DRAFT
Reconnect Westside Connectivity and Revitalization Plan
Progress Report September 9, 2013
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Table of Contents Introduction
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What is Reconnect Westside?
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Project Timeline
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Community Engagement
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Neighborhood Issues
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Next Steps
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Prepared for:
Made possible through funding by:
Westside Housing Organization
Mid-America Regional Plan
919 West 24th Street Kansas City, MO 64108 (816) 421-8048
600 Broadway, Suite 200 Kansas City, MO 64105 (816) 474-4240
Prepared by: BNIM
DRAW Architecture + Urban Design
106 West 14th Street, Suite 200 Kansas City, MO 64105 (816) 783-1500
405 Southwest Boulevard, Suite 200 Kansas City, MO 64108 (816) 531-8303
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Reconnect Westside | Progress Report |
Introduction Westside is a neighborhood in the midst of revitalization and redevelopment. For decades, Westside has lost population and seen housing demolished. Now, with the rise of Downtown Kansas City, Westside is poised to increase its population and see new investments in housing, businesses, and infrastructure. In particular, the area that includes 17th and Summit, the West High Switzer School, the Kansas City Library Ruiz Branch, and the Tony Aguirre Community Center is set to experience significant redevelopment. The West High Switzer School is positioned to be redeveloped, which will bring more residents to the neighborhood, increase demand for neighborhood services, and could potentially place strain on public facilities. The Reconnect Westside plan focuses on the area of the Westside neighborhood around the West High Switzer School and aims to identify strategies that support redevelopment of the school property and public realm improvements and development opportunities that can improve this area once the school is redeveloped. The redevelopment of the West High Switzer Complex will be a significant catalyst for this area, and this plan will be a guide for future development and improvements in the immediate area.
DRAFT
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What is Reconnect Westside? Reconnect Westside is a plan for the area around the West High Switzer School bounded by 17th Street in the north, Broadway Boulevard in the east, Avenida Cesar Chavez in the south, and Holly Street in the west. The plan is about identifying infrastructure and development opportunities to support the needs of the neighborhood.
Three Outcomes
The redevelopment of the West High Switzer School Complex will create new density for the neighborhood. In order for the Westside Neighborhood to reach its full potential as a vibrant, connected and resilient community, The Reconnect Westside project aims to accomplish three outcomes:
Neighborhood Priorities
Understand the neighborhood’s priorities for future development and infrastructure improvements.
Build on Existing Work
Build on the Greater Downtown Area Plan and streetscape plans and align with MARC’s Creating Sustainable Places Initiative Guiding Principles.
Implementation Focused Solutions
Create implementation focused solutions that address specific issues that affect the Westside Neighborhood. N
Focus Area
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DRAFT
MARC’s Creating Sustainable Places Guiding Principles
Why Plan? View the “big picture”
This plan is one of the Mid-America Regional Council’s (MARC) Creating Sustainable Places grant projects. MARC is currently funding several planning projects that advance the program’s goals of creating a more green, connected, and vibrant region. The following principles were adopted by MARC and will guide the development of this plan:
A city is like an organism and all the parts must work together in order to sustain its future. A plan works to align the many initiatives and entities working in the Westside Neighborhood.
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Involve a broad array of interests in discussion about the future
Reinvestment: Investment in existing communities and neighborhoods ensures that they remain or become vibrant, connected, green places.
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Transportation Choices: Travel choices help reduce family transportation costs, reduce air pollution, and connect families to jobs and services.
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Housing Choices: Housing choices for all ages, lifestyles, incomes, races, and ethnicities help connect families and jobs and support a robust economy and healthy housing industry.
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Development in Corridors and Activity Centers: Vibrant corridors with housing, employment, and commercial development, support public transportation, create new development opportunities, provide increased lifestyle choices, make efficient use of existing public and private assets, and help knit the region together. Design for Healthier Lifestyles: Places designed for healthier lifestyles and access to healthy foods improve the health of residents, reduce health-care costs, and contribute to vibrant neighborhoods. Preservation of Unique Community Characteristics: Distinctive communities and historic and cultural assets increase the vibrancy of the region and contribute to its overall economic health. Resource Conservation and Energy Efficiency: Sustainable places conserve resources for future generations and simultaneously reduce costs and increase economic and fiscal efficiency.
