Just a few Englewood Stats:
- 200 Vacant Lots - 49% rental - Rentals mostly owned by out of town investors
- One new home build in the last 40 years.
Grassroots Community Development -
2000’s, G.R.O.W. (Grassroots of Western Independence) community group was formed.
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2007, City of Independence partnered with the Missouri Dept. of Transportation to install new decorative streetlights and make other infrastructure improvements.
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2011, the Independence City Council officially designated and rezoned the area into an official Arts District. This was soon followed by further streetscape improvements to the area.
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2011 and beyond, a concept of a overlay zoning was discussed as the “next step” to improve the community and protect it at the same time.
What The Overlay lets us do! - Smaller homes can be built - Home based businesses - ADU: Aging in place opportunities and building on your own land - Pocket Neighborhoods or Cluster Communities
- Smaller homes can be built - Bring back the original zoning - Allow for homes under 1,000 square feet - Keeps the character of the neighborhood
- Home based businesses - Live/ Work / Sell - Already happening in Englewood - Attracts new residents
- ADU: Aging in place opportunities and building on your own land
- Must live in one of the homes. - Keeps out of town investors from building ADU’s
- Pocket Neighborhoods or Cluster Communities
- Brings more density to the area. - Better alternative to large condo developments. - Keeps the neighborhood affordable.
The Overlay: What it Doesn’t Allow: (New Businesses only) -
Short term loans
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Shelter or boarding kennels
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Tow lots
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Pawnshops
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Gun/ammo sales and services
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Heavy equipment sales and storage