By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
March 30, 2011

For years, citizens have viewed Chouteau Courts with disdain. As one of Kansas City’s oldest public housing sites, it’s considered “physically isolated” and carries a high rate of violent crime. In addition, 44 percent of the neighborhood is in poverty.

However, the perception of Chouteau Courts could soon change.

During a March 24 press conference at the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II announced the Housing Authority of Kansas City (HAKC) received a $250,000 planning grant through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Choice Neighborhoods Initiative. HAKC will use the grant for its “transformation plan” for Chouteau Courts and the Paseo Gateway. The transformation plan aims to provide mixed-income replacement public housing in several areas, walkable city blocks and improved access to schools, employment and other services.

In addition, the plan will build on “neighborhood assets” that include three neighborhood associations, a business association and the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences.

Cleaver also announced that MARC was one of 45 recipients across the U.S. to receive a three-year grant through HUD’s Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program. The $4.25 million grant will be used to increase economic competitiveness by connecting housing with quality jobs and schools and transportation.

“HUD’s Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant awarded to Mid-America Regional Council is an example of a metropolitan planning organization that has developed a regional plan that will integrate affordable housing with vibrant, connected green places,” HUD Deputy Secretary Ron Sims said. “This creative, locally focused plan will help build an economically competitive region while providing all of its citizens an enhanced quality of life.”

Cleaver said the plan will also utilize a 150-square block area in Kansas City’s urban core to create the “greenest piece of urban geography in the world.”

Corridor plans will improve six corridors across the region, which include the State Avenue Corridor (Kansas City, Kan.); Eastern Corridor along U.S. 40 (Kansas City, Mo., Independence and Blue Springs, Mo.); Shawnee Mission Parkway/Metcalf Corridor (Roeland Park, Mission, Overland Park and Shawnee, Kan.); North Oak Trafficway Corridor (North Kansas City, Gladstone and Kansas City, Mo.); Central City Corridor (downtown to south Kansas City, Mo.); Rock Island Rail Corridor (Kansas City, Mo., Raytown, Lee’s Summit and Pleasant Hill, Mo.).

Another focus will be on the Green Impact Zone and selecting four to six demonstration projects to help local communities advance their own sustainable projects.

“This is the beginning of a very important three years in our metropolitan history,” said City of Kansas City Council member and MARC Board of Directors member Jan Marcason. “It will transform the way we do business for generations to come.”

Top: Congressman Emanual Cleaver II joins city officials and area representatives to celebrate two grants received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A press conference was held March 24 at the Mid-America Regional Council to explain how the grants will be used. Above: This sign details one way the $4.25 million HUD grant will be used. Photos by Leslie Collins