Elizabeth Orosco
Northeast News

Pendleton Arts Block, an art-focused community, is officially open in the historic Pendleton Heights neighborhood.

On the corner of Independence Avenue and Olive, the space offers 38 mixed-income units including 6 studios, 21 one-bedroom units, and 11 two-bedroom units.

The sustainable, mid-rise building offers amenities such as entrepreneurial arts workshop space, fitness center, community space, rooftop deck, in-unit washers and dryers, leasing office, bike storage, micro-retail bays, and enrichment housing services by the Mattie Rhodes Center.

The development is a product of a partnership between Brinshore Development, the Housing Authority of Kansas City, Missouri, the City of Kansas City, Missouri, United Way of Greater Kansas City and Local Initiatives Support Corporation.

On the first floor, the space offers a Start Up residency program for resident artists in partnership with the Charlotte Street Foundation.

The residency program offers 12 months of rent-free storefront space and mentoring, networking, and cross-marketing opportunities with Charlotte Street Foundation.

The program aims to foster the development of innovative startups such as artist-run collaboratives, businesses, or organizations.

Current Start Up residents include Stray Cat Film Center, an artist-run nonprofit media arts organization and microcinema space; Blackbox on Troost, an organization driven by artists and community leaders from the Troost Corridor whos community theater performances, learning workshops, and cross-disciplinary media collaborations; African American Artists Collective, an organization that aims to provide educational opportunities and insights to ensure a better future for African American artists; and the Kansas City Public Theater, who provides access to the arts through year-round theater entertainment free of charge to the public.

Amy Kligman, executive/artistic director of the Charlotte Street Foundation said these organizations were selected by neighbors and individuals from the Northeast.

“We had an amazing group of jurors who helped select these artists and we are excited to see what they do here in this space.”

Melissa Robinson, Third District councilwoman who served on the Public Improvement Advisory Committee (PIAC) for four years, said she is proud of the work that has gone into this project.

“In these 120 days, I have really come to know the inner workings of the third district and how strong the people are and how powerful the neighborhood leaders are,” she said. “This is just a testament to a growing economy in the third district because we know that economic stability is a critical factor if we are going to move the heart of the city forward, so this development really epitomizes what we need to see happening.”

Bruce Ladd, deputy regional administrator for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) said thinking about what was on the site two years ago, an underutilized gas station, makes him excited to be part of this new development.

“We all know that stable housing is an important step as we build a healthy neighborhood and we believe that Pendleton Arts Block not only combines high quality, affordable housing, but also work space for artists to be an integral part of economic development. It’s truly been a citywide effort.”

Whitney Barnardo, Pendleton Heights Neighborhood Association president addressed artists and their need for affordable housing.

“We feel like this is just an extension of realizing what the greater Historic Northeast wants, and that is to attract and welcome artists into our neighborhood and say ‘You have a home here forever.’ We hear the artists, we see you, and we hear of your struggles of affordable housing and quality work spaces and we are desperately working as a collective neighborhood to make this a destination for artists.”

Troy Schulte, who was on his first official day of retirement as city manager on the day of the grand opening, said he has enjoyed watching the evolution of the neighborhood take place.

“It’s been fun to watch the evolution take place in this neighborhood along with all the other stuff that was organically happening because of great leadership in Pendleton Heights. It’s been fun to watch the change. Every deal we were able to make as a city was backed up by a great mayor and a great city council who stood behind those deals and said this was right for the community. What this has done for the vibrancy of this neighborhood is just the first step of many.”

For more information on Pendleton Arts Block, visit www.pendletonartsblock.com.