December 21, 2011

Congrats to the folks over at Northeast Arts KC for getting the remaining window murals installed last Friday on the abandoned building at 3516 Independence Ave. The new look really dresses up an absentee-slumlord owned property in an area that greatly needs a facelift. The remainder of the artist-created window dressings were installed by city crews last Friday.

The artwork ranges from friendly monsters to Hitchcock to sock monkeys and more. The idea was born out of the public safety committee of Northeast HELP. Committee members grew tired of the number of abandoned buildings in Northeast and were ready to do something about. That something came in the form of what you might call a “temporary art gallery.” The artwork is a collaboration among several entities including local artists, Northeast Arts KC, the city, NE HELP and Northeast Chamber. Kudos to all of them for recognizing a great program when they saw it.

Note to Scarritt Renaissance Neighborhood “leaders”: maybe it’s time you came down from your high-horses and started to embrace the gentrification effort in the heart of your own neighborhood instead of focusing on the glamour projects along the boulevards.

But then again, given current “leadership” there, why would we expect a tiger to change its stripes. With board elections around the corner, there could be real catalyst for positive change in the neighborhood association. Sadly, however, we’re afraid a perpetuation of the status quo will prevail, which is a cryin’ shame for those in Scarritt Renaissance who live in the nether regions (off the Boulevards) of the neighborhood.