Reconnect Westside: Progress Report

DRAFT

Reconnect Westside Connectivity and Revitalization Plan

Progress Report September 9, 2013

.

Table of Contents Introduction

3

What is Reconnect Westside?

4

Project Timeline

8

Community Engagement

10

Neighborhood Issues

12

Next Steps

23

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

2

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

3

4

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

Reconnect Westside | Progress Report |

5

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.

•

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.

•

Transportation Choices: Travel choices help reduce family transportation costs, reduce air pollution, and connect families to jobs and services.

•

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.

•

•

•

•

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.

6

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

Reconnect Westside | Progress Report |

7

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

8

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.

9

10

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

Reconnect Westside | Progress Report |

11

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.

12

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.

Reconnect Westside | Progress Report |

13

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.

14

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

•

Development form, massing, style, and density

•

Provision of affordable housing

•

Guarding against displacement

•

Property maintenance

•

Historic preservation

•

Reducing vacant and underutilized land

Vacant and Underutilized Land

Reconnect Westside | Progress Report |

15

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.

16

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

•

One-way to two-way conversions

•

Traffic calming

•

Streetscape enhancements

•

Parking

•

Bike share

•

Bike lanes and other bicycle facilities

•

Sidewalks

•

Important connections to other neighborhoods

•

Implementation of existing streetscape plans

Reconnect Westside | Progress Report |

17

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.

18

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

•

Trails

•

Community meeting space

•

Recreational amenities

Reconnect Westside | Progress Report |

19

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.

20

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

Reconnect Westside | Progress Report |

21

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

22

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

•

Stormwater capture strategies for private property

•

Stormwater policies

Stormwater Flow Lines

Reconnect Westside | Progress Report |

23

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 .

24

Reconnect Westside | Progress Report |

25

DRAFT

26

Reconnect Westside Westside Housing Organization 919 West 24th Street Kansas City, MO 64108 (816) 421-8048

reconnectwestside.net