Kansas City to make way for 200 affordable apartments on vacant lots. See where

A plan for nearly 200 new affordable apartments off Troost Avenue in Kansas City got a big boost this week.

Indianapolis-based developer Milhaus has proposed building 194 new apartments, with a mix of one- and two-bedrooms, on the south corners of Troost Avenue and Linwood Boulevard. There would be one four-story building on each corner. The two lots are currently vacant.

The Milhaus project would be aimed at offering affordable units to households making under 60% of the area median income, which in the Kansas City area is $60,180 for a family of three.

On Wednesday, the city’s Board of Zoning Adjustment signed off on approving exceptions to the usual standards governing what can be built on the property. The variances included loosening technical requirements for projects in the Troost corridor like the number of entrances, the size of windows, the type of building materials on the facade, the inclusion of balconies and parking lot design.

The development team said that strictly applying the rules could pose challenges for the cost of construction and jeopardize the affordable housing project.

The new apartments would be near bus stops and represent continued growth along Troost with new apartments springing up in recent years. The developer has sought incentives from different sources to help fund the project and has worked closely with neighborhood leaders on the design.

The city planning commission voted to recommend a rezoning for the project in August. The City Council will have final approval at a later date.