This plan incorporates many different voices and a variety of interests, which ensures that recommendations are wellrounded and inclusive. This allows the neighborhood to advance in a way that is appealing to everyone.
Build an informed constituency The public has a primary role in creating this plan, and they will be a strong constituency in seeing it implemented.
Establish a sound basis in fact for decisions and increase transparency The data and analysis incorporated into the plan allows decisions to be based in fact and in a transparent manner.
Coordinate local decision making Specific community goals in a plan allow local decision makers to align around a vision and ensure that all projects are supported by the Westside community.
Give Guidance to Landowners and Developers
Building next to a vacant lot with an unknown future is risky. Effective planning will give individuals and developers confidence to build in the Westside neighborhood.
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Existing Plans
Reconnect Westside builds on existing plans. Kansas City Greater Downtown Area Plan The Greater Downtown Area Plan includes the Westside neighborhood and is the City’s official plan for this area. Land use, development, and infrastructure decisions are guided by this plan. It builds on past plans, such as the FOCUS neighborhood assessment report for Westside. West Pennway Streetscape Plan The West Pennway Streetscape plan is a guiding document for the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department and is currently seeking funding through PIAC (Public Improvement Advisory Committee). 20th Street Streetscape Plan The 20th Street Streetscape plan is being done in phases; the first phase from McGee to Central has been designed, and the City is seeking PIAC funds to start phase II: Central to West Pennway. 17th Street Streetscape Plan The 17th Street Streetscape plan is also seeking PIAC funds for additional planning and engineering.
Greater Downtown Area Plan: Future Land Use
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DRAFT
Over the last half century, the Westside Neighborhood has experienced population loss and demolition of housing stock. After hitting a peak population of 13,915 people in 1950, the population fell to 11,660 in 1960 and 6,574 in 1970. The construction of I-35 Highway had a large impact on this population loss. Between 1960 and 1970, the neighborhood lost over 2000 units. This negative population trend continued in the latest census; between 2000 and 2010, Westside lost 431 residents. However, in recent years there is evidence that this trend is reversing itself with more new infill housing being constructed.
Westside Neighborhood Population Trend 15,000 12,000 Total Population
Westside Neighborhood Background
The neighborhood continues to be majority Hispanic. The percent of residents identifying as Hispanic/Latino in the decennial census was 68% of the neighborhood in 1990. The proportion of Hispanic residents rose to 70% in 2000 and fell to 63% in 2010.
6,000 3,000 0
1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 Year
Westside Neighborhood Housing Trend 5,000 4,000 Total Housing Units
There are slightly more renters than owners in the neighborhood. As of 2010, 47% of residents owned their home, and 53% rented.
9,000
3,000 2,000 1,000 0
1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 Year
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Project Timeline June
July
August
September
October
November
DISCOVER
ANALYZE
PLAN
ALIGN
DELIVERABLES
STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS
COMMUNITY MEETINGS
IMPLEMENT
Kickoff
Community Fair
Stakeholder Meeting
Issue Report
Analysis Report
Final Plan
Reconnect Westside | Progress Report |
DRAFT
Reconnect Westside follows the five phase process outlined below:
Discover
During the discover phase, the stakeholders and the public defined the issues facing the Westside Neighborhood, and the planning team gathered data and review existing plans.
Analyze
The planning team analyzed the data and feedback to determine the biggest opportunities for the Westside Neighborhood’s future based on the issues determined in the discover phase.
Plan
Working collaboratively with the community through meetings, a website, and other events, the planning team will create the plan recommendations. Align During the align phase, the planning team will work with stakeholders to achieve consensus on the final plan.
Implement
The planning team will complete the implementation plan, which documents tasks and responsibilities, priorities, time frames, and costs. Stakeholders will begin to implement projects and strategies from the plan.
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Community Engagement To accomplish the project goals it is important to involve as many neighborhood residents as possible. This will ensure recommendations are geared toward relevant issues and will create a base of support for implementing the plan. Collectively, the guidance of online participants, meeting attendees, and the stakeholder group are shaping the direction of the plan. The following page describes the community engagement groups and their roles.
