By Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
April 1, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — A Northeast college is expanding, not just in the area, but throughout Missouri.

Last Thursday, during the Investiture ceremony, Dr. Marc B. Hahn, the fourteenth president of Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, announced the school has purchased the Capri Motel, 1437 E. Independence Ave. The building sits across the street from the Northeast campus. Hahn said closure of the purchase should be finished by the end of first week of April.

About two years ago, the college began to develop a Campus Master Plan, which includes roughly $75 million invested in capital renovations and expansions. As they looked to developed the campus, they looked at ways to properly impact the neighborhood, as well. Working together, as well as independently with city officials to improve the Paseo Gateway and the Northeast neighborhood, Hahn said they saw an opportunity to expand that couldn’t be passed.

“Once we close [on the hotel], we plan to move quickly,” Hahn said. “By the end of spring, we’d like to be able to demolish the facility. Then we plan to create a green space.”

Hahn believes they’ll be able to help the neighborhood, by creating a green space. As the university grows, he said there might be more opportunity to grow, but at the moment, they will focus on creating a green space.

Bobbi Baker-Hughes, CEO of the Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber and Independence Avenue Community Improvement District are excited about this new development for the Paseo Gateway.

“We look forward to ongoing development of the [Paseo] Gateway into the Independence Avenue Corridor,” Baker-Hughes said.

Jessica Ray, president of the Pendleton Heights Neighborhood Association, added they’re delighted KCUMB continues to invest and strengthen the areas around their neighborhood.

“They’ve been a true partner for us and we’re excited to see that such a proven steward has acquired the property,” Ray said.

Joplin Campus

Along with the acquisition, the university also announced plans to develop an additional medical school campus in Joplin, Mo. The campus is scheduled to open in 2017 with 150 additional students in the doctor of osteopathic medicine program. In a prepared statement, Hahn said the expansion allows the university an opportunity to help address the rural health care needs for Missouri and the region.

The KCU College of Osteopathic Medicine Joplin campus will be the first new medical school location to open in Missouri in 44 years. Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said in a statement the investment by KCU will further strengthen Joplin’s two major hospitals and bolster the city’s position as a hub for health services and innovation for the four-state region.

“I applaud KCU for making this forward-looking investment and congratulate Joplin on achieving another significant milestone that will improve the region’s health and economy for years to come,” Nixon said.

According to the release, the development of the KCU College of Osteopathic Medicine Joplin campus will be a collaborative effort involving Mercy Hospital Joplin, Freeman Health System, the city of Joplin and philanthropic leadership from the surrounding community. Mercy plans to donate the property and because it is a Catholic hospital, it is awaiting final approval of the donation from the Vatican. The site served as Mercy’s temporary hospital since 2012. The 150,000-square-foot facility was constructed by Mercy at a cost of $100 million, will enable KCU and its partners to move quickly in establishing the campus.

Hahn noted the university has had discussions with the city of Joplin since before he became president. With an established connection to the area — many third and fourth year students accept residency positions in Joplin — he again reached out to the city once he became president. Hahn believes the Vatican should approve the gifting by the end of summer.

“I think the students are very excited,” Hahn said. “Any growth we plan off of this campus was not going to be at the expense of the programs or the students on this campus. That’s why it was important for us to make sure we had a significant pledge of resources so the investment wouldn’t drain the programs we already have.”

Home

In 2016, Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences celebrates its centennial and the school has been in the community since its foundation. Over the last hundred years, they’ve grown to become the 10th largest medical school in the United States, and are the second leading producer of physicians for the state of Missouri and Kansas — behind Missouri University and Kansas University.

“This is our home and it will always be out home,” Hahn said.