Business owner in 18th & Vine District sues Kansas City over dilapidated, blighted buildings » 4State News MO AR KS OK
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A business owner in the 18th & Vine District is suing Kansas City for maintaining a block of blighted, dangerous buildings.At the heart of the Jazz District is nearly a block of dilapidated, crumbling, blighted buildings, which are all owned by Kansas City.”Here is an example where a whole Black community has risen up, started businesses and is trying to help themselves, and the city is holding them back,” said Henry Service, an attorney and business owner.Building after building is run down, boarded up and appears abandoned. The paint is chipping.”They really don’t care about us,” Service said.The roofs have collapsed on some buildings.”This is what the city says is OK to have in our neighborhoods,” Service said.Bricks have fallen down. Sidewalks are boarded up.”Someone could have been seriously injured,” Service said.Several of the buildings are on the city’s own dangerous buildings lists.”They are nuisances because they bring violence and crime,” Service said. He said the city is obligated to fix them up, develop them, or sell them to someone who will.”Why is a city known for jazz that they haven’t yet developed the Jazz District?” Service said.He said he hopes his lawsuit finds answers.”We just want to stay and we just want to keep our properties, and the city shouldn’t push us out by maintaining blight in our area,” Service said.Kansas City has 30 days to respond to the lawsuit.The city told KMBC 9 News that it cannot comment on active litigation, but in a statement said:”It’s clear that the city values the 18th and Vine District and has invested in many improvements.”The city said it is working to bring additional developers, projects and agreements to the district and more information will be available soon.
A business owner in the 18th & Vine District is suing Kansas City for maintaining a block of blighted, dangerous buildings.
At the heart of the Jazz District is nearly a block of dilapidated, crumbling, blighted buildings, which are all owned by Kansas City.
“Here is an example where a whole Black community has risen up, started businesses and is trying to help themselves, and the city is holding them back,” said Henry Service, an attorney and business owner.
Building after building is run down, boarded up and appears abandoned. The paint is chipping.
“They really don’t care about us,” Service said.
The roofs have collapsed on some buildings.
“This is what the city says is OK to have in our neighborhoods,” Service said.
Bricks have fallen down. Sidewalks are boarded up.
“Someone could have been seriously injured,” Service said.
Several of the buildings are on the city’s own dangerous buildings lists.
“They are nuisances because they bring violence and crime,” Service said.
He said the city is obligated to fix them up, develop them, or sell them to someone who will.
“Why is a city known for jazz that they haven’t yet developed the Jazz District?” Service said.
He said he hopes his lawsuit finds answers.
“We just want to stay and we just want to keep our properties, and the city shouldn’t push us out by maintaining blight in our area,” Service said.
Kansas City has 30 days to respond to the lawsuit.
The city told KMBC 9 News that it cannot comment on active litigation, but in a statement said:
“It’s clear that the city values the 18th and Vine District and has invested in many improvements.”
The city said it is working to bring additional developers, projects and agreements to the district and more information will be available soon.
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