Indian Mound resident Michael Adams votes for recommendations using sticker dots during the Sept. 25 Open House.
Photo by Dorri Partain.

Dorri Partain
Managing Editor

With every fire or act of neglect that causes a structure to be demolished for safety, the remaining plot of land may sit vacant for numerous years while awaiting reuse, often becoming as much as an eyesore than the structure which was demolished.

Across the city, the number of vacant lots continues to grow, leading one City Council member to introduce Resolution No. 250396, which passed council vote on May 15, 2025. Sponsored by Third District-at-Large representative Melissa Patterson Hazley and Mayor Quinton Lucas, this resolution establishes the Kansas City Vacant Land Activation Initiative “to develop coordinated, comprehensive strategies for transforming vacant land of all ownership types into community assets through administrative and legislative approaches.”

According to this resolution, the city estimates over 17,000 vacant parcels within city limits, with approximately 3500 owned by Kansas City’s Land Bank and Homesteading Authority departments. Currently, vacant lot issues are addressed through disconnected efforts which results in fragmented approaches and missed opportunities for strategic alignment. By addressing vacant land challenges, targeted attention and innovative approaches can transform these properties from liabilities to community assets.

This map documents the number and location of Kansas City’s
vacant lots, with yellow dots showing lots with buildings.
Photo by Dorri Partain.

Short-Term Deliverables outlined in this resolution were set to be completed in three months following passage to develop an initial inventory assessment categorized by ownership status and recommend priority geographic areas or vacant land categories that align with the City’s strategic goals.

This resolution’s Medium-Term Deliverables is currently creating a strategic implementation plan for ongoing collaboration between City departments concerning vacant land properties and identifying sustainable funding mechanisms to address blight remediation, maintenance and activation for public property and incentive structures for privately-owned property.

A community engagement framework to solicit input from residents has consisted of online surveys and an Open House on Thursday, Sept. 25 at the Gregg-Klice Community Center (1600 E. 17th.Terrace) featuring representatives from city departments and other organizations working to reactivate vacant properties.

During this Open House, participants were handed comment cards to record their ideas and support suggestions garnered through an online survey through the City’s Speakeasy webpage (speakeasy.kcmo.gov). During the first phase, the public was asked for recommendations they would like the City to explore that would resolve vacant land issues. 252 online survey respondents created 147 recommendations that were sorted into seven categories: Code Changes, Incentives, Education/Tools, Process Changes, Disincentives (fines), Staff/Board Changes and Assorted.

Those recommendations were narrowed down to 52 options which either combined or eliminated similar suggestions. During the Open House, participants were invited to select up to 10 options- using colored sticker dots- they felt could be most effective to support vacant land activation.

Additionally, these recommendations may be reviewed and voted on through the Speakeasy web platform. Voting began on Sept. 15 and will continue through Friday, Oct. 24.

Resolution No. 250396 is available for viewing through the City Clerk’s webpage: kcmo.gov/clerk