Green Impact Zone facilitates redevelopment of Bancroft School

 

Conceptual drawings courtesy of BNIM Architects
The illustration above shows the renovated school building and the new townhomes that will be constructed on school grounds. (43rd Street at left; Tracy at top and Forest at bottom.)
This drawing shows the view from 43rd and Forest, looking to the southeast.
Here, the new townhomes are on the right, looking north on Forest.

With the Missouri Housing Development Commission’s vote to approve Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, the long-awaited Bancroft School redevelopment project will become a reality.

More than a year ago, representatives from the Make It Right Foundation, the organization founded by actor Brad Pitt to address housing needs in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, were directed to the Green Impact Zone by Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II. After numerous tours and meetings with Green Impact Zone staff and neighborhood leaders, the foundation focused on the Bancroft School building — a 103-year-old structure, vacant since 1999, that the Historic Manheim Park Neighborhood Association has long identified as a priority for redevelopment.

In addition to the Make It Right Foundation, which will donate $2.3 million to the project, the Bancroft partnership includes a local developer, Dalmark Development Group; Kansas City, Mo., Neighborhood Housing Services; BNIM Architects; the Historic Manheim Park Neighborhood Association; MARC; and the Green Impact Zone. On Feb. 20, these partners held a news conference to announce the project. <Photos from the news conference> <News Release>

The $14 million redevelopment will include 50 affordable housing units — 29 in the remodeled school building and 21 in new townhomes to be constructed on school grounds. The project will receive $1.4 million in federal and state Low-Income Housing Tax Credits; $3 million in federal and state historic preservation tax credits; and $676,000 in Affordable Housing Assistance Program tax credits. U.S. Bank will provide financing.
Both the renovation and new construction will meet LEED Platinum standards for green design. BNIM Architects’ proposed design for the project was recently honored with a Social Economic Environmental Design (SEED) award, which recognizes excellence in public interest design. The Bancroft project is one of six SEED honorees selected from among 45 submissions from 14 different countries.

Key Project Features: