Neighborhood Assessment Report

GRANDVIEW TRIANGLEAREA

FOCUS Kansas CityCity Planning and Development Department

City of Kansas City, Missouri

Heart of the Nation

City of Fountains

Neighborhood Workshop Date: March 6, 1999

Neighborhood Assessment Report

Underlined phone numbers will change in the next few months.

City Services Action Center 513-1313

SERVICE AGENCY OR CITY DEPARTMENT PHONE

Neighborhood and Community Services

Kansas City, MO Police Department


Health Department


Codes Administration

Environmental Management

Public Works



Environmental Management



Board of Parks and Recreation

Public Works - Street and Traffic

Share-a-Fare/ATA

Water DepartmentAfter Hours

Public Works

Water Department

Kansas City Power and Light

Housing and Community Development

Abandoned Cars on Private Property

Abandoned Cars on Public Property

Abandoned Homes

Air Quality

Animal Control

Building Permits

Bulky Item Pick Up

Curb Reconstruction

Dangerous Buildings/ Demolition

Housing Code Violations

Illegal Dumping Hotline

Neighborhood Assistance/ Services

Paint Program

Parks and Community Centers

Potholes

Senior Citizens Transportation

Sewers – Problems

Sidewalks – Repair

Storm Drains

Street Light Repairs

Weatherization Program

871-3800

234-5000

871-3800

513-6314

871-5900

513-1451

513-3490

513-2590

871-3800

871-3800

513-3485

513-3265

513-3266

871-5600

513-2777

842-9070

513-2180513-2109

513-2602

513-2180

654-1400

513-3015

THE VISION OF

FOCUS KANSAS CITYWe, as Kansas Citians, envision our city as a people-centered community.From economic development to the readability of street signs, we con-sider people first. Kansas City shapes and guarantees its future byexamining first and foremost the impact of every decision on futuregenerations.

We, as Kansas Citians, are full of hope. We demonstrate this hopethrough our investment in our families, our homes, our neighborhoods,our schools, our businesses and our city.

For more information about FOCUS Kansas City:

� call the office at 513-2822,� visit www.kcmo.org/focus/, or� e-mail [email protected].

To reach the Neighborhood Assessment Team, call 513-2909.

FOCUS - Forging Our Comprehensive Urban Strategy

1Gateway to Everywhere

FOCUS KANSAS CITYAND

NEIGHBORHOODASSESSMENTS

Grandview TriangleArea workshopparticipants lookover their workbooks

FOCUS Kansas City, Kansas City’s strategic and comprehensive plan, recognizes thatneighborhoods understand best how to direct their own futures. The first initiative inthe FOCUS Neighborhood Prototypes Plan is a strategic assessment that enables aneighborhood to evaluate its strengths and needs. Through the assessment process, aneighborhood can direct its assets towards its most critical needs. The FOCUS Neigh-borhood Prototypes Plan identifies the assessment format.

There were two objectives for this neighborhood assessment:1. Self-identify its neighborhood type from the FOCUS Neighborhood Pro-

totypes Plan.2. Develop improvement strategies that will direct neighborhood improve-

ment, a “To Do” list incorporating participation by the neighborhood, commu-nity partners, and the City.

This community conducted the neighborhood assessment workshop with assistance fromCity staff. Residents, business people and people who work in local institutions pro-vided input. These community members mapped their community, and identified assetsand priority issues in their neighborhood.

2 Grandview Triangle Area

N E I G H B O R H O O D T Y P E

The FOCUS Neighborhood Prototypes Plan recognizes that not all neighborhoods inKansas City are the same. The character and condition of where we live varies accord-ing to age, history, type of housing and other factors. Each community has differentstrengths and opportunities. Each has different assets and priorities that drive uniquestrategies for improvement. FOCUS developed four unique Neighborhood Types thatgenerally describe Kansas City neighborhoods. These four Types (assigned the colorsBlue, Orange, Purple and Green in the Neighborhood Assessment workshop) are:

Developing Conservation Stabilization Redeveloping

Each Neighborhood Type suggests what actions are required for an area to become orstay healthy. The Assessment is a beginning point from which the community can moveforward and achieve quality living environments through a commitment to continuousimprovement. The descriptions for these four Neighborhood Types are contained inthe FOCUS Neighborhood Prototypes Plan, Appendix A, “General Neighborhood De-scription / Types.”

