The army ghost town facing demolition: Kansans outraged as 185 historic mansions at Fort Leavenworth are set to be razed

Around 185 historic army homes in Fort Leavenworth face being demolished due to high maintenance costs - sparking outrage among locals. 

The properties at the Kansas Army installation, many dating between the 1800-1900s, have fallen into disrepair in recent years, with wood rotting away, plaster and foundations crumbling, paint flaking and pipes corroded. 

The Michaels Organization, a for-profit company with a 50-year lease to manage all of Fort Leavenworth's housing, has now proposed razing these homes to the ground. 

But devastated Fort Leavenworth residents claim the city will become a ghost town if they are demolished. 

'This is literally erasing history. Once these are gone, they're gone forever. If these are removed, Fort Leavenworth is a totally different place. It's almost a ghost town,' an anonymous military source told Kansas City Star. 

185 historic sites, dating between the 1800-1900s, have been left scarred, disheveled and crumbling over the years in Fort Leavenworth, resulting in a for-profit to propose razing them 

Out of the 185 houses, 89 of them are grand homes built before 1919 while the remainder are in a 12 multi-unit infantry barracks along Pope Avenue and Doniphan Drive, dating to early 1900s

Out of the 185 houses, 89 are grand homes built before 1919. The remainder are in a 12 multi-unit infantry barracks along Pope Avenue and Doniphan Drive, dating to the early 1900s. 

Carol Ayres, president of the Leavenworth County Historical Society, explained: 'It's expensive to redo those old homes. 

'They are expensive to replace, too. I think everyone understands the reality of the situation. I’m afraid the people that make those decisions, excuse me, don't always think about the history and how important it is.

'We stand on the shoulders of the people who built that post, who built our town. We wouldn’t be where we are today without them.'

But while the Michaels Organization has suggested knocking down these historic military buildings, the Army itself has not yet created any such plan or even agreed to demolish the sites. 

'Any numbers being recommended by our housing partners are pre-decisional, meaning they have not been agreed to by Army leadership at any level,' said Scott Gibson, Fort Leavenworth's public affairs officer.

A Michaels Organization spokesperson also confirmed that the for-profit is not in conversation with the Army about razing the buildings. 

'I can confirm that the Army has not yet told Michaels of any decision they have made regarding its plan (going) forward for these homes — so we really can’t comment at this time,' they told the Star.   

Furious Fort Leavenworth residents claim the city will become a ghost town if the houses are demolished

Despite assurances, locals remain worried about the future of these historic locations

Despite assurances, locals, especially military families, remain worried about the future of these historic locations.

'The concern is that Kansas is going to lose its history. It’s easier for Michaels to tear them down and then just put up a cracker box than it will be to try to maintain a historic home,' said one Fort resident. 

Another resident also commented: 'These houses are so strong. They're so sturdy. They're so solid. And they're gorgeous inside. 

'This history is going to be gone — wiped out.' 

Conversations about plans to knock down the old structures have been in circulation for nearly a year. 

According to the City Star, the proposal to raze all of the historic units was shared in a meeting at Fort Leavenworth with Tami Bartunek, the Kansas City district director for the office of Kansas Republican US Senator Roger Marshall.

Bartunek later confirmed that the topic was discussed. 

The Michaels Organization had reportedly signed a 50-year agreement to manage the fort's housing in 2006. 

The Michaels Organization had reportedly signed a 50-year agreement to manage the fort's housing in 2006

Under this agreement, the for-profit is meant to restore old houses plagued by outdated plumbing, old heating and electrical systems, asbestos, lead paint and aging wood while following strict federal guidelines

In recent years, the fort's citizens have been complaining that instead of maintaining its older homes, Michaels has been engaging in a technique known as 'demolition by neglect'

Under this agreement, the for-profit is meant to restore old houses plagued by outdated plumbing, old heating and electrical systems, asbestos, lead paint and aging wood while following strict federal guidelines.

According to these guidelines, known as the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, the company is meant to hire special artisans to ensure that sites are restored to their original style with authentic material. 

But in recent years, the fort's citizens have been complaining that instead of maintaining its older homes, Michaels has been engaging in a technique known as 'demolition by neglect'.  

Locals allege that the organization has been leaving many historic homes unoccupied and led them to decay to such an extent that demolition inevitably becomes the only solution. 

One such house that many believe has been purposely left to rot and could be potentially demolished in the future is the The Rookery (pictured) 

Photographs show how the oldest occupied home in Kansas is afflicted with rotting wood, peeling paint, missing boards, cracked support columns along with rusted and leaking gutters

One such house that many believe has been purposely left to rot and could be potentially demolished in the future is the The Rookery. 

Built around 1830, a report on the site noted that the 'level of care and maintenance that this home has received. … is the living definition of "Demolition by Neglect". 

'It is an unacceptable state of maintenance not only for the National and State legacy that is the Rookery!… but also for the level of quality of housing that the active military families of the United States ARMY deserve to live in.'

In a series of 50 photographs, viewers can see the oldest occupied home in Kansas afflicted with rotting wood, peeling paint, missing boards, cracked support columns  along with rusted and leaking gutters.

But The Rookery is not the only withering property in Fort Leavenworth. 

A July 2023 report on the Syracuse House, a two-story, yellow duplex built in 1855, also showed the extensive damage the property has suffered

The report featured multiple images of rotted planking, trim, soffits, fascia, railings and unpainted patchwork repairs in the house 

A July 2023 report on the Syracuse House, a two-story, yellow duplex built in 1855, also showed the extensive damage the property has been through. 

The report featured multiple images of rotted planking, trim, soffits, fascia, railings and unpainted patchwork repairs in the House.  

Another report on a historic site stated that Michaels had replaced a wood floor in with an improper vinyl floor and said that it had to be removed and replaced. 

The Michaels Organization has not yet commented on allegations of purposeful neglect.