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JOIN THE BROWNFIELD COMMUNITIES NETWORK Free Membership Join Today!
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Member Profile: From Gas Station to Open Space
Location:
Kansas City, MO
Area of Focus:
Brownfields
Local Contact
For more information, contact Andrew Bracker in Kansas City at 816.513.3002 or andrew_bracker@kcmo.org; State of Missouri's Ken Koon at 573.751.6822 or ken.koon@dnr.mo.gov; or Carol Eighmy at the Missouri Petroleum Storage Insurance Tank Fund at 573.522.2352 or visit www.dnr.state.mo.us/deq/hpw/tanks.htm.
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In Kansas City, a former gas station at 2600 E. 28th Street is being transformed into open space that honors the history of the surrounding neighborhood and salutes Satchel Paige, one of the best pitchers in professional baseball history. Paige also was a star of the Negro Leagues, which were born not far from the site in the historic 18th & Vine Jazz District. The quarter-acre site is being redeveloped for interim use through the use of city, state, and federal grant money, as well as community participation to reflect the history of this Kansas City neighborhood.
Discussions regarding the redevelopment of the site began in 1999, when the City's Brownfields Office was approached by a city council member and the community. The site was acquired by the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of Kansas City from the previous owner who wanted to re open the gas station with modern tanks and a renovated convenience store. However, the community strongly opposed the reopening of the gas station because of possible loitering and illegal activities. The community members also had unanswered questions about the financial viability of a station at the site. The State of Missouri was not comfortable opening another station without community support. The City began negotiations with the site owner and was later able to acquire the property. Tanks at this site were removed using USTfield pilot grant funds. Grant funds also contributed to some cleanup costs, but City funds enabled more cleanup activity at the site. The structures on the property were demolished using City funds.
The community was involved in planning the interim use at this site and wanted a space that would reflect the history of the neighborhood. The site will become an open space with a play area that honors Satchel Paige. The landscaping will resemble a baseball diamond and the design concept includes a statue of Paige. Since this is the site's interim use, many elements, including planters and a mural, are being designed so that they may be moved to another site, making full use of limited local funds. The space also will include a children's play area.
Kansas City is using capital improvement funds to make the park a reality and has reserved a portion of project funds to maintain the space. The final use for this site is now being planned by the community and will include a multi-family residential or mixed use development.
Updated Date: 11/07/2006
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