In the workshop, participants defined the tools, actions and strategies for improvingtheir community. They will use this information to strategically apply public andprivate resources in a way that is based on existing conditions, trends, opportunities,strengths and needs. Once other neighborhoods identify their Type, then similarly“typed” Kansas City communities can connect and partner around common issues andprojects while assisting each other in developing their organizations.


The information in this section provides an overview of the entire area. Residentsliving in the Grandview Triangle area met Saturday, March 6, 1999 at the BaptisteEducational Center to participate in a neighborhood self evaluation workshop. Theworkshop gave participants from 17 neighborhoods and sub-divisions an opportunityto take a collective look at where they live, work…and drive.

Fifty-three neighbors participated in 6 workshop exercises, discovering what theylike about their neighborhoods, as well as what concerns them most, and they votedon what neighborhood type most closely described their own. There are commonthemes, frequently mentioned items and shared priorities from the three work groups.The specific items mentioned by the groups for their sub-areas are listed below.

The groups clearly stated what they liked about living in the area such as:n reliable neighbors;n sound schools;n strong neighborhood associations;n stable housing stock;n easy access to grocery and retail shops;n quick access to five major highways;n many active churches that have been in the area for decades;n Bruce Watkins Roadway.

TH E G R A N D V I E W T R I A N G L EA R E A P E R S P E C T I V E


Participants also provided the following for a clear picture of what is needed toenhance their living conditions:

n installing curbs and sidewalks in annexed subdivisions;n trimming trees at or near school crossings;n improving Hickman Mills Drive, Red Bridge and Grandview Roads by installing side-

walks, curbs and signs;n building access roads to adjacent neighborhoods;n beefing up security around Bannister Mall and Hypermart; andn installing stop lights at Jackson and Red Bridge Road.

Through strong neighborhood associations and coalitions, members of this area haveidentified the current improvements needed for the Grandview Triangle. These im-provements include:

n more convenient access roads and off rampsn the reduction of speedn repair of the road.

Residents are also active in the Hickman Mills School District and work diligently inCity sponsored events, such as Clean Sweep.

TH E G R A N D V I E W T R I A N G L EA R E A P E R S P E C T I V E


P R I O R I T I E S

Residents feel the most important issues they have before them are:

Improving Transportationn repairing roads, especially the need for shoulders from Grandview Road and 71

Highway to Red Bridge Road;n accessing public transportation for the Grandview Triangle residents;n installing stoplights on Jackson and Grandview Road;n installing “connector roads” between subdivisions;n convening follow up meetings with neighbors to address traffic and road con-

cerns.

Improving Property Maintenancen establishing a quick response program to deal with trash and other nuisances;n recruiting volunteers and support from schools and businesses to expand Clean

Sweep.

Controlling Land Usen rezoning Hickman Mills Drive and Red Bridge Road;n closing the southeast landfill.

Organizing Neighborhoodsn strengthening neighborhood associations;n working with schools to get young people to community meetings;n expanding South Patrol’s Community Policing effort.

Marketing Neighborhoodsn developing a positive marketing image by appealing to the media;n establishing partnerships with businesses and institutions to make “the

Grandview Triangle” a positive expression;n visibility – once the Triangle problems are fixed, people will be drawn to the

area


The Grandview Triangle Area Neighborhood Assessment covered the area from I-435,71 Highway and 107th Street on the north to 119th Street on the south, and from BlueRiver Road on the west to Bennington Avenue and Red Bridge Road on the east.

C H A R T N O T E S

Neighborhood SlogansGrandview Triangle residents began their workshop by creating a catchy slogan todescribe their neighborhood. Neighbors enthusiastically called out phrases such as“The Southeast Gateway,” “Diversity in Action,” “The Five Roads Area,” “The For-gotten Neighborhood,” “The Star of the South,” “Crossroads,” and “Just Like a Leaf,Drowning.” The slogan that received the highest number of votes was:

Gateway to Everywhere!

