Strong and Accessible Neighborhoods Goal

Create strong and desirable neighborhoods and ensure housing choice and affordability

Kansas City’s vibrant neighborhoods are one of its treasures. Together they form the physical and social framework for the entire city, and the overall success of the city depends on the livability of each one. The importance of strong neighborhoods has been understood since before the city adopted FOCUS, its previous comprehensive plan, which stated, “In order for Kansas City to be the successful New American City, neighborhoods must be livable. Livable neighborhoods connect people physically and socially. They have an identity based on physical character, people, history, or resident involvement. They meet the housing needs and desires of people. And they are healthy in terms of housing conditions, neighborhood cleanliness, and the health of the people who live in them.” FOCUS emphasized that neighborhoods should be accessible, welcoming, affordable to live in, and convenient and safe to navigate.

People want to live in neighborhoods where they can fulfill their everyday needs, such as housing they can afford, education, and reliable transportation. Desirable neighborhoods can attract visitors, too, with entertainment and high-quality workplaces. Neighborhoods should have a unique identity, safe public spaces, an array of parks and other amenities, and opportunities for social interaction. Kansas City’s neighborhoods vary greatly in their density, land uses, culture, and architecture. Yet they all aim to be desirable places for people to live and visit (see also Housing and Neighborhoods Topic).

Historically, however, development patterns have led to economic, social, and other disparities between Kansas City neighborhoods. Therefore, this Goal is closely tied to the Displacement Mitigation, Housing Affordability and Diversity, and Community Development and Revitalization Objectives and aims to ensure the city allocates its resources equitably, especially to neighborhoods with the greatest need.

To help make all neighborhoods in Kansas City desirable places to live, work, and visit, the Playbook makes recommendations in three broad areas. First, the city must provide high-quality infrastructure and services and ensure residents can access those resources to meet their daily needs (see the Community Development and Revitalization, Development Patterns, and Complete Communities Objectives).

Second, the city must take action to preserve the rich diversity of its neighborhoods. That means enhancing the individual character of neighborhoods by preserving historic sites, ensuring development is high-quality, and creating public spaces that can serve everyone (see the Quality Development, Historic Preservation, and Public Spaces Objectives).

Housing is the third area. The city must facilitate a variety of housing choices that are affordable in neighborhoods that are safe and accessible. Tied to that is the aim of eliminating economic distress, especially when it leads to abandonment of neighborhoods (see the Housing Affordability and Diversity, Community Development and Revitalization, and Displacement Mitigation Objectives).


RELATIONSHIP TO VISION STATEMENTS

The Playbook has fifteen Vision statements for Kansas City. The Playbook’s Vision describes what we want to be and outlines how we want our city to develop in the future, in line with community values and priorities. Those that are closely related to the Strong and Accessible Neighborhoods Goal are highlighted in grey below:

