Northeast News
April 27, 2016

One day after breaking ground on a $14 million youth baseball partnership with the Kansas City Royals and Major League Baseball, KCMO officials have announced plans for a $27.6 million allocation to further improve the historic 18th and Vine District.

City Manager Troy Schulte, 3rd District at-large Councilman Quinton Lucas, and 3rd District Councilman Jermaine Reed descended upon 18th and Vine on the morning of Thursday, April 21 to announce the public-private renovation project, which will include an outdoor amphitheater as well as upgrades to the Boone Theatre and the American Jazz Museum.

The city’s largest proposed bond-funded improvement is for 18th Street retail and apartment space ($5.65 million), although the public costs could ultimately decrease significantly. Private developers are expected to fund the project’s housing plans. On the 1800 block of Vine, the city has proposed $4.96 million to stabilize the facades of historic buildings and to prepare the block for new infill development. That public cost could decrease, however, as the city has marked that portion of the project as a potential source of designated historic funding grants and tax credits. Additionally, the $1.23 million proposed bond-funded cost for the rehab of the historic Boone Theatre could also be decreased by historic funding grants and tax credits.

The improvement plan expects to compile an additional $12.15 million – or 43.9% of the city’s contribution – in private investment. The private dollars would help cover the approximately $39.8 million price tag for all of the projects proposed during the April 21 press conference.

Three of the proposed projects are at least partially contingent upon private funding: the fully-equipped Outdoor Amphitheater ($7 million in private funding for $7.432 million total project cost); the lobby construction, elevator, stair tower, and renovations for Buck O’Neil Education & Research Center ($4 million in private funding of $8.2 million project cost), and the construction of the KC Friends of Alvin Ailey Headquarters ($1.15 million private funding, $1.83 million proposed bond-funded improvements).

The three-year improvement plan also includes additional retail and restaurant space, construction of a lighted parking lot, and most importantly, a renewed commitment to the link with the city’s burgeoning Crossroads district – which Councilman Quinton Lucas noted was a mere four blocks away from the historic environs of 18th and Vine.

“We’ve got a natural bridge from 19th and Vine to the Crossroads district, and we’ll be doing more to promote the natural synergies of the two districts,” Lucas said.

Councilman Lucas also noted that during the May 6th First Fridays event at Crossroads, there will be simultaneous events occurring at 18th and Vine.

“The Historic 18th and Vine District and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum are the crown jewels of Kansas City, and this project will do much to bring them back to the forefront of Kansas City history,” he said.

Noting the 30% increase in the District’s ask from city coffers to the $27.6 million mark, 3rd District Councilman Jermaine Reed said that the extra amount will accomplish many of the original goals the district set forth upon its founding in 1990.

“We’re looking at this funding to be the nexus of change in the 18th and Vine district,” said Reed. “We must all as a community work together to accomplish this task.”

City Manager Troy Schulte also assuaged concerns that the 18th and Vine District Improvements Plan could infringe upon the planned upgrades to the Kansas City Museum at Corinthian Hall. When asked if the funding for this project would hinder museum projects in the city, specifically the Kansas City Museum, Schulte indicated that the two projects would be complimentary, not competitive.

“There’s enough room in the present Kansas City Museum MIL Levy for upward movement that would allow for increased funds for the Kansas City Museum,” Schulte said. “We don’t see this project being in any way a hindrance.”

Over the next thirty days a number of public meetings will be held to gather community input on the 18th and Vine Improvements Plan. Specifically, there is a Monday, May 9th meeting at the Gregg Klice Community Center with the city’s Plans and Review Committee.