Renovated drug house is family’s Christmas gift

City problems of blighted abandoned houses and homelessness rage on, but sometimes there are small victories. On Thursday, Latoya Caldwell and her four children moved into a renovated former drug house. Jackson County officials surprised her ...

Gentrification study shows urban core strength, Troost dividing line

Areas shaded in blue have median home values above the metro median; the darker the blue the greater the value. The tracts shaded in yellow have median home values below the metro median; the darker the shade of yellow, the lower the value. While ...

New public-private program saves 1903 Hyde Park house

This home in Hyde Park is the first renovated through the city’s new receivership program By Joe Lambe The smell of urethane lingered like perfume Friday at a long vacant 110-year-old Hyde Park house, now rescued from ruin and up for sale. Cheerleaders ...

City expands help to first-time homebuyers

The city is offering extra help for first-time homebuyers. The KC Dream Home Program has increased its homebuyer mortgage assistance limits, according to a city press release. Here are details: The City of Kansas City, Mo., Neighborhoods and ...

Home improvement, repairs programs available from the city

It tough for many people to buy their first home, and just as hard for many who own homes to keep them in tiptop shape. So it is good to know the city has several resources to help with purchase and repairs. Here are details from the city: City ...

Fund to help homeowners with repairs may be expanded

By Joe Lambe The city council public safety committee on Wednesday advanced a measure for money to help repair houses and expand who can get it. The funding for the $150,000 program for city housing court now goes to the full city council. Fines ...

“Fake landlords” rent land bank houses to unsuspecting tenants

Many Kansas City Land Bank properties have houses on them, and inconveniently for everyone, people live in some. There are even reports of fake “landlords” renting them out, said David Park, Land Bank director and deputy director of Neighborhood ...

City delays demolitions around new police East Patrol station

City officials have put on hold many demolitions scheduled surrounding the area for the police East Patrol station and crime lab. Of the 82 properties still on the list, 52 are being delayed for more study, said David Park, deputy director of ...

County assessor resigns after reassessment problems

Jackson County assessment director Curtis Koons  submitted his resignation today. The action comes after reassessment problems led to many inflated values – a prelude to massive tax increases – that officials now say were mistaken. The ...

County reassessment mess spreads to 68,000 properties

by Joe Lambe Jackson County officials – who said recently that errors led to  problems with 18,000 residential reassessments – on Monday said new reassessments will now be mailed to 68,000 property owners. The new  notices will go out ...