Affordable Community: We will create and nurture an affordable community and strive for abundant opportunity and employment at a livable wage for our residents.
A strong, accessible neighborhood has a variety of affordable housing, access to high-speed internet and access to transportation that links people with jobs and other economic opportunities.
Cultural Amenities: Our diverse cultural amenities, parks, and open spaces will provide a rich variety of experiences and vibrant environments.
These amenities enhance the quality of life for residents, provide opportunities for social interaction and community building, and contribute to a neighborhood’s overall strength.
Desirable Place: Our community will attract people and employers through being a desirable place to earn, learn, live, and thrive.
Strong and accessible neighborhoods will attract employers and new residents to the city.
Equitable and Fiscally Sustainable: Our capital investments and growth will be equitable while maintaining the fiscal sustainability of the city.
Equitable and fiscally sustainable growth helps ensure the city has the resources it needs to provide high-quality maintenance and services to support strong neighborhoods and encourage reinvestment in distressed areas. The city must invest in infrastructure and community services that promote development in underserved areas. Those investments also should encourage sustainable development practices, so all Kansas Citians can benefit equally from capital investments, which will encourage sustained fiscal growth.
Healthy Environmental Systems: We will promote and value the health of our environmental and natural systems and protect them from degradation.
To thrive, neighborhoods require a heathy and clean environment, protected from potential hazards due to climate change.
History and Heritage: We will preserve places that celebrate all facets of Kansas City’s history and cultural heritage.
Kansas City’s neighborhoods each have a distinct character, shaped by the area’s historical and cultural influences. Architectural styles, landmarks, and community events reflect the neighborhood’s unique history and cultural heritage, and connecting with this heritage builds a sense of community. By preserving historic and cultural resources, which will attract tourists, businesses, and new residents, the city can boost neighborhoods’ economic vitality.
Innovation and Creativity: We will cultivate innovation and creativity in our governance, business, and educational practices related to smart city technology and physical development.
Smart city infrastructure and data can help the city more efficiently deliver high-quality maintenance and services to sustain strong neighborhoods.
KC Uniqueness: We will preserve and enhance those things that make Kansas City unique – the small town feel with big city amenities and the wide range of diverse environments and neighborhoods.
To maintain the vitality, economic strength, and unique identities of its neighborhoods, Kansas City must support local businesses, cultural events, and the diverse communities that define each neighborhood. Encouraging residents to get involved in community planning, preservation, and cultural events builds a small-town character that’s part of Kansas City’s identity.
Livable Neighborhoods and Diverse Housing: Our neighborhoods will be strong, livable, and authentic while ensuring diverse housing opportunities.
Strong and accessible neighborhoods provide a high quality of life and uphold a sense of community while ensuring residents with various income levels have affordable choices for housing.
Mobility Options: Our well-connected and accessible neighborhoods and districts will be walkable and served by reliable, safe, and convenient mobility options.
Safe and convenient mobility options help create accessible neighborhoods by providing residents with easy and reliable access to jobs, schools, food, healthcare, and other resources. This can improve overall quality of life and promote social cohesion. Public transit and other well-designed transportation options will reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, which can benefit public health and the environment.
Physical Beauty: Our city will be renowned for the physical beauty of its streets, buildings, public spaces, and infrastructure.
A well-designed built environment can improve the overall aesthetic of a neighborhood, making it more attractive to residents, businesses, and visitors. This can lead to improved economic vitality and development, community pride, social cohesion, and public safety.
Regional Collaboration: Our city will continue to be the heart of the region. We will remain collaborative with our regional partners with a renewed focus on building partnerships to achieve the aspirations of this plan.
Many of the initiatives that support strong neighborhoods require regional collaboration. For example, regional collaboration is needed to tackle large-scale aims such as combating climate change and making major transportation improvements, both of which impact neighborhood livability.
Sustainable Growth and Resilient City: Our community will grow in a sustainable manner and be resilient and adaptable to future changes.
A resilient city will be ready to protect neighborhoods against the jolts future changes may bring, in climate change, the economy, and other areas.
Thriving Economy: Our economy will be resilient, inclusive, diverse, and thriving and will position our city competitively against our national peers.
Thriving neighborhoods support a thriving economy. Strong neighborhoods attract the workforce local employers need and support area businesses.
Walkable, Clean, and Safe: Our community will promote the health of our residents and visitors through being walkable, clean, and safe.
In a clean, safe, and walkable community, residents spend time outside. They interact with each other and can walk or bike to local stores, parks, and schools, which benefits their health. These behaviors reinforce a sense of community, which is a building block for strong and accessible neighborhoods.


RELATIONSHIP TO EQUITY STATEMENTS

The Playbook also has a series of statements focused on equity. Those that are directly related to the Strong and Accessible Neighborhoods Goal are highlighted in grey below:

Addressing Disinvestment: Direct investment to communities that have been abandoned or have experienced long-term disinvestment.
Citywide Accessibility: Ensure services, utilities, and transportation options are provided to everyone.
Community Collaboration: Empower people from different parts of the KC community in working together to solve problems.
Community Engagement: Empower people to shape their communities and recognize that communities value things differently.
Complete Communities: Ensure that people can meet their needs in their own neighborhood without having to travel long distances.
Housing Affordability: Ensure everyone has access to safe and affordable housing.
Inclusive Design: Ensure that development incorporates design features that consider people of all abilities.
Providing Services: Commit to taking care of the built environment and providing the same quality of maintenance and services citywide.
Welcoming Spaces: Ensure that public spaces and amenities are designed to support diverse, culturally authentic, and family-friendly activities, no matter how much money a person is able to spend.