Workshop participantsand their slogans


STEP 1: My Neighborhood IsWorkshop participants identified how they experience their neighborhood, and con-sidered those things they want to protect, preserve or enhance in the neighborhood.They thought about the landmarks, paths, activity centers, districts, edges or bar-riers, and features. These were noted on a wall map, using the key below, and arelisted on the next three pages.

Landmarks — significant physical objects, like buildings orsigns

Paths — routes people use to get places

Activity centers — gathering places to do some activity

Districts — areas of recognizable character

Edges or barriers — a limit or boundary that prevents peoplefrom enjoying the neighborhood or something in it

Features — things people like and would like to preserve orenhance

Residents describe theirneighborhood

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Here’s how each group saw its area:

Northwest and Southwest:Landmarks

n Hickman Mills Kindergarten School(original area school house)

n Our Lady of Peace Schooln St. Catherine’s of Siennan Trails West Schooln Islamic Schooln Original Hickman’s Mills locationn Warford Elementary Schooln Terrace Laken 100-year-old Community Christian

Church

Activity Centersn Birchwood Shopping Center

(former shopping strip)n Our Lady of Peacen Trails West Schooln Islamic Schooln Warford Elementary Schooln Kernoodles Laken Terace Lake Shopping Center

Edges or Barriersn I-435n 71 Highwayn Railroad track (out of area)n Power line

Districtsn Southern Hillsn Calumetn Birchwood / St. Catherine’s Gar-

densn Terrace Lake Gardensn Swope Park Baptist Church and

nursing home compound

Featuresn Original Red Bridge used to make

Harvey Kemper’s barnn Original area school housen Three small parks in Terrace Laken Santa Fe Trail Markersn Civil War sites at 98th & Grandview

Road

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North Central:

Landmarksn Westridge Schooln Trails West Schooln Saint Catherine’s Schooln Red Bridge United Methodistn Terrace Lake Methodistn Terrace Lake Shopping Center

Edges or Barriersn Red Bridge Roadn Kensington Street (does not go

through)n Royal Oaks Drive (does not go

through)n The intersection of Jackson Av-

enue and Grandview Road

Pathsn Kensington Streetn Red Bridge Roadn Grandview Roadn Jackson Avenue

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Landmarksn Marble monument on Hickman

Mills Driven Hickman Mills Community

Christian Church, a 100 year oldchurch at 5809 E. Red Bridge Rd.

n Schumacher Park

Activity Centersn Burke Elementaryn Baptiste Educational Centern The South Patrol Division of the

Police Department at 109th &Hickman Mills Drive

Edge or Barriern Longview Road where it is closed

between Hickman Mills Drive andBlue Ridge Boulevard (road wasmade straight, therefore it wasclosed off temporarily)

Northeast and Southeast:

Pathsn Hillcrest Roadn 107th Streetn Red Bridge Road from State Line

to Blue Ridgen Longview Roadn Hickman Mills Drive

Districts

n Hoechst Marion Roussel arean Bannister Mall arean Hickman Mills Drive/Red Bridge

Road arean Stratford Estates Homes Associa-

tion

Featuresn Beauty shop and several older

buildings along the north side ofRed Bridge Road, east of 71 Hwy.

n Hickman Mills Community ChristianChurch

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G R A N D V I E W T R I A N G L E I M A G E S

Landmark and Feature:100 year old Hickman MillsCommunity Christian Church

Mr. Miller,Southern Hills resident

Barrier/Edge and Path:Red Bridge Road at rush hour


G R A N D V I E W T R I A N G L E I M A G E S

Unsightly trailers near the daycarecenter at Hickman Mills CommunityChristian Church

Landmark: Terrace Lake

The red bridge on Red Bridge Road


STEP 2: If I Could Fix One ThingIn every neighborhood there are some things that need to be changed. These thingsstop residents from enjoying their neighborhood and from doing the things they liketo do. The issues that residents identified as major concerns fell into two maincategories: transportation and development. Below is the list of “fixes” that workshopparticipants said they would like to see in the Grandview Triangle Area neighborhoods:

n Create a place to purchase bustickets

n Improve road connections betweenneighborhoods

n Widen Red Bridge Road to includeshoulders and curbs

n Install stop light at Jackson & RedBridge Rd.

