HERE’S WALDO

FOCUS Kansas CityCity Planning and Development Department

City of Kansas City, Missouri

Heart of the Nation

City of Fountains

Neighborhood Assessment ReportNeighborhood Workshop Date: October 30, 1999

Neighborhood and Community Services

Kansas City, MO Police Department

Neighborhood and Community Services

Health Department

Neighborhood and Community Services

Codes Administration

Environmental Management

Public Works

Neighborhood and Community Services

Neighborhood and Community Services

Environmental Management

Neighborhood and Community Services

Neighborhood and Community Services

Board of Parks and Recreation

Public Works - Street and Traffic

Share-a-Fare/ATA

Water DepartmentAfter Hours

Public Works

Water Department

Kansas City Power and Light

Housing and Community Development

Abandoned Cars on Private Property

Abandoned Cars on Public Property

Abandoned Homes

Air Quality

Animal Control

Building Permits

Bulky Item Pick Up

Curb Reconstruction

Dangerous Buildings/ Demolition

Housing Code Violations

Illegal Dumping Hotline

Neighborhood Assistance/ Services

Paint Program

Parks and Community Centers

Potholes

Senior Citizens Transportation

Sewers – Problems

Sidewalks – Repair

Storm Drains

Street Light Repairs

Weatherization Program

871-3800

234-5000

871-3800

513-6314

871-5900

513-1451

513-3490

513-2590

871-3800

871-3800

513-3485

513-3265

513-3266

871-5600

513-2777

842-9070

513-2180513-2109

513-2602

513-2180

654-1400

513-3015

Underlined phone numbers will change in the next few months.

City Services Action Center 513-1313

SERVICE AGENCY OR CITY DEPARTMENT PHONE

THE VISION OF

FOCUS KANSAS CITYWe, as Kansas Citians, envision our city as a people-centered commu-nity. From economic development to the readability of street signs,we consider people first. Kansas City shapes and guarantees its fu-ture by examining first and foremost the impact of every decision onfuture generations.

We, as Kansas Citians, are full of hope. We demonstrate this hopethrough our investment in our families, our homes, our neighborhoods,our schools, our businesses and our city.

For more information about FOCUS Kansas City:

� call the office at 513-2822,� visit www.kcmo.org/focus/, or� e-mail focus@kcmo.org.

To reach the Neighborhood Assessment Team, call 513-2909.

FOCUS - Forging Our Comprehensive Urban Strategy

1Best in the West

FOCUS Kansas City, Kansas City’s strategic and comprehensive plan, recognizes thatneighborhoods understand best how to direct their own futures. The first initiativein the FOCUS Neighborhood Prototypes Plan is a strategic assessment that enablesa neighborhood to evaluate its strengths and needs. Through the assessment pro-cess, a neighborhood can direct its assets towards its most critical needs. The FO-CUS Neighborhood Prototypes Plan identifies the assessment format.

There were two objectives for this neighborhood assessment:1. Self-identify its neighborhood type from the FOCUS Neighborhood Pro-

totypes Plan.2. Develop improvement strategies that will direct neighborhood improve-

ment, a “To Do” list incorporating participation by the neighborhood, com-munity partners, and the City.

This community conducted the neighborhood assessment workshop with assistancefrom City staff. Residents, business people and people who work in local institutionsprovided input. These community members mapped their community, and identifiedassets and priority issues in their neighborhood.

FOCUS KANSAS CITYAND

NEIGHBORHOODASSESSMENTS

Well, it was Halloween at the Here’sWaldo Neighborhood Assessment work-shop, so some of the residents “dressed”for the occassion.

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N E I G H B O R H O O D T Y P E

The FOCUS Neighborhood Prototypes Plan recognizes that not all neighborhoods inKansas City are the same. The character and condition of where we live varies accord-ing to age, history, type of housing and other factors. Each community has differentstrengths and opportunities. Each has different assets and priorities that drive uniquestrategies for improvement. FOCUS developed four unique Neighborhood Types thatgenerally describe Kansas City neighborhoods. These four Types (assigned the colorsBlue, Orange, Purple and Green in the Neighborhood Assessment workshop) are:

Developing Conservation Stabilization Redeveloping

Each Neighborhood Type suggests what actions are required for an area to become orstay healthy. The Assessment is a beginning point from which the community can moveforward and achieve quality living environments through a commitment to continuousimprovement. The descriptions for these four Neighborhood Types are contained inthe FOCUS Neighborhood Prototypes Plan, Appendix A, “General Neighborhood De-scription / Types.”

In the workshop, participants defined the tools, actions and strategies for improvingtheir community. They will use this information to strategically apply public andprivate resources in a way that is based on existing conditions, trends, opportunities,strengths and needs. Once other neighborhoods identify their Type, then similarly“typed” Kansas City communities can connect and partner around common issues andprojects while assisting each other in developing their organizations.

