Downtown Emporia Gains Historic District Designation

EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) — Officials in Emporia are looking forward to the benefits of the designation of the city's downtown as a historic district.  The nomination was approved by the Kansas Historical Society on a vote of 11-0 at a weekend meeting.  The Emporia Gazette reports that owners of buildings and businesses worked with community groups for more than three years on the project.  Casey Woods, executive director of the group Emporia Main Street, says designation of the downtown historic district brings access to new tax credits and other incentives for maintaining and renovating buildings.  Woods says the city's marketing efforts will also be helped by the designation.  The historic district covers about 18 city blocks, taking in churches, government buildings, former schools and a historic auto garage.