n Install stop light on Jackson at thecurve; it’s a danger to pedestrians,especially children

n Stop speeding on Grandview Rd infront of St. Catherine’s and the Is-lamic School

n Improve curbing and streets westof Elmwood

n Add blinking lights during schoolhours

n Build East-West connectors (ma-jor through streets)

n Eliminate concrete dump alongMartha Truman Road

Northwest and Southwest:

n Prevent Red Bud landfilln Protect commercial developmentn Post “No Dumping” signs to address

illegal dumpingn Bury overhead wires (it’s safer and

more visually pleasing)n Place new light poles in areas where

they are most needed

Improving Transportation Controlling Land Use

n Create more active homes associa-tions

Organizing Neighborhoods


North Central:

n Enforce maintenance of residentialproperty

n Clean up empty lot at 10701 Wenzel– it is owned by an out of town per-son and there is a lot of illegaldumping

n Remove brush from vacant prop-erties

The empty lot at 10701 Wenzel,illegal dumping site

n Improve Grandview Road by wid-ening it

n Improve Red Bridge Roadn Improve the intersection at

Grandview and Jackson Roadn Make sign visable at the intersec-

tion of Grandview and Cypress; itis dangerous

n Appoint a strong light rail advocateto the City Planning Commission

ImprovingTransportation

Improving PropertyMaintenance


n Rezone Hickman Mills Drive & RedBridge Road; it is a junk area thatexists because of the “grandfatherclause”

n Develop new single family homesn Do away with pawn shops and thrift

stores; these are not the kinds ofbusinesses residents want; theygive the wrong impression

Northeast and Southeast:

n Install sidewalks for walking orriding bikes

n Improve the Grandview Trianglehighway system so that residentsdon’t have to take back roads

n Establish a road system that ismore efficient

n Replace poor road signsn Maintain streets and curbs bettern Install additional lighting on free-

way systemn Decrease speed limit on freeway

systemn Repair potholes on major roads and

highwaysn Monitor traffic on Hillcrest Road

Improving Transportation Controlling Land Use

Improving PropertyMaintenance

n Revamp Hypermart; it is a night-mare because of parking lot trash,crime, dirty restrooms

n Improve physical infrastructureMarketingNeighborhoods

n Change negative perception of areaas portrayed by the news media

n Attract new home owners, ratherthan renters

n Eradicate the perception of crimeat Bannister Mall (news media)

Other Issues

n Maintain City water mains and sew-ers more efficiently

n Establish and fund programs foryouth

n Make parents more accountablefor their kids

n Eliminate dumping of trash by out-siders

n Enhance service delivery of codesenforcement by Neighborhood &Community Services


STEP 3: My Neighborhood’s AssetsWorkshop participants identified assets that add value to their neighborhood. Theassets include places, groups, organizations, equipment, skills, abilities and any otherasset that adds value to the neighborhood. Participants’ responses are listed bycategory and region.

Northeast and Southeastn Good neighborhood associationsn Good neighborhood schools: Ruskin

High, Burke Elementary, SmithHale, Longview College

n 100 year-old Hickman Mills Com-munity Christian Church -children’s day care center, votingsite ; former residents continue toattend services and keep active incommunity; the church also bringssome humor into the area with thissign: “Last prayer before theGrandview Triangle!”

n Southern Communities Coalitionn Community Leaders Roundtablen Crusade Against Crime programn Community Assistance council -

churches come together to helpcommunity

n Clean Sweep - 200 people from thearea got together to pick up trash

n Student programs at schoolsn Relationships with businesses; they

come to community meetingsn Community Recycling Center on

Bannister Roadn Stratford Estates

Groups, Clubs, Organizations

n The community is stablen Southern Communities Coalitionn Five churchesn Three large viable schools (1 Catho-

lic, 1 Muslim, 1 public)n One school for the disabledn Royal Oaks Coalition

n Consolidated School District #1n Citizens Council Against Crimen Southern Communities Coalitionn Birchwood Neighborhood Associa-

tionn Terrace Lake Neighborhood Asso-

ciationn South Patrol Stationn Islamic Center

Northwest and Southwest

North Central


Northeast and Southeastn Good low-priced quality homesn Fire Station #42n Vacant areas where wildlife can be

