Parade Park Homes—formerly the nation’s oldest Black-owned housing cooperative—will receive $15.5 million in federal funding to support its $275 million transformation, marking a critical step in preserving affordable housing in Kansas City’s historic Jazz District.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded the grant through its Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program, providing capital and rental assistance for low-income seniors aged 62 and above at Parade Park Homes.
U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II secured the funding after extensive negotiations with HUD officials, including Secretary Marcia Fudge and Acting Secretary Adrian Todman.
“I am so happy that my staff and I were successful in convincing HUD that Parade Park is a viable and valuable place to invest in the future of Kansas City’s Jazz District,” Cleaver said.
The development, which sits on 26 acres near 18th and Vine, will expand from 510 units to more than 1,000 residences. Developers Flaherty & Collins Properties and Twelfth Street Heritage Development Corp took ownership in spring 2024 after HUD foreclosed on the property.
Mayor Quinton Lucas emphasized the development’s significance for Kansas City.
“Parade Park Homes on 18th Street is an important part of our history, Kansas City’s Black heritage, and will continue to be a vital housing development welcoming Kansas Citians of all ages,” Lucas said.
The cooperative’s decline began when maintenance costs exceeded resident payments. By 2022, with over half the units vacant, the co-op defaulted on a $10 million loan, leading to HUD’s intervention and ultimate sale to a redeveloper.
The redevelopment plan protects current residents through Tenant Protection Vouchers, ensuring affordable housing costs throughout construction. The approximately 165 current residents can return after completion while maintaining their rent rates unless they choose market-rate units or homeownership.
“From HUD to the local officials in Kansas City, this has truly been a team effort to ensure the residents of Parade Park can remain in their homes,” Cleaver said.
The development team plans three construction phases through 2030. Phase one focuses on low-income, senior, and market-rate housing. Phase two introduces ownership opportunities, while phase three adds retail development.
Alexis Williams, director of operations at Twelfth Street Heritage, emphasized community involvement in the renovation process.
“We want the residents to feel like they are a part of this and have some input in the design phase,” Williams said. “If we find out that all the current residents want to own, we’ll work with them to try to figure that out and make it possible.”
Though most existing structures face demolition, developers pledge to preserve the property’s legacy through commemorative displays and continued community input.
The project represents the largest development on Kansas City’s east side, with completion expected by 2030.
“The work is not finished, but this is a major victory for the people of Kansas City, and I’m thrilled to have helped play a role in making it possible,” Cleaver said.
