Draft Equitable Development Plan Heart of the City

Equitable Development

AboutThe Plan

After four years of working and collaborating with residents and stakeholders to address blight and undesirable living conditions, CouncilwomanRobinsonannounces a $522 Million dollar plan to transform conditions for historically disinvestedareasinKansasCity.

There have been considerable investments over the past two decadestocatapultKansasCityinto a world class city including a bestin-class hotel, luxury housing, the Streetcar, a thriving downtown district and revitalizing the former BannisterMallcomplex.

Currently,theCity,alongwithpublic and private investors, have built a world class airport, the first professional women’s soccer stadiumandwillsoonbreakground onaparkdeckoverI-670.Robinson notes that while these are all attractive,strategicinvestmentsthat have transformed Kansas City to a place of destination; the economic developmentgapintheheartofthe Cityiswideningandtheremustbea focus and intentionality to ensure equitable development throughout everycornerofourCity.

TheThirdDistricthasbenefitedfrom Rapid Mass Transit, two grocery stores, the Central City Economic Development Sales Tax and significant Green Infrastructure projects Robinson recognizes that while these improvements are important, there remains a critical need for systemic change and scaled investments that have potential to transform distressed communities Incrementalism is insufficient.

Equitable Development

TheHeartofourCity NeedsMore

Robinson believes that results of comprehensive investments, over the next four years, will realize the City’s long-awaited vision of a fair, just and equitable Kansas City Kansas City has the potential to shapeneighborhoodsthatbenefitall residents irrespective of past decisions, racial inequities and socio-economicconditions.

“Wearepoisedtotakeactiontoward economic development that supports all residents, and ensure everyone can benefit from our growingeconomy,”sharedRobinson, Third District City Council Member. “The goal of our equitable developmentplanistotransformthe Third District into a place where all residents have access to economic opportunities, affordable living and cultural expression,” continues CouncilwomanRobinson

The projects, programs and policies have been shaped by Third District residents over the past four years The Third District Council office will continue to host a series of discussions and dialogue to make adjustments, prioritize specific projects and bring additional voices andresourcesforimplementation.

Councilwoman MelissaRobinson

Equitable Development

$522MillionofPublic,Private

andPhilanthropicInvestment Opportunities for transformational growthintheheart oftheCity.

Whatwepropose

Currenthomeownersdeservetheopportunityfortheirneighborhoodstobebroughtup tomiddleclassstandardswithoutthefearofdisplacement.Providingforgivableloans for longstanding homeowners can support housing rehabilitation and the negative effect of displacement that increased property valuations often have on current residents.

$150MillioninPre-development

Landacquisition,environmentalremediation,marketanalysisandinfrastructurefor housingandlightindustrialisessentialtostabilizeandgrowtheCity.Fundswillalso support establishing community land trusts, resident owned multi-family housing and infrastructure for light industrial businesses. The City has invested in the demolitionofdangerousbuildings,manyofthosepropertiesarestillownedbythe City but have environmental and clear title challenges. The City is home to a significantportionofland,includingtheBlueRiver,thatcanbereimaginedtocreate agrowingcooperativeeconomyandnourishdistressedneighborhoods.

1. 2.

$100MillioninNeighborhoodStabilization

Equitable Development

$522MillionofPublic, PrivateandPhilanthropic Investment

When people lack opportunity, jobs and ownership, they have nostakeintheircommunities.

Whatwepropose

Supporting first time home buyers with an emphasis on newly constructed or renovatedsinglefamilyhomesinthedistrictiscriticalinsolvingthehousingshortage andbuildingstrongcommunities.Thepersonalwealthforresidentsintheheartofthe cityissignificantlylowerincomparisontotheCityasawhole Thisstrategywillnotonly support density challenges but will also address the need for an increase in mixed incomeneighborhoods,blightremediationandthelackofaffordablehousingstock

Investinginnewandexistingbusinessesgeneratesopportunitiesforemploymentin the Third District and supports long-term opportunities to build wealth. Providing goodsandservicesisnecessarytoimprovethequalityoflifeforcurrentresidents, attractcommerceandrepopulateareasimpactedbydensityloss.

A place and space designed and operated by teens and young adults is long overdue in Kansas City. Increased opportunities for employment, relationship building,andrecreationcontinuestobeasharedexpectationforyoungresidents. Research is clear, positive youth development requires cities to be leaders in providingpositiveplacesforyouthtoexplore,engage,socializeandhavefun.

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4.

$30MillioninDownpaymentAssistance $12MillioninStart-upandSmallBusinessSupport

-JackKemp, FormerUS HousingSecretary

5. $28MillionYouthEntertainmentDistrict

Equitable Development

$522MillionofPublic, PrivateandPhilanthropic Investment

There is a strong consensus that every American household needs tohavebroadbandaccess.

-JulianCastro,formerSecretaryof HousingandUrbanDevelopment

Whatwepropose

6. 7.