RELATIONSHIP TO BIG IDEAS

The Playbook identifies five Big Ideas for Kansas City. The Big Ideas are the essential themes of the plan. They underpin all that the plan aims to do. Those directly related to the Strong and Accessible Neighborhoods Goal are highlighted in grey below:

Fostering neighborhoods that accommodate all ages, lifestyles, and incomes by diversifying and densifying housing choices and creating complete communities that facilitate a high quality-of-life
Strong and accessible neighborhoods nurture inclusive communities through equitable access to amenities, housing, and transportation options, creating a sense of belonging for people of all ages, lifestyles, and incomes.
Creating a physically beautiful city by promoting high-quality design in public spaces, parks, private development, and capital improvements
A focus on high-quality urban design, architecture, landscape, and public art fosters community pride and investment, and neighborhoods are enhanced as a result.
Respecting land as a limited resource by balancing outward growth with infill development, preserving natural resources, and developing in an equitable and sustainable manner
Equitable and fiscally sustainable development directs investment to distressed areas where it’s needed and helps ensure the city can provide high-quality maintenance and services into the future. The result will be neighborhoods citywide that are attractive to people of all ages.
Maximizing connections and mobility options by bridging or eliminating barriers and creating creating new physical connections and a robust multimodal transportation system
Accessible and affordable multimodal transportation options that bring people where they want to go is needed for livable, economically vibrant, equitable neighborhoods.
Creating a future-proofed city by better anticipating and reacting to new technologies and evolving conditions
The continued desirability and livability of Kansas City neighborhoods is dependent on preparing the city for future changes in the economy, in the technology that drives the city, and in regional climate and weather patterns.


RELATIONSHIP TO TOPICS

The Playbook is also structured around five Topics that organize the plan’s recommendations around specific subjects. Those topics directly related to the Strong and Accessible Neighborhoods Goal are highlighted in grey below:






RELATIONSHIP TO OBJECTIVES

The Playbook identifies twenty-one Objectives for Kansas City. The Objectives are the nuts and bolts of the Playbook. Each one contains detailed recommendations, strategies, and initiatives for a specific topic, framed by the overall direction the plan sets for that topic. The Objectives also set priorities and metrics for their implementation and provide supporting context, including relevant data and public input. A single Objective often supports multiple Goals and Topics.

Objectives primarily related to the Strong and Accessible Neighborhoods Goal:


Objectives secondarily related to the Strong and Accessible Neighborhoods Goal:



Create strong and desirable neighborhoods and ensure housing choice and affordability

Kansas City’s vibrant neighborhoods are one of its treasures. Together they form the physical and social framework for the entire city, and the overall success of the city depends on the livability of each one. The importance of strong neighborhoods has been understood since before the city adopted FOCUS, its previous comprehensive plan, which stated, “In order for Kansas City to be the successful New American City, neighborhoods must be livable. Livable neighborhoods connect people physically and socially. They have an identity based on physical character, people, history, or resident involvement. They meet the housing needs and desires of people. And they are healthy in terms of housing conditions, neighborhood cleanliness, and the health of the people who live in them.” FOCUS emphasized that neighborhoods should be accessible, welcoming, affordable to live in, and convenient and safe to navigate.

People want to live in neighborhoods where they can fulfill their everyday needs, such as housing they can afford, education, and reliable transportation. Desirable neighborhoods can attract visitors, too, with entertainment and high-quality workplaces. Neighborhoods should have a unique identity, safe public spaces, an array of parks and other amenities, and opportunities for social interaction. Kansas City’s neighborhoods vary greatly in their density, land uses, culture, and architecture. Yet they all aim to be desirable places for people to live and visit (see also Housing and Neighborhoods Topic).

Historically, however, development patterns have led to economic, social, and other disparities between Kansas City neighborhoods. Therefore, this Goal is closely tied to the Displacement Mitigation, Housing Affordability and Diversity, and Community Development and Revitalization Objectives and aims to ensure the city allocates its resources equitably, especially to neighborhoods with the greatest need.

To help make all neighborhoods in Kansas City desirable places to live, work, and visit, the Playbook makes recommendations in three broad areas. First, the city must provide high-quality infrastructure and services and ensure residents can access those resources to meet their daily needs (see the Community Development and Revitalization, Development Patterns, and Complete Communities Objectives).

Second, the city must take action to preserve the rich diversity of its neighborhoods. That means enhancing the individual character of neighborhoods by preserving historic sites, ensuring development is high-quality, and creating public spaces that can serve everyone (see the Quality Development, Historic Preservation, and Public Spaces Objectives).

