Washington Wheatley is an historic neighborhood located in the heart of Kansas City – only three miles east of downtown. There are many historic, physical, and social assets in the neighborhood, and residents are committed to creating a healthy and sustainable community. We believe that there is an opportunity for the neighborhood to become an example of urban restoration that will demonstrate how Kansas City should plan for the future in a smart and environmentally focused manner.

What’s next for the Washington Wheatley Neighborhood?

After 50 years of disinvestment and population decline, we need new strategies to turn urban neighborhoods around, and to create a truly sustainable metropolitan area. In too many instances, Kansas City has fallen behind peer cities on matters of sustainability. It is time for Kansas City to reinvest in our neighborhoods as the basic structure of our community and to be on the cutting edge of issues of national importance to cities in the United States.

A sustainable city requires jobs and businesses to return to local corridors like Prospect Avenue, 27th Street, and Indiana Avenue.

Kansas City must reverse the trend of abandonment and stop the unnecessary demolition of historic structures. The Washington Wheatley neighborhood needs a neighborhood conservation program supported by smart infill housing and innovative land use solutions to prevent vacant lots from becoming dumping sites. Residents want to see new residents in their neighborhood to raise families in a safe, walkable community they can be proud to call home.

Residents need a healthier environment and the air quality in the neighborhood must be improved.

Neighbors want a safe and reliable public transportation system and bicycle network so residents can get to work in a timely manner. Residents need energy efficiency improvements to their homes and businesses to save money and reduce their impact on air quality.

Being “green” is not just about buildings – it’s about the social, environmental and economic fabric of a neighborhood.

A restored Washington Wheatley neighborhood will improve the quality of life in one of the city’s most historic neighborhoods. This plan seeks to enhance the health of residents by improving air and water quality, restoring existing public infrastructure, and rediecting development from the exurban fringe to the urban core.

It is time for Kansas City to become a leader in neighborhood conservation and sustainable development. Our future depends on it.