#TopCity What? How long can residential construction last?

Residential home improvement projects in Topeka can stretch out indefinitely as long as the project doesn't require a city permit.

Construction projects that seem to last a long time was a concern of Ben Schreiner, who submitted a question to The Topeka Capital-Journal's #TopCity What?, which looks into issues raised by readers. Schreiner asked why construction spanning a long period of time is allowed. He pointed to a house in the 900 block of S.W. Western as an example.

"There is no ordinance on time if you are doing work that doesn't require a permit," city of Topeka spokeswoman Molly Hadfield said.

When a permit is required, there is a 180-day limit to begin work or abandon work in progress. If there are outdoor elements like roofs or windows, there is a two-year completion requirement, according to a city ordinance. Extensions can be requested if there is a justifiable cause.

The house that Schreiner referred to is owned by Charles Pomeroy, according to the Shawnee County appraiser's website. Pomeroy didn't respond to phone calls.

"The property maintenance unit visited with the owner earlier in the year and was advised progress was slow, but the owner was trying to restore it to original condition," Hadfield said.

In May, the property was cited in five areas:

• Porch needs to be structurally sound and in good repair.

• All habitable rooms need to have a window with an insect screen.

• All exterior surfaces displaying peeling, flaking or missing paint need to be scraped and painted.

• Front porch roof not supported properly.

• Missing and broken siding need to be replaced, missing shingles and broken shingles need to be replaced, rotten wood around downspouts needs to be repaired.

The property maintenance unit along with the planning department will work together on how to proceed with the historic building, Hadfield said.

The structure is listed on the Register of Historic Kansas Places as the John E. Frost House. Frost moved to Topeka in 1883 when he became the chief clerk for Santa Fe Railway. He was later promoted to general land commissioner for the company.

The house was constructed in the late 1880s, according to the state register nomination which was signed in 1986. It was designed by Seymour Davis who served as the Kansas state architect. In the 1940s and 1950s, significant alterations were made to the exterior. When asbestos siding was removed in 1984, original fish scale shingling was discovered. 

The interior includes period woodwork, paneled wainscotting and fireplaces, the nomination document said.

When any structure undergoes major renovations, plans have to be submitted to the city's development services office. Hadfield said changes at the house on Western haven't required a permit.

In cases where a project involving a historic place does require a permit, the city is required to seek comment from the State Historic Preservation Office. In 12 Kansas communities, including Topeka, that office has an agreement with a local preservation commission to undertake the reviews, said Katrina Ringler, preservation office supervisor.

The reviews utilize the Secretary of the Interior's "Standards for Rehabilitation" and local design guidelines. For instance, downtown Topeka has specific parameters outlined in a 254-page document.

If you have a question about Topeka, submit it at http://www.cjonline.com/topcity-what.