observed: deer, wild turkey andothers

n Hillcrest Community Center thathas senior citizen and youth pro-grams, square dancing

n Lamars, Joe’s, barber shop, beautyshop, United Missouri Bank, bowl-ing alley, Don Klahn Realtor, BlueRidge Gardens Nursery, Crest Ani-mal Clinic, Bill & Connie’s Café –these are old, established busi-nesses that have “stick-to-it” men-tality and have stayed in the area

n Home Depot that will go in at theold Venture building

n Bruce Watkins Roadwayn Longview Laken Post Officen Quiet neighborhoodn Large lotsn Easier mobility on the east side of

Highway 71n Easy access to grocery stores

North Centraln Hickman Mills Medical Clinicn Two dentists’ officesn New Knights of Columbus Buildingn Catholic Charities home for the

elderly

Places, Features, Buildingsn Swope Park Baptist Churchn Good golf courses within 5 minutesn Blue River Park (model airplane fly-

ing, soccer fields, tennis courts,and fishing pond)

n Minor Parkn There is only one apartment com-

plex in Royal Oaks and it is wellmaintained

n Great street lighting systemn Great home value – well built homes

for under $100,000n Tree lined streetsn Overall, physical structures in the

area are in good shapen Love the neighborhood and the

churches in itn Terrace Lake Shopping Centern Plenty of convenience stores and

shopping centers

n Richards Gebaur Airportn Spofford Homen St. Catherine’s (formerly Our Lady

of Peace)n Hillcrest Community Centern Bruce Watkins Driven Shopping Centers – Bannister Malln Hoechst Marion Roussel



North Centraln Teresa Edens – School Board Rep-

resentativen Carol McCluren People who take care of their prop-

ertyn Many residents have lived in the

neighborhood for 30 years

n Consolidated School District #1(offers training)

n Alvin Brooksn Carol McCluren Judy Swopen Southern Communities Coalition

Resources, Fundingn All five regions named the South

Patrol of the Police Department asa resource.

n Hoechst Marion Roussel andMarion Merrill Dowell Laboratorieswere described as resources in theNortheast, Southeast, Northwestand Southwest regions.

Skills, Equipment, Knowledge



STEP 4: Facts About My NeighborhoodThe data presented at the Grandview Triangle Area Neighborhood Assessment wasfrom the 1990 U.S. Census, and from 1998 information from the Kansas City, MissouriPolice Department and the Kansas City, Missouri City Planning and Development De-partment. Below are the facts that participants said were surprising or noteworthy.(See the neighborhood self-evluation workbook for more details.)

Change in Population 1980-1990 (North Central)

Residents of the North Central regionwere also surprised that 22% of theirpopulation was under the age of 18.

-22%

3%

-3%

North CentralEvaluation Area

Council District6 Citywide

22% 24% 25%

11% 12% 13%

North CentralEvaluation Area

Council District6

Citywide

18 and Under

65 and Over

Age Distribution (North Central)

Residents living in the North Centralregion of the Grandview Triangle Areawere surprised at the 22% loss in popu-lation.


Those in the Northwest and Southwest concluded that less population did not meanfewer homeowners; instead it could reflect the number of smaller families, and homeswhere children have moved out.

-9%

3%

-3%

NorthwestEvaluation Area


Change in Population 1980-1990 (Northwest)

0%

3%

-3%

SouthwestEvaluation Area


Change in Population 1980-1990 (Southwest)


Persons Below Poverty Level (Northeast)

Those residing in the Northeast(Stratford Estates) were surprisedthat 17% of their population was be-low poverty level; this seemed unusu-ally high for their area.

17%

7%

15%

NortheastEvaluation Area

Council District6

Citywide

Northeast residents explained that thearea was farmland before the 1957 tor-nado.

4% 3%

28%

2%10% 8%


Council District6

Citywide

Percentage Built before 1940

Percentage Built Between 1985 and 1990

Age of Housing Units (Northeast)

Southwest neighbors were surprised athow much rental housing there is (39%).They stated that many houses in Ter-race Lakes sell quickly.

