A divided city council on Thursday delayed a vote on $27.6 million for upgrades at the 18th and Vine District.
Councilman Jermaine Reed, its main proponent, asked for a delay until next week to try to reach agreement.
Mayor Sly James, who was among those raising concerns at a previous business session, told Reed, “I applaud you for reading the tea leaves and holding this for a week.”
The city manager has said he hopes private developers would provide up to $9.5 million of the money, but the city has no such commitments.
Reed said Thursday that he is now proposing the city fund about $12 million in a first phase.
James said he hoped to avoid a close vote, especially one along racial lines.
“Are we better off spending more time and getting it right, or not?” he said.
When I travel and tell people I live in KC, I’m always asked about the Vine Street Jazz District. No one has ever asked about the Plaza, Westport, or Crown Center. Are those areas afraid of loosing business if the Vine Street Jazz District is revitalized?