The Kansas City Star Editorial Board has concerns about gentrification and affordable housing.
The Kansas City Editorial Board is raising the alarm about the changes occurring in the Missouri city, with concerns about an affordable housing crisis exacerbated by ongoing gentrification around the city.
The editorial follows shortly after a feature story written by Bill Turque, which digs deep into ground zero of the changes occurring in Kansas City, the Troost Avenue corridor. Turque writes:
The once-vibrant shopping district at 31st Street is headed for renewal. Home rehabilitation and infill construction that started in Beacon Hill is surging south through the Center City, Squier Park and Manheim Park neighborhoods.
But with its transformation, Troost risks becoming shorthand for another kind of historic failure: The absence of city policies to ensure affordable housing and protect long-time residents from displacement.
With that context, the editorial suggests the city should implement inclusionary zoning, without calling the policy by name. Also suggested: making the upconing mayoral campaign a referendum on the city's housing policies.
"Every candidate must explain in detail how he or she plans to stop the Denverization that’s already happening," according to the editorial. "Otherwise, we’ll have more and more mountain-view prices, Rockies not included."
FULL STORY: Stop the Denverization of Kansas City. Troost doesn’t need to be hipster-friendly
Denver Adopts Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning
The Denver City Council recently adopted the “Expanding Housing Affordability” policy.
Detroit Tax Abatement Will Keep Senior Renters in Upscale Building
The city worked with the owners of an apartment building to maintain lower rents so longtime residents would not be displaced after renovations.
Climate Gentrification in Miami
With the threat of sea level rise, homes on higher ground in Miami are becoming increasingly desirable. But they are located in low-income communities of color, and residents are facing rising housing costs and displacement.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.
Study: London ULEZ Rapidly Cleaning up Air Pollution
Expanding the city’s ultra low-emission zone has resulted in dramatic drops in particle emissions in inner and outer London.
San Jose Mayor Takes Dual Approach to Unsheltered Homeless Population
In a commentary published in The Mercury News, Mayor Matt Mahan describes a shelter and law enforcement approach to ending targeted homeless encampments within Northern California's largest city.
Atlanta Changes Beltline Rail Plan
City officials say they are committed to building rail connections, but are nixing a prior plan to extend the streetcar network.
Are Black Mayors Being Pushed Out of Office?
The mayors of New York, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh all stand to lose their seats in the coming weeks. They also all happen to be Black.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments
City of Edmonds
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research