61%

63%

57%

SouthwestEvaluation Area

Council District6

Citywide

Owner Occupied Housing Units (Southwest)


School Enrollment Status of Teenagers 16-19 (Northeast)

Northeast and Southeast neighbors stated that the percentage of teenagers notenrolled in school was believable because they see teenagers walking the street,hanging out at the malls, all the time.They do not think there are enough activities for teenagers, especially after school,and would like to know if there are any federal dollars available for truancy pro-grams.

School Enrollment Status of Teenagers 16-19 (Southeast)

89% 80% 73%

11% 20% 27%


Council District6

Citywide

Enrolled in School

Not Enrolled in School

57%80% 73%

43%20% 27%

SoutheastEvaluation Area

Council District6

Citywide

Enrolled in School

Not Enrolled in School


Non-Violent Crimes Per 100 Persons (Northeast)

0.00

5.00

10.00

15.00

20.00

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

Northeast Evaluation AreaCouncil District 6Citywide

Crime statistics for the Northeast (Stratford Estates) seemed high to its residents;they agreed one reason for the perception of a high crime rate may be that the areafrom Bennington Avenue to Blue Ridge Boulevard is included in the statistics.

Violent Crimes Per 100 Persons (Northeast)

0.001.002.003.004.005.006.007.00

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

Northeast Evaluation AreaCouncil District 6Citywide


Non-Violent Crimes Per 100 Persons (Northwest)

In the Northwest and Southwest, most crimes are burglaries to properties for thepurpose of buying drugs, and there are some reports of vandalism. There seem to bemore attempted burglaries that are unsuccessful because of secure residential doors.

Non-Violent Crimes Per 100 Persons (Southwest)

0.002.004.006.008.00

10.0012.0014.0016.00

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

Northwest Evaluation Area

Council District 6

Citywide

0.002.004.006.008.00

10.0012.0014.0016.00

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

Southwest Evaluation Area

Council District 6

Citywide


84% 81% 75%12% 13% 14% 6%2%0%

Northwest EvaluationArea

Council District 6 Citywide

Drive AloneRide in a CarpoolUse Some Form of Public Transportation

87% 81% 75%13% 13% 14%0% 2% 6%

Northeast EvaluationArea



Transportation to Work (Northwest)

Transportation to Work (Southwest)

Transportation to Work (Northeast)

Transportation to Work (Southeast)

80% 81% 75%14% 13% 14% 6%2%1%

Southwest EvaluationArea



88% 81% 75%7% 13% 14%3% 2% 6%

Southeast EvaluationArea



Northwest andSouthwest residentsfelt it was obviousthat public transpor-tation in the area wasnot effective. Someresidents were awarethat Metro-Flextransportation isavailable.Those in the North-east and Southeastarea felt the bus sys-tem is inadequate.They agreed thatpeople from theirarea are very depen-dent on automobiles,however, they wantbetter bus service totheir area.


STEP 5: Describing My NeighborhoodResidents in the Grandview Triangle Area described their neighborhoods as follows:

n Northwest: Stabilizationn Southwest: Conservationn North Central: Stabilizationn Northeast: Conservationn Southeast: tied among Conservation, Stabilization, and Redevelop-

ing

Overall, the voting was evenly split between Conservation and Stabilization.On the next page are the descriptions of Conservation and Stabilization neighbor-hoods.

North Central residents andtheir neighborhood type votes


ConservationMy neighborhood has been developed for some time. Established businesses and insti-tutions are located in the neighborhood. Places of worship, schools, recreational andentertainment facilities, and businesses provide many opportunities near my home.

Tree-lined streets, historic structures or qualities, public art and/or other amenitiescharacterize the neighborhood and give it a sense of place. Most of the houses areoccupied. Little demolition has occurred here and vacant land is scarce.

It appears that both public and private areas are well-maintained, although a houseor business periodically falls into disrepair from a lack of routine maintenance suchas painting, yard upkeep, awning repair, etc. Some infrastructure repairs may beneeded to keep the neighborhood attractive. Generally the problems that do comeup can be addressed by our neighborhood association, by a call to the City, or throughneighbors getting together to help one another.

