Gentrification and development controversy his the urban core in Kansas City once again and could force lower income locals from their home amid higher education expansion.
To wit . . .
CHECK HISTORIC NORTHEAST RAGE AGAINST AN UPCOMING KANSAS CITY UNIVERSITY 'MASTER PLAN DISTRICT' THREATENING TO ENCROACH ON NEIGHBORS!!!
Insider scoop from the community . . .
"Kansas City University has proposed a MPD (Master Plan District) that would remove the Historic District from their properties in Pendleton Heights. This plan has been pushed through CPC (City Planning Commission) mostly under the radar to avoid public outcry. They have recently purchased many new properties that includes the Historic Colonial Court Apartments, a 1877 Victorian home, 1909 Craftsman, as well as others. These properties had tenants including many refugees living in them prior to the sale."
There is concern that a condition of the sale involves people and families be evicted; confronting only 30 days notice. Many of these people that were evicted have no where to go.
More local testimony and neighborhood reaction from an Ordinance sponsored by Councilmen Jermaine Reed and Quinton Lucas . . .
KCU Encroachment
Ordinance No. 170109 was placed on the PZE Committee meeting agenda for February 15, 2017 with no forewarning or opportunity for public comment. It certainly appears that KCU and certain persons at City Hall are deliberately trying to push through an ordinance granting an MPD plan to KCU with very limited opportunity for public involvement.
The original MPD ordinance had a similar track record of lacking transparency. That MPD was developed and submitted by KCU with little collaboration from the neighborhoods in which it resides. KCU did meet with representatives from the Pendleton Heights Neighborhood Association; however, they did not inform the Independence Plaza Neighborhood Association as required by its proximity to the plan.
KCU did not inform or solicit comments from the residents or their representative associations in adjacent Historic Northeast neighborhoods Indian Mound, Lykins, Sheffield, and Scarritt Renaissance.
Also, the Northeast Chamber of Commerce and the Independence Avenue Community Improvement District (CID) were given no consideration while developing the MPD plan . . .
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Read this anonymous note that has been sent far and wide this week . . . And hopefully will earn the attention of City Council
Developing . . .
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