On Saturday, May 21, Community Builders of Kansas City (CBKC), in partnership with the Missouri Black Legislative Caucus, hosted its first ever Urban Bus Tour to showcase its recent developments to stakeholders. About 50 residents, neighborhood and civic leaders including Missouri State Rep. Ashley Bland Manlove and CBKC staff met in the CBKC parking lot at 9:00 a.m. and boarded a KCATA bus for the tour led by Emmet Pierson Jr., president and CEO of CBKC.
“The goal of the tour was to show our stakeholders firsthand the transformation this organization is affecting here in this area,” shared Pierson. “From the first market rate apartments east of The Paseo – ever, to the complete altering of a blighted site into Class A office space, mixed-use and apartments, CBKC is changing the landscape, literally, in Kansas City’s urban core.”
The first stop on the tour was The Rochester, CBKC’s 81,400-square-foot, $12.6 million multi-family development. Pierson pointed out the construction progress and talked about features of the one- and two-bedroom units like stainless steel appliances, solid-surface countertops and in-unit washers and dryers, as well as the complex’s amenities – indoor/outdoor rooftop deck, fitness center, community meeting space and landscaped front and back yard spaces furnished for grilling and gathering around the fire pit.
Next, group members toured KC Sun Fresh on the Boulevard (formerly Blue Parkway Sun Fresh) at 4209 E 50th, the full-service grocery store that CBKC became owner-operator of in June 2020. Pierson shared the improvements the organization has made such as launching online grocery ordering, upgrading and renovating the physical space and improving product offerings including the locally made salsa, cobbler and candy apples that are part of the new HomeGrown program.
Heading back west, KC Parks staff members gave an overview of the new 15 and the Mahomies Playground at Martin Luther King, Jr. Square Park located at Woodland Ave. and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., pointing out the colorful towers, climbing nets, suspended walkway, jumping pods, merry-go-round and a section designed especially for kids ages 2-5.
The next stop on the tour was CBKC’s Offices at Overlook underway at Agnes and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Here Pierson outlined plans for a 64,000-square-foot office building with three stories and private tenant roof terraces. He shared that the building is the first in the 11-acre, $100 million multi-use development that transforms underused and blighted property. The combined Class A office space, mixed-use space and multi-family units with walking trail and outdoor event plazas is another first-of-its-kind in the area.
KC Sun Fresh on Linwood between 31st and Linwood and Prospect that CBKC took over in January was next on the tour. Pierson shared that the acquisition of the 38,000-square-foot grocery store is in keeping with CBKC’s mission to ensure accessibility of nutritious foods including organic and vegan options, competitive pricing, ancillary services and market-rate pay with benefits for employees.
Heading back south, the group’s next stop was CBKC’s Twin Elms at 41st and The Paseo, a senior housing complex that fills an overwhelming need for affordable senior (55+) housing. Pierson informed the group that the 54-unit development was recently awarded funding to undertake a substantial $8.8 million renovation of the exterior and interior that will repair and modernize the 20-year-old property.
Next the tour traveled to 4736 Prospect to see the new location of Emmanuel Family and Child Development Center that provides access to high-quality learning environments for children living in poverty. CBKC sold the land to the center and it opened in the new space in May 2020.
Last on the tour was The Cleveland, the $12.6 million modernization of 80 residential units and the new construction of a community building for resident use, resulting in a full transformation of the property. Renovations will outfit the units with modern appliances and energy-efficient systems, as well as new flooring, bathrooms and kitchens, and the apartments will be priced competitively. The new project will allow residents whose income exceeds 60 percent area median income the opportunity to continue residency.
The three-hour tour concluded where it began, at CBKC’s offices. Overwhelmingly, tour participants gave favorable feedback about the tour and expressed interest in doing it again in the future.
“We’re passionate about our work and it was tremendous to be able to share it with our constituents,” said Pierson. “We truly appreciate that 50 people took three hours out of their weekend to experience our vision with us.”