StabilizationMy neighborhood has been developed for some time. Several of the businesses andinstitutions located in the neighborhood may be changing, either recently expanding,scaling back services, just moved into the neighborhood or considering moving toanother location outside the neighborhood. Places of worship, schools, recreationaland entertainment facilities, and businesses provide opportunities near my home.

Tree-lined streets, historic structures or qualities, public art and/or other ameni-ties characterize the neighborhood and give it a sense of place. Due to age, severalof the streets and sidewalks need repair or replacement and the water and sewerservices may also need to be upgraded. Many houses, businesses, and public areasappear to lack routine maintenance such as painting, yard upkeep, tree trimming,awning repair, etc., or are vacant. Such conditions are affecting the value of myproperty and I don’t know if I want to invest more money in the property.

Problems are starting to add up and are becoming harder to fix through our neigh-borhood association, a call to the City, or neighbors getting together to help oneanother. There are good aspects to the neighborhood but there are also problemsthat need to be addressed if the neighborhood is going to continue to be a place Iwant to live.


STEP 6: Making My Neighborhood BetterWorkshop participants talked about specific actions the community can take to ad-dress the issues and challenges identified earlier in the assessment. Theybrainstormed ideas, concentrating on those actions that can be performed by thecommunity to improve the neighborhood.

This is a list of all the ideas mentioned by workshop participants. They voted on theideas that they most want implemented to make their neighborhood better.

Things We can do by ourselves:

Twelve votes were cast for the number one action residents can do by themselves:Develop a positive marketing image by:n Changing media imagen Submitting articles to the Hickman Mills Times and Jackson County Advocate and

inviting them to neighborhood events and activities

Other actions voted on:n Stay in touch with the Grandview Triangle planning process and encourage younger

families to move into the area. Respond quickly to neighborhood nuisancesn Talk to neighbors. Develop a newsletter with information on bulky item pick-up

and hours when the dump is openn Use resources such as the Southern Communities Coalition. Make complaints to

City Hall about problem properties. Homes associations should meet often, atleast annually. Get community announcements on the evening news at times whenworking people are at home. Get all identifiable neighborhoods within the areatogether to keep informed on the issues and become involved in the community

Additional actions mentioned during the brainstorming session:

Organize the neighborhood associations (use telephone alert network, convene a com-munity roundtable). Build community (notify Environmental Management about ille-gal dumping, stay positive, recycle, help each other). Partner with the community(conduct face to face meetings with elected officials, become active in school sys-tem, utilize the following publications as resources: Hickman Mills School District’sYour School Report, the Jackson County Advocate, the Neighborhood section of theKansas City Star Southland Edition, and the Ruskin/Hickman Mills Times).


What we can do with a Partner:

Actions voted on, in order of priority:n Turn “the Grandview Triangle” into a positive expression. Establish a trash task

force with the Kansas City Police Department and City Departments.n Recruit volunteers and support from schools and businesses to expand Clean Sweep.

Use municipal court inmates to help in community servicesn Work with schools to bring young people to meetingsn Give neighbors more notice about Clean Sweep. Homes Associations must work

with schools. Implement other ways to reduce traffic such as car poolingn Work with churches and elderly to paint homes. Establish a park and ride at

Richards-Gebaur airport

Other actions mentioned:Develop a newsletter with information on bulky pick-up and hours when the dump isopen. Submit articles about, and invite Hickman Mills Times to, neighborhood eventsand activities. Get Kansas City Police Department’s information out to residentsabout how the Trash Task Force can work for them. Improve public relations withmedia to improve community’s image. Churches should work with community on com-mon issues. Have a yard waste clean up for the Wentzel area and vacant lots.

Things the City should do:

Actions voted on, in order of priority:n Fix Roads! Add shoulders from Grandview Road & 71 Highway to Red Bridge.n Establish a quick response program to deal with trash and other nuisances.n City officials need to promote area.n Develop program for elderly to help enforce codes (i.e. help elderly paint homes).n Drop the “grandfather clause” and rezone - before the area around Hickman Mills

Drive (south of Red Bridge Road) was annexed into the City, it was zoned for lightindustry and has remained so - residents want the zoning changed. Enforce codes

n Adhere to curbside recycling and dump yard waste in dumpsters. Construct bridgeacross the Blue River and railroad tracks. Remove snow from residential streetsbecause now the residents do it themselves or pay someone to do it.

n Pick-up yard waste on all streets not just certain ones.