This word cloud was created with the responses to the Survey Monkey online survey. The larger the word, the more often it was used. Credit: Wordle.net
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DRAFT
Community Meetings
During the first community meeting, community members worked to define issues that affect neighborhood. Attendees responded to questions and drew on maps to document their ideas. A second community fair style meeting is scheduled for this fall in order to gain feedback on plan recommendations.
Online Survey
The planning team distributed an online survey using Survey Monkey in order to gain further feedback on the issues affecting the neighborhood. Over 40 respondents submitted detailed answers to the open ended questions, providing the planning team with a strong base of knowledge about the neighborhood’s priorities.
Reconnect Westside Online Forum
The Reconnect Westside forum is an online tool to facilitate a neighborhood conversation. Community members can submit their ideas for the future of the neighborhood. This website serves as a 24 hour a day public forum and provides for meaningful conversation between residents.
Stakeholder Group
Stakeholders include leaders of neighborhood organizations, elected officials, city staff, business owners, and immediate property owners to the West High Switzer School. The planning team convened a group of stakeholders to discuss issues and potential solutions facing the neighborhood.
The Reconnect Westside online forum allows community members to share there ideas and concerns for the future of the Westside Neighborhood.
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Issue Areas The following issues areas provide the framework for the plan: Housing and Development, Multi-Modal Transportation, Recreation, Arts and Culture, and Public Facilities, Access to Healthy Food and Neighborhood Amenities, and Stormwater.
Housing and Development
The Westside neighborhood has ample opportunities for infill development. This issue area explores how housing and commercial development can enhance the neighborhood. Other issues include rehabilitation of existing houses and structures, provision of affordable housing, and guarding against displacement.
Multi-Modal Transportation
Multi-Modal Transportation includes pedestrians, cyclists, transit, and automobiles. How can transit service be increased? How can we enhance pedestrian safety and comfort? What are the important connections to surrounding neighborhoods to reinforce? These questions will be addressed in the Multi-Modal transportation issue.
Recreation, Arts and Culture, and Public Facilities
This issue area considers public facilities in the neighborhood, such as parks and trails, public art, libraries, and schools. This issue also considers access to arts and cultural activities for neighborhood resients.
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DRAFT
Access to Healthy Food and Neighborhood Amenities
Access to healthy food and neighborhood amenities, such as a pharmacy, hardware store, bank, or salon is critical for a vibrant, walkable neighborhood. This issue explores how additional development can increase access to healthy food and other neighborhood amenities.
Stormwater
The topography of the Westside Neighborhood makes stormwater a special challenge. Westside Neighborhood has the potential to significantly reduce the amount of stormwater that enters the City’s combined sewer system because of its position in its watershed. This issue area considers opportunities to manage stormwater in place and relieve pressure on stormwater infrastructure.
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Housing and Development The adjacent map highlights the vacant and underutilized land in the neighborhood. A primary goal of this plan is to guide future development in the neighborhood. Development of infill housing and commercial uses can create a more cohesive neighborhood and provide desired services, but it can also have negative impacts such as increased traffic and parking. This issue area will consider how to realize the positive impacts while mitigating the negative. Potential Topics: • Promoting infill housing •
Promoting commercial development
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Development form, massing, style, and density
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Provision of affordable housing
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Guarding against displacement
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Property maintenance
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Historic preservation
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Reducing vacant and underutilized land
Vacant and Underutilized Land
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DRAFT
We need good quality housing and affordable for older individuals, young couples, and singles looking to start out in an established neighborhood.
We need more people living in the area so that we can support more everyday services, like regular sized grocery stores.
More variety of income housing that attracts young families and allows families to stay in the area.
As a Westside homeowner I would fear the effects that would come with making repairs to my home (increased value, leading to increased taxes, which have already risen thanks to the gentrification in the area.)
We really need to guard against displacement. We need affordable housing options, but not necessarily designated section 8.
The more people the better - it means we would have a larger catchment to get more daily needs stores in, instead of just boutiquey stuff. A mix of housing types would be good, to attract a mix of people.
More ‘workforce housing’ but NOT in a high density form.
We need more multi-family housing but not necessarily low income housing.
Anything that doesn't add significantly to the congestion would be great.
I believe that we have one of the most, if not the most attractive neighborhoods in greater KC. I would like to see the housing stock continue the trend of general improvement via renovation and replacement.
