As I See It By Julie Porter, Executive Director, Greater Kansas City LISC As published in the Kansas City Star, March 28, 2007 - With the call to refocus attention on neighborhoods, an important accomplishment on behalf of neighborhood revitalization hasn’t received the attention it deserves. Last month, the Kansas City Missouri City Council passed a new housing ordinance that will improve the management and oversight of public resources for our neighborhoods.
To better understand the significance of this unanimous vote of support by the City Council, a little history is in order. In March 2006, a city audit called for the establishment of a new housing policy that would be the foundation of a better system for reviewing the activities and measuring the impact of the City’s housing program. Each year, the City oversees the distribution of millions of dollars in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to housing rehab and development projects. Recent scrutiny uncovered the need for revamping the way the City distributes funds and monitors activities.
The new ordinance is the positive outcome of the audit and the subsequent report by a community advisory group charged with researching and developing recommendations for improvements. It provides a clear direction for the future and will create greater accountability.
For the first time, the policies mirror industry standards in housing and urban development to help stabilize and strengthen neighborhoods. To maximize limited funding, the ordinance recommends targeting resources and leveraging with other partners. In addition, the City’s Development Department will assist residents in developing neighborhood plans; a competitive process will be used to ensure affordability and efficient use of funds; and a new citizen advisory committee appointed by the mayor will give guidance and input.
Most importantly, this ordinance is the product of nine months of study and work by a group of Kansas Citians, many of whom live and work in the urban core. The City Council carefully considered their input and took their recommendations to heart. City Council member Deb Hermann, Chair of the Neighborhood Development and Housing Committee, and the Housing Policy and Oversight Committee should be commended.
So, what’s next? It’s a potentially exciting time for neighborhoods. Now that downtown is coming back, it would be a logical step to build up surrounding urban core neighborhoods – for this is where the downtown employment base lives.
Struggling areas need more attention and support. The hope is that the next mayor and new City Council will embrace this ordinance and follow through on its policies. Years from now, we hope to look back and see this time as a turning point in the revitalization of Kansas City’s urban core.
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