Neighbors voting on theirNeighborhood Type

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T H E H E R E ’S W A L D OP E R S P E C T I V E

The Here’s Waldo neighborhood could easily be dubbed as Kansas City’s first “suburb”because of the way the Town of Waldo emerged in the early 1800’s. The area wasnamed after Dr. David Waldo, a practicing physician, who purchased the area in 1828as part of the federal government’s Louisiana Purchase. At that time, the area wasnoted for its bustling residential and commercial activity. Small businesses sproutedto provide basic goods and services for the residential “suburbanite” Waldo area. Bythe late 1880’s Waldo had also emerged as an entertainment mecca, with a racetrackand an assortment of bars, dance halls and honky-tonks.Today, Here’s Waldo’s 3,200 residences and the densely situated businesses alongWornall Road remain. There are new hopes for improvements such as uniform bill-board signs along Wornall Road, as well as facelifts and renovations for some of thebusinesses. Improvements to “the creek” to facilitate storm water drainage, and newcurbs, sidewalks, and street shoulders throughout the residential areas are also antici-pated.Here’s Waldo is a vibrant community under the leadership of Eula Inloes and OliveSnider. These life long residents have helped to ensure a certain quality of life fortheir community. Under their leadership, residents, community organizations and busi-nesses assembled on Saturday, October 30, 1999 at the Armour Heights Baptist Churchfor their neighborhood self-evaluation workshop. The workshop was an opportunityfor those gathered to critically look at the area in where they live, work, and play, andto shape plans for the future.

4 Here’s Waldo

The workshop participants discussed many issues- their neighborhood assets, the thingsthey would like to change, data about their neighborhood, and ways in which to maketheir neighborhood better.The group identified their Neighborhood Type as Stabilization. The residents appre-ciated the abundance of affordable homes, the young families moving into the area, theparks, and the nearby business district. At the same time, they recognized the chal-lenges of a Stabilization neighborhood, which include the need for curbs and sidewalkson many residential streets, aging sewer and storm water systems, and lack of routinemaintenance for some houses and businesses.With this report, the residents will have documentation of the issues they discussedand a framework for on-going discussion. At the conclusion of the workshop, theresidents seemed eager to work with neighboring business and home associations, Citydepartments, and other community partners to ensure the viability of their community.

The character, charm andaffordability of the homes inHere’s Waldo are assets.

T H E H E R E ’S W A L D OP E R S P E C T I V E

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The following themes were the result of the workshop participants’ ideas concerningways to improve their neighborhood.

Improve Traffic Safety Throughout the Residential AreaNarrow streets within the residential area of Here’s Waldo and the speeding trafficcreate hazardous conditions in the neighborhood. The residents suggested these ac-tions:

n Conduct a traffic study on 79th Street to determine what type of traffic regu-lations can be imposed to make the street safer for residents and pedestrians.

n Install pedestrian walking signs at 77th and Wornall. There is heavy traffic atthis intersection which makes it difficult for pedestrians to cross the street.

n Work with the Area Transportation Authority(ATA) to make improvements atits bus stops to accommodate disabled persons, i.e. wider benches, larger busshelters that can accommodate wheelchairs, etc.

Enhance the Quality of the Homes and BusinessesResidents want to see continued improvements to the homes and businesses throughouttheir neighborhood. They suggested the following:

n Encourage renters to participate in the neighborhood association.n Work with Parks and Recreation Department to better maintain Sunnyside Park

with frequent trash collection, closely monitor the park to deter suspcious ac-tivity in the park, and make improvements to the walking trails.

n Work with the Waldo Business Association and other surrounding neighborhoodassociations to develop plans for improving the appearances of the businesses,i.e. uniform sign displays, landscaping, etc.

n Invite new businesses to participate in the neighborhood association in order todevelop more partnership opportunities with the businesses. (The Saturn deal-ership provided playground equipment in Sunnyside Park, and the new KicksPhillips 66 erected a new fence and lighting for the residents in the 7800 and7900 blocks of Washington. There is a new business opportunity for the va-cated Piggly Wiggly grocery store space at 76th and Wornall )

P R I O R I T I E S

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Everyone has an opportunityto vote on their priorities fortheir neighborhood

Continue Public Works ImprovementsThe group is pleased with the design work for improving stormwater and drainagethroughout the residential area. Below are some ideas for continued involvement:

n Continue to meet with the Larkin Engineering Firm to monitor the planning andconstruction of storm water sewers, culverts and other drainage improvements

n Request that the City Public Works Department construct new curbs, sidewalksand shoulders on 79th Street Wornall Road to Ward Parkway Plaza

n Use the Public Improvement Advisory Commission (PIAC) process to requestnew curbs in the 8000 and 8100 blocks of Pennsylvania

P R I O R I T I E S

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The Here’s Waldo Neighborhood Assessment covered the area from 75th Street to 85th

Street, and Wornall Road to Ward Parkway Plaza.