Housing is the third area. The city must facilitate a variety of housing choices that are affordable in neighborhoods that are safe and accessible. Tied to that is the aim of eliminating economic distress, especially when it leads to abandonment of neighborhoods (see the Housing Affordability and Diversity, Community Development and Revitalization, and Displacement Mitigation Objectives).


RELATIONSHIP TO VISION STATEMENTS

The Playbook has fifteen Vision statements for Kansas City. The Playbook’s Vision describes what we want to be and outlines how we want our city to develop in the future, in line with community values and priorities. Those that are closely related to the Strong and Accessible Neighborhoods Goal are highlighted in grey below:

Affordable Community: We will create and nurture an affordable community and strive for abundant opportunity and employment at a livable wage for our residents.
A strong, accessible neighborhood has a variety of affordable housing, access to high-speed internet and access to transportation that links people with jobs and other economic opportunities.
Cultural Amenities: Our diverse cultural amenities, parks, and open spaces will provide a rich variety of experiences and vibrant environments.
These amenities enhance the quality of life for residents, provide opportunities for social interaction and community building, and contribute to a neighborhood’s overall strength.
Desirable Place: Our community will attract people and employers through being a desirable place to earn, learn, live, and thrive.
Strong and accessible neighborhoods will attract employers and new residents to the city.
Equitable and Fiscally Sustainable: Our capital investments and growth will be equitable while maintaining the fiscal sustainability of the city.
Equitable and fiscally sustainable growth helps ensure the city has the resources it needs to provide high-quality maintenance and services to support strong neighborhoods and encourage reinvestment in distressed areas. The city must invest in infrastructure and community services that promote development in underserved areas. Those investments also should encourage sustainable development practices, so all Kansas Citians can benefit equally from capital investments, which will encourage sustained fiscal growth.
Healthy Environmental Systems: We will promote and value the health of our environmental and natural systems and protect them from degradation.
To thrive, neighborhoods require a heathy and clean environment, protected from potential hazards due to climate change.
History and Heritage: We will preserve places that celebrate all facets of Kansas City’s history and cultural heritage.
Kansas City’s neighborhoods each have a distinct character, shaped by the area’s historical and cultural influences. Architectural styles, landmarks, and community events reflect the neighborhood’s unique history and cultural heritage, and connecting with this heritage builds a sense of community. By preserving historic and cultural resources, which will attract tourists, businesses, and new residents, the city can boost neighborhoods’ economic vitality.
Innovation and Creativity: We will cultivate innovation and creativity in our governance, business, and educational practices related to smart city technology and physical development.
Smart city infrastructure and data can help the city more efficiently deliver high-quality maintenance and services to sustain strong neighborhoods.
KC Uniqueness: We will preserve and enhance those things that make Kansas City unique – the small town feel with big city amenities and the wide range of diverse environments and neighborhoods.
To maintain the vitality, economic strength, and unique identities of its neighborhoods, Kansas City must support local businesses, cultural events, and the diverse communities that define each neighborhood. Encouraging residents to get involved in community planning, preservation, and cultural events builds a small-town character that’s part of Kansas City’s identity.
Livable Neighborhoods and Diverse Housing: Our neighborhoods will be strong, livable, and authentic while ensuring diverse housing opportunities.
Strong and accessible neighborhoods provide a high quality of life and uphold a sense of community while ensuring residents with various income levels have affordable choices for housing.
Mobility Options: Our well-connected and accessible neighborhoods and districts will be walkable and served by reliable, safe, and convenient mobility options.
Safe and convenient mobility options help create accessible neighborhoods by providing residents with easy and reliable access to jobs, schools, food, healthcare, and other resources. This can improve overall quality of life and promote social cohesion. Public transit and other well-designed transportation options will reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, which can benefit public health and the environment.
Physical Beauty: Our city will be renowned for the physical beauty of its streets, buildings, public spaces, and infrastructure.
A well-designed built environment can improve the overall aesthetic of a neighborhood, making it more attractive to residents, businesses, and visitors. This can lead to improved economic vitality and development, community pride, social cohesion, and public safety.
Regional Collaboration: Our city will continue to be the heart of the region. We will remain collaborative with our regional partners with a renewed focus on building partnerships to achieve the aspirations of this plan.
Many of the initiatives that support strong neighborhoods require regional collaboration. For example, regional collaboration is needed to tackle large-scale aims such as combating climate change and making major transportation improvements, both of which impact neighborhood livability.
Sustainable Growth and Resilient City: Our community will grow in a sustainable manner and be resilient and adaptable to future changes.
A resilient city will be ready to protect neighborhoods against the jolts future changes may bring, in climate change, the economy, and other areas.
Thriving Economy: Our economy will be resilient, inclusive, diverse, and thriving and will position our city competitively against our national peers.
Thriving neighborhoods support a thriving economy. Strong neighborhoods attract the workforce local employers need and support area businesses.
Walkable, Clean, and Safe: Our community will promote the health of our residents and visitors through being walkable, clean, and safe.
In a clean, safe, and walkable community, residents spend time outside. They interact with each other and can walk or bike to local stores, parks, and schools, which benefits their health. These behaviors reinforce a sense of community, which is a building block for strong and accessible neighborhoods.


