RESOLUTION NO. 250396
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Sponsor: Mayor Quinton Lucas
RESOLUTION - Establishing the Kansas City Vacant Land Activation Initiative to develop coordinated, comprehensive strategies for transforming vacant land of all ownership types into community assets through administrative and legislative approaches.
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WHEREAS, Kansas City faces significant challenges related to vacant and underutilized land, which negatively impacts neighborhood stability, economic development opportunities, and overall quality of life; and
WHEREAS, for purposes of this resolution, "vacant land" means any parcel of property that is either undeveloped or developed but currently unused or significantly underutilized, including unoccupied residential structures, empty commercial buildings, abandoned industrial sites, undeveloped lots, and any other property lacking regular occupation, productive use, or proper maintenance regardless of zoning designation or improvement status; and
WHEREAS, vacant land in Kansas City encompasses diverse categories with each presenting unique challenges in terms of environmental conditions, infrastructure needs, market potential, and neighborhood context, thus necessitating a comprehensive and coordinated approach rather than one-size-fits-all solutions; and
WHEREAS, the City currently estimates over 17,000 vacant parcels across the city, with approximately 3,500 vacant properties owned by the Land Bank and Homesteading Authority, which represents both a challenge and an opportunity for community revitalization; and
WHEREAS, the diverse ownership patterns of vacant properties - including City-owned parcels, Land Bank holdings, properties owned by other governmental entities, and privately held abandoned properties - significantly influences the legal frameworks, administrative processes, and legislative tools available for redevelopment, requiring tailored strategies and interventions specific to each o...
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