$40MillioninGreenInfrastructure $10MillioninEnergyAssistance

UtilizingtheCity’sSmartSewerPlantostrategicallyinvestingreeninfrastructurein the heart of the city is a silver lining with the EPA Consent Degree. In addition, providing commercial and residential green infrastructure incentives to support sustainable solutions and build climate resilience is key because historically redlined communities are currently and will continue to experience disparate impactsofextremeweathereventsandclimatechange.

Apply conservation strategies to drive down energy costs and create more sustainable solutions including retrofits, weatherization and alternative energy sources The energy cost burden for Third District residents exacerbates income disparitiesandrequiresequitablestrategiestoprovidenecessaryrelief.

8. $5MillioninSustainableBroadbandSupport

Ensuringeveryresidenthasaccesstohighspeed,reliableandaffordableinternet connectivityisavisionworthembracingandinvestment.Itisincreasinglydifficultto access employment, health care and education without the proper residential internet HistoricFederalinvestmentinBroadbandrequirestheCitytobeprepared andexpandpartnersandinvestmenttoensurecommunitiesarenotleftbehind.

Equitable Development

$522MillionofPublic, PrivateandPhilanthropic Investment

Ifwedon'tfigureoutawaytocreateequity, real equity, of opportunity and access to good schools, housing, healthcare, and decent paying jobs, we are not going to surviveasaproductiveandhealthysociety.

Whatwepropose

9.

$25MillionHistoricalCulturalTrailalongBrushcreek

ThereisaninitialseedinvestmentfromaprivatefoundationthattheCityshoulduse asacatalysttoattracttheremainingfundsneededtoensureafullyfundedproject.

10.

$15MilliontoexpandGreenSpaceandMaintainPark Property

CurrentlytheThirdDistricthassignificantlylessgreenspaceincomparisontoother parts of Kansas City. In addition, current parks property in the Third District have deferred maintenance totaling $37,765,980 Vibrant parks are critical for physical andmentalhealthofresidents.

11. $15MillioninWorkforceDevelopment+EmploymentReadiness

Providing direct and collaborative employment readiness services for residents experiencing the greatest income disparity within the City. Every high school graduate not entering post-secondary education should have access to and be preparedforalivingwagejob. Inaddition,trainingandcertificateprogramsshould be highly accessible and supports in place to reduce barriers to enrollment, retentionandcareerplacement.

12.

$25MillioninTransportationandConnectivity

Providingwalkability,streetrepair,addressingtransportation deserts, rideshare programs and rapid mass transit to employmentcentersiscriticaltoacceleratingourlocalGDP and ensuring maximal human capacity is realized. It is impossibletoaccessopportunitywithoutconnectivity.

Equitable Development

$522MillionofPublic, PrivateandPhilanthropic Investment

We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity of our community... Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others,fortheirsakesandforourown.

-CesarChavez,Activist

Whatwepropose

13.

$20MillionforSocialServicesandResidentOrganizing

Neighborhood cohesion and vitality are dependent upon ensuring residents have theresourcesneededtorealizetheirindividualandcollectivepotential. Inaddition, to social supports, civic engagement investments are essential. Residentserving organizations must be empowered to direct municipal investments in ways that meetpeople'sneeds.

14.

$20MilliontosupportCulturalInstitutions

The City can use its bonding capacity to upgrade municipally owned cultural institutions. There is significant planning to preserve, protect and promote these assets. TheCityshouldplayaleadingroletoensurethesenationallyrecognized attractionsarebestin-class.

15.

$27MillioninCommunityImprovementDistricts

Inequities currently exist regarding tax revenues generated by Community ImprovementDistrictsthroughouttheCity. Fundsareneededtoenhancethevisitor experience,transportation,connectedmobilityandsmallbusinesssupport.Parking continues to be a challenge in the 18th and Vine Entertainment District. Innovating parking and mobility solutions to attract residents and visitors to business hubs throughouttheheartofthecityincludingIndependenceAvenue,12thStreet,Truman Road,18thStreetandEmanuelCleaverIIBlvdarecritical.

Equitable Development

ACollaborative Approach

While the City cannot transform communities alone, the City of Kansas City must have a vested interest in reducing income disparitiesandfosteringplacesthat are healthy, vibrant and diverse. An essential key is to leverage public and private catalytic initiatives that are already underway to address historic blight and socio-economic conditions.

Initial actions include obtaining seed funding within the first six months and facilitating a civic consortium to build a network for a public/private partnershipachievingcomplementary goals.Thisplansupportstheelevation, prioritization and amplifies the strategies adopted by the Council in 2011intheHeartoftheCityAreaPlan.

An aggressive approach must be adoptedtocollaboratewithJackson County, the State, Federal, private andphilanthropicsectorstoacquire necessary resources in a timely manner.

Federal,State,City,Privateand PhilanthropicInvestmentsare neededtotransformtheHeartof theCity.

YouareInvitedto: JointheThirdDistrict ConventiononSaturday, October7,KansasCity ConventionCenter,Room2103. Theeventis9am-4pmanda focusontheplanis10am-1pm.

Signonasasupporter.

Scheduleameetingwith CouncilwomanRobinsonto discussopportunitiesfor collaborationand implementation.

melissa.robinson@kcmo.org