RELATIONSHIP TO EQUITY STATEMENTS

The Playbook also has a series of statements focused on equity. Those that are directly related to the Strong and Accessible Neighborhoods Goal are highlighted in grey below:

Addressing Disinvestment: Direct investment to communities that have been abandoned or have experienced long-term disinvestment.
Citywide Accessibility: Ensure services, utilities, and transportation options are provided to everyone.
Community Collaboration: Empower people from different parts of the KC community in working together to solve problems.
Community Engagement: Empower people to shape their communities and recognize that communities value things differently.
Complete Communities: Ensure that people can meet their needs in their own neighborhood without having to travel long distances.
Housing Affordability: Ensure everyone has access to safe and affordable housing.
Inclusive Design: Ensure that development incorporates design features that consider people of all abilities.
Providing Services: Commit to taking care of the built environment and providing the same quality of maintenance and services citywide.
Welcoming Spaces: Ensure that public spaces and amenities are designed to support diverse, culturally authentic, and family-friendly activities, no matter how much money a person is able to spend.


RELATIONSHIP TO BIG IDEAS

The Playbook identifies five Big Ideas for Kansas City. The Big Ideas are the essential themes of the plan. They underpin all that the plan aims to do. Those directly related to the Strong and Accessible Neighborhoods Goal are highlighted in grey below:

Fostering neighborhoods that accommodate all ages, lifestyles, and incomes by diversifying and densifying housing choices and creating complete communities that facilitate a high quality-of-life
Strong and accessible neighborhoods nurture inclusive communities through equitable access to amenities, housing, and transportation options, creating a sense of belonging for people of all ages, lifestyles, and incomes.
Creating a physically beautiful city by promoting high-quality design in public spaces, parks, private development, and capital improvements
A focus on high-quality urban design, architecture, landscape, and public art fosters community pride and investment, and neighborhoods are enhanced as a result.
Respecting land as a limited resource by balancing outward growth with infill development, preserving natural resources, and developing in an equitable and sustainable manner
Equitable and fiscally sustainable development directs investment to distressed areas where it’s needed and helps ensure the city can provide high-quality maintenance and services into the future. The result will be neighborhoods citywide that are attractive to people of all ages.
Maximizing connections and mobility options by bridging or eliminating barriers and creating creating new physical connections and a robust multimodal transportation system
Accessible and affordable multimodal transportation options that bring people where they want to go is needed for livable, economically vibrant, equitable neighborhoods.
Creating a future-proofed city by better anticipating and reacting to new technologies and evolving conditions
The continued desirability and livability of Kansas City neighborhoods is dependent on preparing the city for future changes in the economy, in the technology that drives the city, and in regional climate and weather patterns.


RELATIONSHIP TO TOPICS

The Playbook is also structured around five Topics that organize the plan’s recommendations around specific subjects. Those topics directly related to the Strong and Accessible Neighborhoods Goal are highlighted in grey below:






RELATIONSHIP TO OBJECTIVES

The Playbook identifies twenty-one Objectives for Kansas City. The Objectives are the nuts and bolts of the Playbook. Each one contains detailed recommendations, strategies, and initiatives for a specific topic, framed by the overall direction the plan sets for that topic. The Objectives also set priorities and metrics for their implementation and provide supporting context, including relevant data and public input. A single Objective often supports multiple Goals and Topics.

Objectives primarily related to the Strong and Accessible Neighborhoods Goal:


Objectives secondarily related to the Strong and Accessible Neighborhoods Goal:



Page last updated: 14 Apr 2023, 07:00 AM