Imagine … diverse housing opportunities in Downtown KC
Downtown KC leaders gathered at the Downtown Council on Dec. 14 for a series of updates on Housing for All, one of six Transformative Strategies identified two years ago in the Imagine Downtown KC Strategic Plan.
The strategy is designed to create diverse housing opportunities with a range of types for people at all income levels, life stages, and family circumstances.
Last month’s meeting featured four housing leaders who are immersed in different aspects of Downtown housing and related policies, including new high-rise construction, low-rise affordable and missing middle-income housing, and other related housing issues, along with an update from the Housing Trust Fund.
The meeting, chaired by Jason Parson, Imagine Downtown KC Implementation chair, shed light on progress and challenges on these fronts:
Housing for All, one of six Transformative Strategies identified two years ago in the Imagine Downtown KC Strategic Plan. The strategy is designed to create diverse housing opportunities with a range of types for people at all income levels, life stages, and family circumstances.
Last month’s meeting featured four housing leaders who are immersed in different aspects of Downtown housing and related policies, including new high-rise construction, low-rise affordable and missing middle-income housing, and other related housing issues, along with an update from the Housing Trust Fund.
The meeting, chaired by Jason Parson, Imagine Downtown KC Implementation chair, shed light on progress and challenges on these fronts:
Jazz Hill Apartments
Dwayne Williams, President & CEO, 12th St. Heritage Development Corp. provided a background on the Jazz Hill Apartments project, an emerging residential community at 1000 Paseo that will feature studio, 1 and 2 bedroom apartments.
The Jazz Hill Apartments are blossoming from the rubble of the original Jazz Hill Historic District that stretched from 9th to 13th Streets & The Paseo, and encompassed 11 historical buildings that were constructed between 1904-1911. The mission of the Jazz Hill Apartments today is to create a healthy neighborhood where quality housing is available, where residents walk the streets and use the parks with a feeling of safety, and where involved citizens chart their own destiny.
Twelfth Street Heritage and its co-developer Flaherty & Collins Properties, is renovating the historic property into nearly 200 affordable rental units. The property includes 12 historical buildings that had been abandoned for many years. Three buildings are finished thus far and one is occupied with affordable units.
Housing Trust, City of Kansas City
Blaine Proctor, Director of Housing & Community Development said the Housing Trust has completed its third round of funding and (thus far) has created 776 units of affordable housing at 60% or below median income. The last round of funding created 160 units. Housing Trust leaders have been focusing on Land Bank properties, resulting in 106 properties conveyed this year.
The HUD annual plan includes $10M for affordable housing projects. The City is also focused on finding additional means to fund the Housing Trust Fund, including public-private partnerships.
In addition, the City’s Office of Unhoused Solutions has been busy. It decommissioned one of the largest and most dangerous encampments, although 90% of the camp’s inhabitants were connected to services after the decommissioning.
Kansas City Community Land Trust
The nonprofit organization, once known as the Marlboro Community Land Trust, recognizes (and acts upon) the need for affordable housing. The “CLT” serves the southeast KC Marlboro neighborhood that spans Gregory Boulevard to 89th Street and Troost Avenue to Bruce R. Watkins Drive.
Erin Royals, Board President, said CLTs attempt to meet the needs of residents least served by the prevailing market. CLTs prohibit speculation and absentee ownership of land and housing; promote ecologically sound and-use practices; and preserve the long-term affordability of housing.
The Kansas City CLT is driven by a need for affordable housing and began a four-step housing model that begins with purchasing homes in the neighborhood; holding on to the land; rehabilitating the homes; and selling them to neighborhood residents.
To date, three single-family homes have been rehabilitated. The first house was bought by a neighbor and veteran who is now a homeowner. Work is being done on four more that are listed on Zillow now. A ribbon-cutting ceremony – introduced with the opening of the first home – will be performed for every house.
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The Imagine Downtown KC 2030 Implementation Committee will meet next in April.
Click here to learn more about the Imagine plan.
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