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Hundreds of kids at Egg-Extravaganza By Kris Collins Hundreds of kids were at the green space in downtown Raytown March 27 ready to scoop up the thousands of eggs in the Easter egg hunt, despite the rain, for the 6th Annual Egg-Extravaganza. “Considering it was raining within 15 minutes of the start of the Easter egg hunt, I think we had close to 400 or 500 kids there,” said Steve Guenther, president of the Raytown Main Street Association, the organization that sorted out the event, “which is not what we had last year, but it was 70 degrees and sunny the whole morning.” The event started with a poorly-attended car show, which Guenther said was primarily because of the rain, an enemy to any well-preserved classic car. After a short but sweet parade, kids and parents alike gathered in the Raytown branch of the Mid-Continent Public Library for story time with Mayor Mike McDonough. Coming out of the library, one
could have rightly thought neon and pastel had been coming down on the green space with the rain. Children lined 20-by-20-yard boxes, each specific to an age group, littered with eggs. All got a chance to secure 10 eggs before the freefor-all hunt for the remaining goodies. In total, a stupefying 13,000 eggs were available for the taking. It takes 1,800 volunteers hours and a lot of leg work from the Main Street Association and many others to pull off the event, Guenther said. “We had tremendous support and help from so many Raytown orgs – the chamber, the city, police department, fire department, and all the other organization around town that help support it,” he said. “It was just tremendous and everyone stuck through the rain. “I think everybody went away happy,” he added. “It takes a lot of hands, but there are a lot of citizens in Raytown that want to help and want to make a difference.”
(kids running) Kids dash to collect eggs during the 6th Annual Egg-Extravaganza egg hunt.
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Photos by Kris Collins After a ride in a fire truck for the parade, the Eastern bunny oversees the egg hunt.
Raytown Mayor Mike McDonough waves during the parade in downtown Raytown March 27.
Downtown Streetscape Project begins By Kris Collins The Downtown Streetscape Project in Raytown began as construction crews went to work on 63rd Street Monday morning. The $948,000 phase I of the project focuses on East 63rd Street between Raytown Road and Blue Ridge Boulevard. The city will add new streetlights and traffic signals, add landscaping, widen sidewalks and introduce new slanted parking, which requires drivers to back into spots, a method deemed safer when exiting spots. The four-lane road will also be reduced to three lanes, one each
way and a turning lane. Construction is estimated to last three months. The city secured a $483,000 Federal Transportation Enhancement Grant that covers approximately half of the cost of the first phase. The entire streetscape project area includes East 63rd Street from the existing railroad bridge east to Blue Ridge Boulevard, Raytown Road from East 61st Street to East 64th Street, and Blue Ridge Boulevard from East 63rd Street to East 59th Street. The project aims to revitalize the downtown area and give sense of place.
Photo by Kris Collins Crews begin working on phase I of the Downtown Streetscape Project Monday at 63rd Street and Raytown Road. Work on 63rd Street between Raytown Road and Blue Ridge Boulevard is expected to last three months.
Home revitalized in Raytown neighborhood
By Kris Collins What would have been an empty lot between homes in the 8000 block of Elm Avenue is now a renovated home, ready to be sold and occupied. The city of Raytown and Builders Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization that aims to rebuild communities, partnered to salvage the once abandoned home headed toward demolition. “It is so satisfying to see a home instead of an empty lot,” said Raytown Development and Public Affairs Director John Benson. “The empty lot would not have done anything for the neighborhood, but a fully remodeled home will help the adjoining houses go up in value.”
Photo by Kris Collins The home at 8605 Elm Avenue was set to be demolished, but it was recently renovated by the Builders Development Corporation and is now for sale.
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The home was previously identified as an abandoned and dangerous building, and was supposed to be demolished, but Builder Development Corporation believed the home could be salvaged and began the process of gaining ownership through the Missouri Abandoned Housing Act, which permits courts to transfer ownership of vacant, neglected, tax-delinquent properties to nonprofit organizations for rehabilitation. “The use of this act provides a great example of the benefits it can provide in our neighborhoods that go beyond what the city’s Dangerous Building Abatement Program can provide, as it provides a home in which a family will live while also strengthening the tax base,” Benson
said. This is the first time the Missouri Abandoned Housing Act has been used to renovate a home in Raytown, according to Builders Development Corporation Executive Director Michael Snodgrass. The application was granted and the outside and inside of the home were renovated. The home required a new roof, floor repair, and one of the walls was replaced. It was also outfitted with new appliances, a paint job and other interior improvements. In total, Snodgrass said approximately $70,000 was invested into the home. The anticipated asking price for the home is $135,000. Snodgrass said he doesn’t think it’ll sit on the market for long.
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