By JOSHUA PHILLIPS
Northeast News
May 22, 2013

With the approval of the Independence Avenue Community Improvement District, the Northeast community can now be a part of the celebration of the CID.

The Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce will host a Celebration of the CID event Friday, June 7, from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. near the corner of Independence Avenue and Prospect. Music, local food trucks, a special event at 6:30 p.m. and art activities for children will take place amongst the celebration of the CID.

“The CID will continue to bring people to the Independence Avenue community,” said Bobbi Baker-Hughes, Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce president. “We all want less crime, the reduction of the perception of crime and we want to market and brand our community. The CID is a proven tool for community development.”

Baker-Hughes said the Historic Northeast part of Kansas City is different compared to other metropolitan cities, like Cleveland,  where people have to drive across the city to experience the different cultural areas that are in their respective “pockets.”

Independence Avenue is “one long pocket that encompasses the world… all right here in the same community,” Baker-Hughes said.

During the June 7 celebration, a DJ will be on site and food will be available for purchase from the Northeast food trucks. As for the 6:30 p.m. special event, a number of people are involved, including representatives from area businesses and Northeast High School students, among others.

Students from the Kansas City Design Center (KCDC) will also give a presentation about their year-long study of Independence Avenue and their vision for the Avenue, which will take place in the former post office building on Independence Avenue. KCDC will also give a presentation in the former post office on June 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“We want to celebrate everybody as a part of the CID and to thank them,” Baker-Hughes said. “We also want to thank councilman Scott Wagner for putting forth the idea of loaning money to the (Northeast Kansas City) Chamber of Commerce to start the CID project.”

After the CID celebration, the work toward improving the community will begin. Baker-Hughes said she wants to see the Independence Avenue community become a regional destination for all to see.