Community leaders have put together a plan to resurrect an area of town they say has been ignored and abused for decades.
Northeast Kansas City, in particular Independence Avenue, has been overflowing with challenges for several years.
A new campaign is hoping to turn things around by not only cleaning up ‘The Avenue,’ but also by embracing the unique melting pot in the area.
With the help of the Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and students from Rockhurst University, the embattled area will hopefully soon become the ‘International Marketplace.’
“There are 35,000 people that live in this community that deserve a better quality of life,” said Bobbi Baker-Hughes, who works with the Chamber.
“Our businesses don't create enough dollars to be able to go out and do any mass advertising campaign,” she said.
The campaign has several goals in order to reach their mission of transforming the area. Not only will there be advertising and marketing, but most importantly, cleaning up the area will be a central focus.
Picking up trash, addressing loitering and shoplifting while increasing security and parking are measures that have already been triggered.
"Urban Street Ambassadors" have been picking up trash, while "Avenue Angels" patrol the area and routinely follow up with businesses to address their needs.
There have also been painted murals to cover up some of the blight.
Sharif Leel has had a store on Independence for 16 years. He’s already noticed the difference over the last several weeks.
"The area is clean and security is good,” said Leel.
Abdirihim Hassan owns ‘Safari Café’ next door. He too is embracing the ‘International Marketplace’ concept, hoping it will bring back the foot traffic he once had.
"The exposure of different cultures that you will see in the Northeast is not available elsewhere,” said Hassan.
Both store owners are still reeling from the October fire across the street, Prospect and Independence, that killed two Kansas City firefighters. The fire took out several businesses, and with it, daily foot traffic.
Rambo’s Chicken and Burgers, also located across from the site of the fire, opened just before the tragedy and has lost 50 percent of traffic, according to the Northeast Kansas City Chamber.
Still, with the right long-term plan, several still feel the northeast, including ‘The Avenue’ has untapped potential.
“I think it's a big combination of the safety measures that the teams are already taking ...and then also trying to build the brand and get a lot of people that are adventurous and willing to come see the area and try the great shops and restaurants,” said Rockhurst MBA student Janet Cunningham.
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Josh Helmuth can be reached at josh.helmuth@kshb.com.