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Multi-Modal Transportation Multi-modal transportation considers pedestrians, cyclists, transit, and automobiles. The adjacent map illustrates existing bike facilities, transit stops and lines, important connections, and trail connections. Potential Topics: • Increasing access to transit stops •
Increasing east/west transit connections
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One-way to two-way conversions
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Traffic calming
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Streetscape enhancements
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Parking
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Bike share
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Bike lanes and other bicycle facilities
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Sidewalks
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Important connections to other neighborhoods
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Implementation of existing streetscape plans
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DRAFT
Bike lanes on west pennway, southwest blvd, and a north-south street towards the river market (not broadway). Bike racks scattered around business areas.
Better sidewalks needed. More lighting at night.
Better transit stops that connect to more traveled areas such as Westport, plaza, penn valley college.
Do not want another parking lot! Do anything to encourage walking or biking in this area.
Bike racks to lock bikes at places like the playground/pool and in the business section of the West Side, signs telling drivers that children are at play in this neighborhood, IMPROVED SIDEWALKS for families to walk, ride bikes, and to push strollers!!! - Especially under the I-35 bridge.
We have long blocks and lots of speeding traffic. 17th and Summit suffers from bad congestion on the weekends. There is not enough parking.
Add 2-3 bike share stations in Westside.
We need a car share system. There’s plenty of density to support it. The streetcar spur down Southwest Blvd will help spur density, retail etc.
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Recreation, Arts and Culture, and Public Facilities As development occurs and more people move to the neighborhood, it is important to consider the impact on public facilities, such as parks, trails, libraries, and schools. Some facilities, such as parks, may improve with more residents. Parks become safer as more people use them and provide passive surveillance. Other facilities, such as the library, may become overcrowded. This issue area also considers public art and access to art and cultural events and activities. The adjacent map highlights existing public facilities and neighborhood amenities. Potential Topics: • Access to technology •
Access to parks, park safety, park programming and amenities
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Trails
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Community meeting space
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Recreational amenities
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DRAFT
We have plenty. Now, add people.
We do need more quality education opportunities for families in this area.
There are several murals on the Westside that need to be restored, however it would be nice to see some sort of artwork go up on the staircase at 18th and Madison.
More things to do for kids is always a plus but first and foremost is the quality of the schools to educate them, we are sorely lacking a decent school system.
We need to organize an annual arts and culture related event that brings the entire community together in a centrally located area in the Westside, i.e. Christmas Tree lighting and decorations made by the community stakeholders
Invest in parks so the families have safe places to take their families and enjoy the outdoors! Children are too sedentary these days and families need time to connect.
Love what Mattie Rhodes does in the community, but need more support from the local community at their events.
It doesn’t get better than this . . .How many neighborhoods have this much creativity, ingenuity, talent and energy...within walking distance? or a short ride? The creative entrepreneur will be drawn to the neighborhood. To reiterate, for sustainability there must be density.
Mattie Rhodes gallery is fabulous and the Hispanic cultural events hosted by Guadalupe center and Mattie Rhodes are great.
We already have access to these, block away, Downtown, KPAC, Unions Station, Folly, etc.
I think the Westside is very successful on this front.