Things the City should do, cont’d.

n Look at City as a whole; Close the Southeast Landfill; Improve sidewalks, curbs,signs in Old Hickman Mills, south of Red Bridge and on Longview and GrandviewRoads

n Stay on promised schedule for leaf pick-up; Expand Litter Getter Campaign; Parksand Recreation: trim trees during spring and summer (especially on GrandviewRoad, North of I-435 and where they cover traffic signs near schools); Send thereport from this self-evaluation to Missouri Department of Transportation; Re-search other cities to discover what is going on to revive older areas

n Hold private contractors accountable, if city services are provided by privatecontractor (trash is a big problem at bus stops); Develop and share the city’semergency preparation plan for Y2K; Collaborate with Southern Communities Coa-lition to provide notification of dumping problems and hazardous waste via massmailing; Give neighborhood associations ample (and accurate) notice regarding CleanSweep; Provide more detailed advertisement of information regarding householdhazardous waste to more neighbors; Widen Red Bridge Road to a minimum ofthree lanes (install a turning lane) and improve with curbs and gutters or a shoul-der; Install / maintain streetlights (in progress); Straighten out curve before thebridge leading to Blue River Road; Install a stop light at Jackson and Red Bridge

Other actions mentioned during the brainstorming:n hire more City inspectorsn expand South Patrol Police forcen add incentive (like money for cans) to recyclen convene follow-up meetings regarding concerns about traffic and roadsn widen Grandview Road with curbs, gutters and storm sewersn have a Clean Sweep in the area

Resident Jim Hoover spruces upon a sunny day


Officer AdamsPhyllis BahnerKen BonarAlvin BrooksDarrell CurlsKatherine DeBackerTeresa EdensCraig FischmanBill FrazierHolly HaleyClarence B. HandOfficer Brenda HauptTim HenryBeth JohnsonMeisha JohnsonGil KarwoskiAngie Karwoski

Grandview Triangle AreaNeighborhood Assessment Participants

Project Participants

Sponsors and Contributors

Cathy KnightHattie LewisLuther LewisJack LintzBob LudlowBill MarkeyRobin MarshDonnal MarshLuther McArnMaxine McArnCarol McClureRose MoellerMike MoellerRichard MoellerJoy NewtonElaine NolenDennis O’Neil

n Steve Hamadi, Missouri Department of Transportationn Steve Porter, Missouri Department of Transportationn Bill Tudor, State of Missouri House of Representativesn Holly Haley, Bannister Malln South Patrol Community Police

n Judy Swope, Sixth District Councilwomann Southern Communities Coalitionn Hickman Mills School District #C-1

Barb O’SheaTimothy PetersonRuby RiceArlene RobinsonVirginia RudiselOfficer Steve SchmidtWarren SchultzTopper SchumachrAleta SmithPaul StableinAnn StableinJohn StammOfficer StinsonDave TowMariann TowBill TudorJanice WilsonBill Wilson


AcknowledgementsThe Honorable Emanuel Cleaver II, MayorRobert L. Collins, City Manager

City Council

City Planning and Development Department

Vicki Noteis, AIA, DirectorDiane Charity, Sharon Cheers, Willie Mae Conway, Suzy Latare, Evalin McCLain, HollyMehl, John Pajor, Neighborhood Assessment Team

City Support

Zain Abedin, Public Works

The Honorable Ed FordFirst District-at-LargeThe Honorable Teresa LoarFirst DistrictThe Honorable Jim GloverSecond District-at-LargeThe Honorable Paul DanaherSecond DistrictThe Honorable Mary Williams-NealThird District

The Honorable Evert Asjes IIIFourth District-at-LargeThe Honorable Aggie StackhausFourth DistrictThe Honorable Ken BacchusFifth District-at-LargeThe Honorable Kelvin SimmonsFifth DistrictThe Honorable George BlackwoodSixth District-at-LargeThe Honorable Judith SwopeSixth District

Neighborhood Assessment Report

Documents

Transcript of Neighborhood Assessment Report