How Kansas City neighborhoods are changing with new housing

Kansas City’s next chapter is taking shape through a series of bold projects and policies that aim to transform its urban and cultural landscape.

The city’s Housing Accelerator program, focused first in the Washington Wheatley neighborhood, targets vacant lots for affordable, owner-occupied homes by streamlining red tape and offering land at steep discounts.

Meanwhile, the Berkley Riverfront is booming with new apartments, entertainment venues and expanded access driven by recent developments near the KC Current stadium, turning a once-neglected area into a thriving community. On the east side, Parade Park Homes is set for major redevelopment with hundreds of new affordable housing units, and plans are underway to revive the historic Boone Theater, anchoring a renewed 18th and Vine jazz and cultural corridor.

Policies like a proposed vacant land tax and comprehensive plans such as ProspectUS show that Kansas City is not just building new structures but rethinking how its neighborhoods grow and connect for the coming decades.

A rendering depicts a 12-story residential tower and adjoining low-rise that developers want to build at Fourth Street and Minnesota Avenue in downtown Kansas City, Kansas.

NO. 1: DEVELOPER’S PLAN WOULD TURN DOWNTOWN KCK PARKING LOT INTO 12-STORY APARTMENT TOWER

A developer wants to build a 12-story tower and adjoining low rises with ‘unparalleled’ river views, adding nearly 500 apartments at Fourth Street and Minnesota Avenue. | Published April 25, 2024 | Read Full Story by Bill Lukitsch

The Union Berkley Riverfront apartments are on the right. To the left are the new sand volleyball courts. That torn earth between them is where the streetcar tracks will go. By Tammy Ljungblad

NO. 2: KC’S RIVERFRONT USED TO BE A DUMPING GROUND. NOW, IT’S GETTING A MASSIVE MAKEOVER

Some 72 years after Kansas City bought riverfront land, the area is in the midst of a full-on renaissance. How did we get here? | Published May 19, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mike Hendricks

A company formed by three of Jackson County Executive Frank White’s stepsons with the help of his wife, Teresa White, was granted an option in 2018 to buy three-dozen vacant Land Bank lots in the Washington Wheatley neighborhood . By Tammy Ljungblad

NO. 3: HOUSE BY HOUSE, A KANSAS CITY NEIGHBORHOOD BEGAN TO DISAPPEAR. CAN IT BE REBUILT?

A new pilot program is aimed at encouraging developers to build much-needed housing on city-owned vacant lots on Kansas City’s East Side. | Published June 25, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mike Hendricks

Chelsee Chism, Economic Development Director for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas.

NO. 4: KEY HIRE CASTS BROAD VISION TO BOOST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN KCK, WYANDOTTE COUNTY

After a two-year vacancy, the Unified Government announced the crucial position has been filled at a crucial time for the county. | Published October 14, 2024 | Read Full Story by Bill Lukitsch

Inside Boone Theater at 1701 E. 18th St., seen on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Kansas City.

NO. 5: ‘LET’S GO TO THE BOONE’: $8.7M REVIVAL OF 18TH AND VINE THEATER RESUMES AFTER LONG DELAY

Four Kansas City natives are close to seeing their revitilization plan for Boone Theater come to fruition. | Published October 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by PJ Green

A proposed redevelopment of the former Indian Springs Mall site in Kansas City, Kansas, would include a mix of housing, retail, hotel space and other amenities. The Unified Government is entering a stage of negotiations with a group led by local firm Eastside Innovation in November, according to the county administrator.

NO. 6: LONG-DORMANT KCK MALL SITE COULD SEE NEW LIFE WITH RIVER MARKET-INSPIRED DEVELOPMENT

Nearly 1,500 apartments, retail space, a hotel and a solar grid are envisioned at the site of the defunct Indian Springs Mall. | Published November 8, 2024 | Read Full Story by Bill Lukitsch

A demolished house is seen at 3419 Jefferson St. on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in the Valentine neighborhood of Kansas City. By Emily Curiel

NO. 7: AS KC HOME DEMOLITIONS CONTINUE, MAYOR SAYS CITY SHOULD TAX VACANT LAND. CAN IT DO THAT?

