For Matt Smith, a homeowner in the Scarritt Renaissance neighborhood, news about a tax abatement program came as a welcome relief. Within months of purchasing his 111-year-old house, Smith’s sewer line collapsed, dumping seven inches of raw sewage into his basement and causing considerable damage.

 “When I heard about the tax abatement program, I was relieved,” said Smith, who chose the historic house over a new condo in downtown Kansas City. “This is now my home and I want to be here in the future.”

Fortunately for Smith and other neighbors, the Kansas City, Missouri City Council in May approved the Scarritt Renaissance

I Urban Renewal Plan that includes a 10-year tax abatement for homeowners who complete up to $5,000 in repairs and improvements and for commercial property owners with up to $10,000 in improvements.   

The Urban Renewal Plan is one of three landmark ordinances takinge ffect this summer in Scarritt Renaissance. Rezoning – or often called “down-zoning” – of 63.5 acres will encourage more conversion of multi-family houses back to single-family homes by changing the zoning code in this targeted area. In addition, Scarritt Point Historic District Expansion II will add 11 houses to the district – all located in the 500 block of Bellefontaine Avenue and all built in the late 1800s.  According to Kathryn Walker, Executive Director of Westside Housing Organization (WHO), the passage of the three ordinances

was a “comprehensive approach – not a shotgun strategy – to    tackling large challenges." The Scarritt Renaissance Neighborhood

Eleven homes to be preserved as single-family      residences along Bellefontaine Avenue.

Association (SRNA) spearheaded a well-orchestrated effort, even assigning board member Will Royster as the neighborhood association’s government liaison to troubleshoot and track progress.         

Working comprehensively is the approach outlined in the NeighborhoodsNOW Quality of Life plan produced by SRNA and WHO. The plan’s five-point strategy includes improving housing and property conditions, public space improvements, decreasing crime, strengthening the commercial corridors, and improving community connections.

The strategies are beginning to pay off. The three ordinances help achieve long-term goals to decrease blight and increase single family home redevelopment by discouraging the division of large, historic houses into multi-family units. “I’m extraordinarily optimistic that these efforts will spur development and interest in our community,” said Michael Bushnell, Scarritt Renaissance Neighborhood Association President.

While the tax abatement addresses property improvements, the rezoning ordinance and historic district expansion will attempt to reduce excessive multi-family housing.  Only 52 percent of the neighborhood’s housing stock is single-family owner occupancy.  To put that into perspective, said Walker, 60 percent is the benchmark for measuring neighborhood stability, and the national average is 70 percent.

In Scarritt Renaissance, approximately 200 properties will be rezoned from allowing multi-family units to a more limited single-family zoning in order to reduce the conversion of existing single-family residents into duplexes and multi-family apartments. “The intent is to discourage further breakup of large houses into multi-family units and hopefully convert houses back to single family once they are up for sale,” said Walker.

Likewise, protecting the integrity of the historic homes along Bellefontaine Avenue is critical. Once threatened by a developer who wanted to subdivide 10 of 11 houses on one block, the 11 Victorian homes which were added to the Scarritt Point Historic District now will be preserved. “These are some of the oldest houses in the neighborhood, built prior to the boulevard system when Independence Road was a dirt road,” said Bushnell. Scarritt Renaissance is working now with a developer interested in restoring the properties, he added.

SRNA is hopeful that signs of progress will soon be visible. For Matt Campbell, the enthusiasm is catching – “I’ve already shared the news about the tax abatement program with the lady across the street,” he said with optimism in his voice.

To download the Scarritt Renaissance neighborhood's Quality of Life plan click here.