Business West’s major project for the past several months has been establishing a benefit district in the State Avenue and 78th Street corridor.
Presently Business West members are contacting property owners in the corridor, asking them to sign a petition that would establish a community improvement district, or a cid for short. The three core purposes of such a district would be appearance, security and marketing.
A “clean team” would pick up trash from the right-of-way. Security personnel would complement Community and West Patrol police officers. A marketing committee would plan promotional activities. A one-quarter cent sales tax would finance this effort.
Last month, I attended a public meeting at the Faith Deliverance Family Worship Center, 3034 State Ave. The last time I was in that building– at least 30 years ago– it was a Kroger grocery store.
The Mid-America Regional Council sponsored the meeting. MARC has designated various corridors in the greater Kansas City area as places to promote “sustainable places.” Other such corridors include Metcalf Avenue and Shawnee Mission Parkway in Johnson County and Troost Avenue in Kansas City, Mo.
These corridors are part of a regional transit plan. Part of that plan is the State Avenue Connex program that will provide rapid bus service from downtown Kansas City, Kansas, to Village West in 45 minutes or less.
Such transportation is very important to the retail community. I recall a recent conversation with a major retailer in the corridor who told me that half of his shoppers and one-third of his employees depend on bus transportation. The Connex service will cut the commute time in about half.
All of this activity is aimed toward what planning officials refer to as “sustainable growth.” Frankly, development along State Avenue, particularly in the eastern sector, was not very well planned. Many buildings were built to the edge of the curb, crowded one right after another. That was typical in many areas of this country, particularly during rapid 20th century development.
The advantage of the western area along State is open green space that begs for a detailed master land-use plan– something that would be a priority for the proposed benefit district that would extend from 64th to 94th streets on State Avenue and also include 78th Street from State to Riverview avenues.
In the coming months, landowners and other interested persons will be asked to contribute ideas for a detailed master plan for the corridor. Certain areas should remain green; possibilities include parks and other public recreation areas. Proposed would include buildings that have retail shops on the first floor, offices on the second floor and residential lofts on upper floors.
State Avenue continues to have potential as a retail corridor. Proper planning will assure that the corridor remains viable.
Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press.
He is the executive director of Business West.