Officials are studying the idea as the city works on other ways to get empty properties back online. | Published November 25, 2024 | Read Full Story by Chris Higgins

Three Light Luxury Apartments is open and the first tenants are moving into the 25-story residential building in downtown Kansas City. By Tammy Ljungblad

NO. 8: KC BEGRUDGINGLY APPROVES FOUR LIGHT HIGH RISE PLAN — INCLUDING $17 MILLION PARKING GARAGE

Some Kansas City Council members said they had no choice but to green light the plan because of agreements past officials made with Cordish on incentives. | Published January 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chris Higgins

The Garment House building at 1000 Broadway Blvd. in downtown Kansas City. A historic preservation fund plans to invest millions to redevelop the century-old building.

NO. 9: HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND TO INVEST MILLIONS INTO THIS DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY BUILDING

Plans include renovating historic Quality Hill building with entertainment venues and possible housing. | Published January 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chris Higgins

One of the four buildings Kansas City Life Insurance has proposed demolishing in the Valentine neighborhood. The company calls the buildings dangerous and has revealed a “vision” for future redevelopment.

NO. 10: HISTORIC BUILDINGS SPARED FROM DEMOLITION IN KANSAS CITY NEIGHBORHOOD — FOR NOW

While demolition has been paused in the Kansas City neighborhood, new details have emerged about possible redevelopment. | Published March 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chris Higgins

An aerial photograph captures the view of Parade Park Homes, a 510-unit housing cooperative in the 18th & Vine neighborhood. Plans call for the demolition of the housing complex and replacing it with around 20 buildings containing 1,065 units, 470 of which will be designated for affordable housing By File

NO. 11: KANSAS CITY APPROVES MILLIONS IN FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Construction could begin in the summer. The first phase of the $300 million project will include a mix of apartments, flats and townhomes in various sizes at more affordable levels. | Published March 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chris Higgins

A rendering of future redevelopment along the Missouri River, which will add new apartments, businesses and amenities near the KC Current stadium.

NO. 12: KC’S RIVERFRONT TO TRANSFORM INTO NEIGHBORHOOD WITH NEW APARTMENTS, RESTAURANTS. HERE’S WHEN

The first phase of development will include a new plaza, a riverfront promenade, about 430 new apartment units in two buildings and 48,000 square feet of retail space. | Published March 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chris Higgins

Vehicles are seen along Prospect Avenue near 27th Street on Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Kansas City. The area is in part of the city’s plans to add density and development along the Prospect MAX bus line. By Emily Curiel

NO. 13: INSIDE KANSAS CITY’S NEW PLAN TO BRING 40,000 NEW PEOPLE TO PROSPECT AVENUE

The city has new goals and ideas for how to improve a nine mile strip along Prospect and 12th Street. Will it be more than just a wish list? | Published April 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chris Higgins

A rendering of the 18th Street Pedestrian Mall when the street would be closed during an event.

NO. 14: KC JAZZ DISTRICT’S GLOW-UP CONTINUES WITH CHANGES TO MAKE AREA MORE WALKABLE

The city is starting work on the 18th Street Pedestrian Mall this spring. | Published April 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chris Higgins

Vacant land sits is seen along Nall Avenue from about 115th Street (top right) to 119th Street, (top left) near the Aspira Campus in Overland Park on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2024. The campus includes several five story parking garages. By Tammy Ljungblad

NO. 15: KANSAS UNVEILS MYSTERY COMPANY GETTING HISTORIC PERKS FOR JOBS IN JOHNSON COUNTY

Fintech company Fiserv will be moving into the former Sprint campus in Overland Park, bringing high-paying jobs in exchange for major state incentives as part of a deal dubbed Project Turtle. | Published April 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Taylor O’Connor

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.