Homes Where Penn Valley Community College Now Stands

As part of our Uncovering History Project, the Midtown KC Post is taking a look at the 1940 tax assessment photos of each block in Midtown.

Today, we look at residences, businesses, and apartment buildings that were once considered part of the Valentine neighborhood but have since been demolished to make room for Penn Valley Community College.

This 1971 Kansas City Star aerial photo shows 31st and Southwest Trafficway after the demolition of homes but before the building of Penn Valley Community College. The view looks north up Southwest Trafficway to the BMA Building at 31st and the Trafficway.

The college, built in 1971, was built on all or part of six blocks between Southwest Trafficway and Broadway, from 31^st to 33^rd Streets. This block is one of them: the 3200 block of Summit (Southwest Trafficway) and the west side of Jefferson from 32nd to 33rd.

The 1940 tax photos show 30 buildings within the block, but by 1971, all of these homes had been demolished to make way for the new college.

Photos courtesy Kansas City Public Library, Missouri Valley Special Collections.