KCRag Forum

Often forget about this hidden dilapidated ghost town. We biked through here recently and were fascinated. Something to check out on bike when up for an adventurous journey of industrial grit. Seems like the only place left is a church that draws immigrants from Sudan.

Very interesting history most locals don't know about...
http://kcur.org/post/take-trip-harlem-k ... d#stream/0

From downtown we bike the HOA bridge then cut left first road and eventually make it over in just a few minutes. Can also reach the airport if you want to bike around it. Or can park and ride at airport then venture over.

I'll have to check that out.

fyi your link was just of the map.

^Fixed the link, and here it is again. Worth a read...
http://kcur.org/post/take-trip-harlem-k ... d#stream/0

“Harlem was Harlem when Kansas City was Westport Landing,”

The first settlers to Harlem were Germans who came over from the Netherlands during the mid-1820s Broomfield says.

They named Harlem after a city in the Netherlands, the same city the better-known Harlem neighborhood in New York City is named after.

It's easily the creepiest neighborhood in the city and I've been in most of them.

earthling wrote:Often forget about this hidden dilapidated ghost town. We biked through here recently and were fascinated. Something to check out on bike when up for an adventurous journey of industrial grit. Seems like the only place left is a church that draws immigrants from Sudan.

And apartments popular with sex offenders.

flyingember wrote:It's easily the creepiest neighborhood in the city and I've been in most of them.

I think the neighborhood down by the Local Pig is the Creepiest. That area looks like Rich Hill Missouri or Appalachia

seams like a good place for a couple of stadiums.

shinatoo wrote:seams like a good place for a couple of stadiums.

FAA would never allow it over height concerns.

brewcrew1000 wrote:

flyingember wrote:It's easily the creepiest neighborhood in the city and I've been in most of them.

I think the neighborhood down by the Local Pig is the Creepiest. That area looks like Rich Hill Missouri or Appalachia

The East Bottoms is odd, but it has a lot of people that live there. So, it never has that abandoned feel like Harlem.

I think the Stadium Drive area between Linwood and Raytown Rd could give Harlem a run for its money on the creepy scale. I never stop along there, but there is a weird abandoned log building and the old Leeds Diner that both seem a bit... weird.

.

I always thought Harlem could become the next West Bottoms in terms of an urban renaissance neighborhood. I know it would take a lot, but those would be some killer views of the city.

West Bottoms hasn't even become the West Bottoms yet.

However there's a buzz and projects afoot there as well as some great events and cool stores. Harlem would be one of those new gritty on the edge neighborhoods if someone would take a real interest in it and see it's potential.

What about all the wooded area along the north bank of the Missouri River near Harlem? Why has that never been developed? That land can't be that expensive.

JBmidtown wrote:What about all the wooded area along the north bank of the Missouri River near Harlem? Why has that never been developed? That land can't be that expensive.

Buying land from the federal government that's purposefully designated as floodable space likely has more red tape than can be imagined.

Oh I didn't know that patch of land was used as a flood buffer. Eh oh well.

115-year-old Harlem Baptist Church, last survivor of Missouri River town, will be torn down

https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-04-21/11 ... -torn-down

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1175891 ... 384!8i8192

I was in Harlem for what may have been the first time a couple of weeks ago. Came down US169 without realizing the southbound lanes on the Broadway Bridge were closed. Had to drive through Harlem to get to the Oak Street Bridge (Heart of America Bridge). From the traffic at the time, I suspect a lot of Kansas Citians were making their first acquaintance with Harlem.

Lol, you are lucky you made it as to get over to Burlington (Oak St) to the HOA bridge you basically cross a rail yard. 75% of the time the through streets are blocked by trains

The 180-unit apartment building in Harlem will go to auction in the middle of May. https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/115-NW- ... /31221421/