Northeast News
September 20, 2011

A new Northeast Kansas City public art installation aimed at tackling neighborhood blight will be unveiled at 9 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 3512 Independence Ave.

The project is a collaboration of the City of Kansas City, the Northeast Chamber of Commerce, the Northeast Health, Education, Labor and Public Safety (HELP) Public Safety Committee and Northeast Arts KC. Community members came together to beautify one eyesore building on Northeast thoroughfare Independence Avenue. Boards covering windows of the vacant apartment building were removed, painted with murals by various artists and will be returned to the building tomorrow.

“This project not only beautifies one blighted property in our community,” said Leslie Caplan, chairwoman of the HELP Public Safety Committee, “but also is evidence of the community movement undertaken in Northeast Kansas City to improve our neighborhood.”

Interviews will be available Wednesday morning with Caplan, as well as Northeast Chamber, City of Kansas City and Northeast Arts KC representatives. Parking is available along public streets near 3512 Independence Ave., including on Independence, Askew and Bales avenues.