library is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which imposes certain restrictions on changes to nearby buildings.
In today’s news release, Greg Jordan, director of the society’s museum, said that the society will do what it can to help the owners preserve Kenyon Hall.