Black Economic Union of Greater Kansas City

Black Economic Union of Greater Kansas City


Vine Street Place, 20th - 22nd and Brooklyn	The Vine Street Lofts, 22nd and Vine

President & CEO	Chester Thompson
Board Chairman	Roy Fowler
Address	1601 East 18th Street Suite 300 Kansas City, MO 64108
Telephone	816.474.5805
Email Contact	chesterert@beukc.org
Website	www.beukc.org
Date CDC Began	1968
Mission / Vision Statement	Our mission is to enhance the quality of life of African Americans and other minorities by promoting economic, social and physical redevelopment and revitalization of distressed or blighted communities within greater Kansas City.
Neighborhoods Served	BEU's charter establishes metro Kansas City as the primary target area. Currently, BEU is working to implement the Vine Street District Plan which encompasses the area bound by Truman Road, on the north; 23rd Street, on the south; Brooklyn, on the east; and Paseo, on the west. This area primarily encompasses the Wendell Phillips-Washington-Wheatley neighborhoods.
Proudest Achievement	BEU, as Kansas City’s oldest CDC, is responsible for and proud of many “firsts” leading to Kansas City’s urban core redevelopment efforts in the areas of housing and commercial developments including: 635 affordable multi-family units; 320 elderly units; 85 single family homes; 720,902 sf of office, commercial and business development.
Priorities for 2006	Expand community planning/organizing in prime target areas-adding a Community Organizer to staff; initiate homeownership classes and other wealth creation activities; strengthen real estate portfolio management (residential/commercial properties) by establishing strategies/benchmarking systems to improve asset performance; acquire financing on planned key development within the Vine Street District Plan; and strengthen internal operational components.
Programs, Products, Services	Wealth Creation Strategies: New construction single and multi-family for sale Homebuyer education and counseling Homeowner's Association development Community Planning and Organizing: Model Block organizing Public resource identification assistance/advocacy Neighborhood event planning including scheduled seasonal clean-ups Neighborhood-sponsored events Newsletter production Scheduled community round tables Partnership building Comprehensive Neighborhood Revitalization utilizing available city, state and federal as well as private development initiatives: Housing development (sale and market rate) including: single-family homes; multi-family townhomes and lofts; independent and assisted living for senior adults Commercial development Property management