Robinson’s $522 Million Plan

District 3 Councilwoman Melissa Robison has unveiled a $522 million Equitable Development Plan to revitalize Kansas City’s historically disinvested Heart of the City. 

The plan comes after years of speaking with residents in District 3 about how to address blight and undesirable living conditions. The project is ambitious but hopes to be completed over the next four years. 

“The goal of our equitable development plan is to transform the 3rd District into a place where all residents have access to economic opportunities, affordable living, and cultural expression,” says Robinson.

To fund the Equitable Development Plan, Robinson is seeking collaboration between Kansas City, Jackson County, state and federal entities, the private sector, and philanthropic sources. While the plan outlines $522 million in investment over the next four years, only a portion has been secured. 

“The city won’t be writing a check for $522 million, but the city will make some upfront investments and facilitate other resources to make things happen,” says Robinson.  

Seed investments from the city, coupled with efforts to attract other levels of government and multi-sector investment, form the core strategy for funding. Already, some resources have been allocated, such as a $50 million green infrastructure investment and $1 million for a youth entertainment district. 

“If we (Kansas City) can build a $270 million park over Interstate 670, we can certainly find a way to ensure that the area around 18th & Vine is brought up to a middle-class standard and that the people there are not displaced,” says Robinson.

Here’s What’s in the Plan

The Equitable Development Plan is broken down into 15 investment opportunity categories with targets for money to be spent in the next four years. 

1. $100M in Neighborhood Stabilization: Bring neighborhoods to a middle-class standard without fear of displacement and provide forgivable loans for longstanding homeowners for housing rehab. 
2. $150M in Pre-development: Funds will go towards establishing community land trusts, encouraging resident-owned multifamily housing, environmental remediation, market analysis, and infrastructure for light industrial businesses and housing.
3. $30M in Down Payment Assistance: Supporting first-time home buyers with an emphasis on newly constructed or rehabbed single-family homes. This is aimed at addressing the need for affordable housing stock and the low personal wealth of residents as well as helping with population density challenges, all with the goal of creating mixed-income neighborhoods 
4. $12M for Startup and Small Business Support: Generates opportunities for employment and access to goods and services and helps with infill of areas affected by density loss. 
5. $28M for Youth Entertainment District: A place designed and operated by teens and young adults.  See related story this issue.
6. $40M in Green Infrastructure: Addresses run-off issues, utilizes city’s Smart Sewer Plan
7. $10M Energy Assistance: Weatherization, retrofitting, and looking into alternative sources of energy. 
8. $5M Sustainable Broadband Support: Ensuring everyone in the district has access to high-speed, reliable, and affordable internet.
9. $25M Historical Cultural Trail Along Brush Creek: A private foundation has donated seed money for the project and wants the city to find a way to fund it fully.
10. $15M to Expand Green Space and Maintain Park Property: The third district has less green space than other districts and currently has over $37M in deferred maintenance in existing park properties. 
11. $15M Workforce Development and Employment Readiness: Aimed at addressing income disparity among third district residents compared to the rest of the city. 
12. $25M Transportation and Connectivity: Street and sidewalk repair, addressing transportation deserts, rideshare programs, and rapid mass transit. Aimed at helping connectivity to employment, education, and health care resources. 
13. $20M Social Services and Resident Organizing: Funding for social supports and resident-serving organizations like neighborhood associations to empower them to help direct municipal investment. 
14. $20M Supporting Cultural Institutions: Using the city’s bonding capacity to upgrade municipally owned cultural institutions to preserve, protect, and promote them. 
15. $27M in Community Improvement Districts (CID): CIDs are local special taxing districts that collect revenue within their designated boundaries to pay for special public facilities, improvements, or services. Funds are needed to enhance the visitor experience as well as transportation and small business support within the 18th & Vine CID. Funds would address parking issues in the 18th & Vine District but also provide mobility solutions to attract visitors and residents to business hubs throughout the heart of the city. 

What’s Next? 

Councilwoman Robinson held a District 3 convention to prioritize the use of an initial seed investment of $25 million for the Heart of the City. The residents placed the most importance on down payment assistance, followed by small business and startup support, with a youth entertainment district and social services & residential organizing tied for third.

A follow-up district meeting is scheduled for March 9 to further finalize the area resident’s priorities before the city council votes on next year’s budget. 
Robinson has begun meeting with local foundations with similar goals and has received a warm response, with many expressing an interest in partnering in the future. The plan will also be presented to various government organizations and the private sector as a way to reach the funding goals.

“We’re looking at pulling together resources to build residents’ power,” says Robinson.