Valentine District

[Cratedigger]

Those apartments

[TheLastGentleman]

Why why why

[moderne]

Wonder what the population of this neighborhood was 1950-1960 versus what it is now? And then also the vanished neighborhood to the north that was demolished for PVCC. The historic layers of a young new world city are very thin and KC Life has scraped this bare.

[brewcrew1000]

Wonder what the population of this neighborhood was 1950-1960 versus what it is now? And then also the vanished neighborhood to the north that was demolished for PVCC. The historic layers of a young new world city are very thin and KC Life has scraped this bare.

Even though it's not Valentine but where the Costco/home depot was located was also a big neighborhood.

[FangKC]

Historic buildings spared from demolition in Kansas City neighborhood — for now

In the first test of new city rules to delay demolitions of historic buildings, Kansas City officials put a pause on an insurance company’s request to knock down four vacant homes in the Valentine neighborhood after continued neighborhood outcry.
...

https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/a ... rylink=cpy

[Cratedigger]

Can someone point me in the direction of this full article detailing KC Life’s proposed redevelopment plan?

https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/a ... 48884.html

[langosta]

Can someone point me in the direction of this full article detailing KC Life’s proposed redevelopment plan?

https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/a ... 48884.html

The plans include building five new colonnades that don’t face the trafficway and would use modern construction materials to keep out sound while fitting the historic fabric. There would be 30 units, replacing the 13 units that are there now. KC Life is contemplating a possible single-family home on the Jefferson site and further housing development at the intersection of Valentine and Summit.

My understanding independently is that KCL has been planning a redevelopment and don’t gain from being surrounded by empty lots.

KCL and FSL (unrelated to this project) have their own balance sheets that they can invest out of, albeit smaller check sizes.

[FangKC]

Amid protest, KC Life CEO shares vision for remaking Valentine homes



...
"Things will continue as they have for years," said Chris Jordan, development chair for the Valentine Neighborhood Association. "They let the properties deteriorate and then tear them down, mentioning that they have a plan in mind but not showing any progress. The hope is that we can work together on a plan for what could happen in our neighborhood. We need them to work with us so it’s not speculation. We would welcome them to come meet with our neighborhood association.”
...
Bixby said he aims for the Valentine properties to have a positive effect on the neighborhood. But they also need to generate positive income for Kansas City Life, since Bixby holds responsibility to a board, partners and employees.
...



“My vision is very much residential for this whole area. There are some houses that are in that footprint that are privately owned, and we’re not looking for any condemnation. That’s not the game we’re into. We’ve got a lot of bare land that I sure would like to do something with.”
...
Bixby knows the neighborhood wants single-family homes, but he’s looking for more density. He said a mix of duplexes, townhomes and apartment buildings is most likely, all with architecture that fits the neighborhood.

Development would be done in phases, and Bixby wants to start near the corner of Valentine Road and Southwest Trafficway. There are two dilapidated six-plex apartment buildings in the area that he needs a permit to raze.
...



“What I’m trying to do is take this land and try to make it revenue positive, with renewable revenue streams,” Bixby said. “I don’t want to just build it and sell it. As we look at each individual parcel, there could be some exceptions to that. But for the most part, we’re looking to develop it.
...
Bixby shared a few conceptual drawings. But the company doesn’t have a timeline or detailed plans for the project. One hurdle is the price of construction materials. If tariffs push costs too high, Kansas City Life might want to wait a few years.
...

https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/ ... e=facebook

[Chris Stritzel]

If they were able to pull any of that off, I would be extremely impressed. But the track record of this company says otherwise.

[Belvidere]

Amid protest, KC Life CEO shares vision for remaking Valentine homes



...
"Things will continue as they have for years," said Chris Jordan, development chair for the Valentine Neighborhood Association. "They let the properties deteriorate and then tear them down, mentioning that they have a plan in mind but not showing any progress. The hope is that we can work together on a plan for what could happen in our neighborhood. We need them to work with us so it’s not speculation. We would welcome them to come meet with our neighborhood association.”
...
Bixby said he aims for the Valentine properties to have a positive effect on the neighborhood. But they also need to generate positive income for Kansas City Life, since Bixby holds responsibility to a board, partners and employees.
...



