Housing Improvement in the Green Impact Zone®
A drive through the neighborhoods of the Green Impact Zone illustrates the area's serious challenges with abandonment. Approximately 25 percent of the properties in the zone are vacant lots, and another one-sixth have vacant structures. Fewer than half the homes are owner-occupied. Almost 20 percent of all mortgages were delinquent over the last two years. Median home prices for the area are less than $30,000.
Strategies for addressing housing issues in the zone include rehabilitating existing homes, developing new housing on vacant lots, removing dangerous buildings, working with real estate agents to increase home sales in the zone, and working with landlords and absentee owners to improve property maintenance.
Housing Planning and Redevelopment Projects
Following a competitive bid process, the Green Impact Zone selected APD Urban Planning and Management, a minority-owned firm based in Jacksonville, Fla., that has experience working in the zone, to offer technical assistance and expertise on housing issues. With funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, through MARC's Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant, APD will work with neighborhood leaders and other stakeholders to develop plans for and implement at least two demonstration projects in the zone.
Neighborhood leaders and CDCs have identified several potential projects, including redevelopment of Bancroft School in Manheim Park; Ivanhoe Model Blocks, the Blue Hills Housing and Contractor Incubator at 5008 Prospect, Bright Lights redevelopment and several infill redevelopment projects. ADP will help advance some of these housing projects or others that might be identified over the next two years, resulting in new housing investment in the zone.
Data and Research
As a first step, MARC contracted with the University of Missouri–Kansas City's Center for Economic Information to collect data about current conditions in the zone.
In February 2010, UMKC published a report that includes results of a property-by-property windshield survey of housing and infrastructure conditions; an analysis of the historic character of the zone; and property, crime and demographic data provided by Jackson County, the city of Kansas City, Mo., the Kansas City Police Department and the U.S. Census Bureau.
Currently, UMKC is working on a second report based on a windshield survey and similar data for business properties in the zone.
The university houses the data on an interactive website, http://kc-csrv-ceiweb.kc.umkc.edu/greenimpactzone. The site allows users to generate maps and tables that cover a wide variety of conditions in the zone at the parcel level, including roofs, foundations, sidewalks, curbs, landscaping, litter and more. The Center for Economic Information has provided space in a computer lab on the UMKC campus for neighborhood leaders and youth to become familiar with the website and learn how to use maps and data to help facilitate improvements.
Urban Homes Tour
Plans are currently underway for a second Urban Homes Tour in the Green Impact Zone, tentatively scheduled for May 1011.
Last July 2010, the Green Impact Zone, the Housing Authority of Kansas City, Mo., and the Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors hosted the first Urban Homes Tour featuring homes for sale in the zone.
About 40 residents participated in the event, which included bus tours of the area and three workshops held at Zion Grove Missionary Baptist Church. The workshops covered every phase of the home-buying process, including working with real estate agents to find the right home; meeting with lenders to find the right financing; and learning what's involved in rehabbing and weatherizing older homes.
As a result of the Urban Homes Tour, Bryant Real Estate has two contracts pending on homes in the zone.
"The tour showed members of the community what great opportunities we have in the urban core," said Helen Bryant. "We need to educate our residents on building wealth through home ownership."
Donation of Foreclosed Properties
Wells Fargo bank has announced plans to give back to the community by transferring ownership of 23 foreclosed homes to the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council Foundation, which will oversee rehabilitation of the properties. Tony Julianelle, area sales manager for Wells Fargo Bank, shown at right with U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, also announced a cash donation of $7,500 per home — a total of $172,500 — to help with rehabbing and remodeling the homes for Kansas City families.
Neighborhoods in the Green Impact Zone have a lower-than-average rate of owner-occupied homes — a problem that has only increased with the recent rise in home foreclosures. This donation, helped facilitated by Green Impact Zone staff, prevents foreclosed homes from sitting vacant or being sold to out-of-area investors. See the full news release»