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Access to Healthy Food and Neighborhood Amenities REGIONAL GROCERY OPTIONS CITY MARKET 70 HWY
APPLE MARKET
COSENTINO’S
670 HWY
Bellevi ew High
way
On
5/7
I 35 Highway Off High
I 670 Highway Off
Off
I 35/70
y rdsle
ay Off
I
H 35
ff
yO
wa
igh
I 35
I 35 Highw
I 35 H
Broadway
Mattie Rhodes Counciling and Family Services
Posada del Sol
Belleview
Holly
ighway
Jefferson
Madison
Jarboe n le
ay On
Fervere Bakery
Al
I 35 Highw
Los Alamos Market
Robert Arriaga Salon
17th
I 35
Jarboe
16th
18th 18th
19th
st We est Southw
On
1,000
1,500
2,000 Feet
thw
est
Blvd
Broadway
On
Traff icwa y Sou
en
500 25th
Studio 39 Salon
n
d
22n
Tina’s Hair Salon
Avenida Cesar E. Chavez
Hwy O
en tP
Access Road KCT RR
W es
Royal Liquors Market
nw
ay
I 35
Monitor
Belleview
Jarboe
All
24th
le
Abarrotes Y Tortilleria Mexico & Panaderia de las Americas Bakery Jefferson
Holly
24th
21st
ff
23rd Avenida Cesar E. Chavez havez
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES & GROCERY OPTIONS Pershing Summit
Jarboe
Mercier
Kansas City Terminal Federal Credit Union & BCBS Beans & Greens Fridays 1-4pm at Guadalupe Center
South west
Madiso adison n
Cabot Westside Health Center
Mercier
Terrace
Fairmount
Sunshine Yoga
21st
TheGymKC
Pennsylvania
FITNESS CENTER & POOL & TMC Mobile Market at Aguirre Center Tuesday 2-3pm
West Bluff
250
I 35 H wy Off
Belleview
20th
21st
Al
18th
Central Communications Credit Union 20th
Madison
Mercier
All
en
20th
Jefferson
ay
Cathay Acupuncture & Avena Naturopathic Center for Well-being
Summit
nw
Pen
Locations for neighborhood amenities
0
I 670
16th
COMING SOON
Wyoming
n yO I 35/70 Highway
wa
igh
5H
I3
Jarb
oe
way
0
Bea
Liberty
WALMART N.C. PRICE CHOPPER
Potential Topics: • Neighborhood needs •
I 670
I 670
SUN FRESH ROSEDALE FARMER’S MARKET
I3
Washington
T ES HW
E ARMOUR BLVD
SO
UT
COSTCO
71 HWY H
5
BL VD .
HW
Y
SW TRAFFICWAY
Hickory
31st STREET
On
15th
14th
way
I-3
Off
13th
High
S. 18TH ST. TRFY
13th
I 35
COMING SOON
way
35
SAVE A-LOT
igh
0/
0H
I7
I 67
5
I 67 0 way On
14th
0/3
LIPARI BROTHERS I 670 THRIFTWAY High
Washington
BAD SEED FARMER’S MARKET
KANSAS AVE
Pennsylvania
SUN FRESH
I7
Access to neighborhood amenities is a critical component of neighborhood livability. Walkable access to the following amenities will increase the vitality of the Westside Neighborhood: • Supermarket • Farmers’ Market • Hardware Store • Pharmacy • Bank • Childcare • Laundry • Gym/Exercise • Hair Care/Salon Access to healthy food is of particular importance as our cities deal with the obesity crisis and other health issues related to food deserts. The adjacent map highlights neighborhood amenities with the neighborhood and within the region.
Neighborhood Services
Grocery Options
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DRAFT
We need an affordable green grocer!
Los Alamos [is] good about carrying staples, but would be nice for a little fuller grocery selection.
I love the idea of community gardens.
If you don’t have a vehicle- it is difficult to lug groceries on a bus and it’s miserable lugging kids and groceries and then have to transfer buses or wait 30+ minutes for a bus and there’s no place to sit or be out of the weather.
We have access to healthy food - we have Sun Fresh, Lipari’s, Consentino’s, Beans & Greens, Truman Mobile Market
There already is a grocery store, an urban farmers market and the city market within 2 miles of my house, We’re good here.
Farmers market!!!!!!!
Provide healthy meals to the homeless and under income
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Stormwater The adjacent map illustrates the flow of stormwater in the neighborhood. The blue lines indicate how water flows across the topography of the area. Potential Topics: • Green infrastructure within Right-Of-Way •
Parks for stormwater capture
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Stormwater capture strategies for private property
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Stormwater policies
Stormwater Flow Lines
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DRAFT
Next Steps Develop Strategies
The planning team will develop implementation focused strategies for the issues areas. We will use what we heard from the community and the stakeholder group to develop detailed recommendations about future infrastructure and development in the neighborhood.
Community Fair / Open House
The planning team will host a community fair this fall that brings together organizations and planning initiatives that are active in the Westside neighborhood. The festival will provide residents with useful information about how to access resources and make changes in their neighborhoods and gather feedback on plan recommendations. The planning team will use this input to modify the plan’s recommendations .
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DRAFT
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Reconnect Westside Westside Housing Organization 919 West 24th Street Kansas City, MO 64108 (816) 421-8048
reconnectwestside.net