“My vision is very much residential for this whole area. There are some houses that are in that footprint that are privately owned, and we’re not looking for any condemnation. That’s not the game we’re into. We’ve got a lot of bare land that I sure would like to do something with.”
...
Bixby knows the neighborhood wants single-family homes, but he’s looking for more density. He said a mix of duplexes, townhomes and apartment buildings is most likely, all with architecture that fits the neighborhood.

Development would be done in phases, and Bixby wants to start near the corner of Valentine Road and Southwest Trafficway. There are two dilapidated six-plex apartment buildings in the area that he needs a permit to raze.
...



“What I’m trying to do is take this land and try to make it revenue positive, with renewable revenue streams,” Bixby said. “I don’t want to just build it and sell it. As we look at each individual parcel, there could be some exceptions to that. But for the most part, we’re looking to develop it.
...
Bixby shared a few conceptual drawings. But the company doesn’t have a timeline or detailed plans for the project. One hurdle is the price of construction materials. If tariffs push costs too high, Kansas City Life might want to wait a few years.
...

https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/ ... e=facebook

The arrogance. Wow. I've been through this in my own neighborhood so I shouldn't be surprised, but damn.

[dukuboy1]

Seems like a pure PR piece by KC Life with a friends over at KC Biz Journal. Zero chance anything happens unless the City or a Judge steps in and forces them to develop and or stop buying properties to let them rot.

[Chris Stritzel]

If they're truly serious, it's worth noting that the architect attached to those renderings also did the Meadowbrook development.
https://www.lrk.com/all-projects/projec ... brook-park

[TheBigChuckbowski]

What a load of BS. Hopefully no one in the neighborhood is appeased by a couple drawings.

Also, love how there are multiple six-plexes in the drawings and they are wanting to tear down more six-plexes. But, that's where they're going to "start" this "development" so really need to get those buildings out of the way. Hopefully tariffs won't delay the "start" but they have every intention of building this out. Suuuuuurrrrreeeee.

[Cratedigger]

IF THEY’RE SERIOUS (and I don’t think they are) the renderings look nice. Would hope they don’t try to make it a gated community cut off from the rest of the area and leaving this on an island

[Highlander]

IF THEY’RE SERIOUS (and I don’t think they are) the renderings look nice. Would hope they don’t try to make it a gated community cut off from the rest of the area and leaving this on an island

Well, they have to be acquiring, holding the property and paying property tax for some reason. Not sure what their end game would be otherwise? Bait and switch? Sell off the land piecemeal? I am just as skeptical but they just didn't pick up land to sit on it forever.

[moderne]

Its almost been forever---fifty plus years.

[Cratedigger]

IF THEY’RE SERIOUS (and I don’t think they are) the renderings look nice. Would hope they don’t try to make it a gated community cut off from the rest of the area and leaving this on an island

Well, they have to be acquiring, holding the property and paying property tax for some reason. Not sure what their end game would be otherwise? Bait and switch? Sell off the land piecemeal? I am just as skeptical but they just didn't pick up land to sit on it forever.

I’m sure they have a plan to redevelop it

I am not optimistic that historic looking colonnades are a serious part of whatever will be built

[langosta]

IF THEY’RE SERIOUS (and I don’t think they are) the renderings look nice. Would hope they don’t try to make it a gated community cut off from the rest of the area and leaving this on an island

Well, they have to be acquiring, holding the property and paying property tax for some reason. Not sure what their end game would be otherwise? Bait and switch? Sell off the land piecemeal? I am just as skeptical but they just didn't pick up land to sit on it forever.

To this point, they could have good intentions but lack the ability to execute. Their approach is heavy handed for the neighborhood they were given. Think it speaks volumes that they have not even tried to develop anything in or around Broadway.

[TheLastGentleman]

To this point, they could have good intentions but lack the ability to execute. Their approach is heavy handed for the neighborhood they were given. Think it speaks volumes that they have not even tried to develop anything in or around Broadway.

Their intentions are not good. Not sure how anyone could possibly think that at this point

[langosta]

To this point, they could have good intentions but lack the ability to execute. Their approach is heavy handed for the neighborhood they were given. Think it speaks volumes that they have not even tried to develop anything in or around Broadway.

Their intentions are not good. Not sure how anyone could possibly think that at this point

They believe they are offering rehabilitation. Which no one here thinks is actually happening.