C H A R T N O T E S

Neighborhood SlogansThe attendees listed several slogans to describe their neighborhoods. The sloganshelped the participants to identify how they viewed their community.

The selected slogan: Best in the West

Other suggested slogans:n Nice Houses - Nice Neighborsn Small Houses - Big Heartsn Here’s Waldo Caretakersn Neighbors with Priden Tiny Houses - Huge Hearts

Residents discussing ideasfor their Neighborhood Slogan

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STEP 1: My Neighborhood IsWorkshop participants identified how they experience their neighborhood, and con-sidered those things they want to protect, preserve or enhance in the neighborhood.They thought about the landmarks, paths, activity centers, districts, edges or bar-riers, and features. These were noted on a wall map.

Landmarks — significant physical objects, like buildings orsigns

Paths — routes people use to get places

Activity Centers — gathering places to do some activity

Districts — areas of recognizable character

Edges or Barriers — a limit or boundary that prevents peoplefrom enjoying the neighborhood or something in it

Features — things people like and would like to preserve orenhance

The Armour Home residence is alandmark in the Here’s Waldo area

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««

«

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Landmarksn Armour Homes (senior citizens’

residence) and the Gillis Centern Waldo neighborhood marker on

the northeast corner of 75th andWornall

n Armour Heights Baptist Church,79th and Jarboe

n Calvary Lutheran Church andSchool

n Nice character of homes

Pathsn ATA (Area Transportation Au-

thority) proposed Trolley TrackTrail

n 79th Streetn 81st Streetn 75th Streetn Wornall Roadn Ward Parkway

Edges or Barriersn No sidewalks, curbs or street

shoulders on 79th Streetn No sidewalks, curbs or street

shoulders on 81st Streetn The “flooding” creek that runs

from 73rd and Ward Parkway toWornall Road

Activity Centersn Armour Heights Baptist Churchn Sunnyside Parkn Sunnyside Park walking trailn Armour Homes walking trailn Toucan Sam’s bar on Wornall Road

(now closed)

Districtsn Waldo business districtn Ward Parkway Shopping Center

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Sunnyside Park: A neighborhoood asset andactivity center. Residents want the Sunnyside

Park to be as attractive as the Jacob Loose Parkwith amenties such as improved walking trail

and better maintained grounds

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H E R E ’S W A L D O I M A G E S

Landmark andActivity Center:The walking trail at theGillis Center

Landmark andFeature:New playground equipmentin Sunnyside Park

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Activity Center: The newPhillips 66 Kicks station opened

in November, 1999

District: The Waldo galleryand antique area

H E R E ’S W A L D O I M A G E S

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STEP 2: If I Could Fix One ThingIn every neighborhood there are some things that need to be changed. These issuesinterfere with residents’ enjoyment of their neighborhood and can keep them fromdoing the things they like to do. Below is the list of “fixes” that workshop participantssaid they would like to see in the Here’s Waldo neighborhood.

n Improve Sunnyside Park withamenities such as new picnictables/benches, water fountains,landscaping, restrooms

n Maintain Sunnyside Park with bet-ter trash containers and frequenttrash collection

n Enforce housing maintenance codesagainst rental properties, i.e. re-moval of old cars on property,clean and trim overgrown yards

n Improve the outside appearancesof Wornall Road businesses, i.e.painting, uniform decor

n Design uniform and attractive signsfor businesses on Wornall Road

n Decrease the number of signs thatbusinesses have on Wornall Road;business signs clutter and ob-struct the view of the streets

n Create positive public relationsmaterial about the neighborhood

n Contact City Public Works engi-neers and The Larkin Group en-gineering consultants on improv-ing problems with the Creek, i.e.surface water flooding, inad-equate drainage

n Obtain information about ser-vices for persons with disabili-ties, i.e. public transportationshelters and low interest loans onhome improvements

Too many businesses’ signs clutter thebusiness route along Wornall Road

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n Improve health and wellness fa-cilities and activities for resi-dents of every age group, i.e. well-lighted walking trails

n Continue to work with City Wa-ter Department concerningstormwater and catch basin im-provements

n Provide a site for a recycling cen-ter close to the neighborhood

n Work with the new Kicks Phillips66 service station as a partner onneighborhood and business issues

n Landscape and beautify WornallRoad, and Sunnyside Park (to re-semble Loose Park)

n Install proper storm drainsthrough out Here’s Waldo

n Install sidewalks in the 7700-7900 blocks of Washington

n Widen 79th Street to accommodatethe heavy traffic

n Trim trees and large branches thatobstruct view around trafficsigns: stop signs, speed regulationsigns, pedestrian signs

n Install a left turn signal for traf-fic lights at 75th and Wornall and79th and Wornall

n Install a middle turn lane onWornall Road from 75th Street to85th Street to faciliate trafficflow

One of the many open storm sewersand culverts in the residential area

that need improvement

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STEP 3: My Neighborhood’s AssetsWorkshop participants identified assets that add value to their neighborhood. Theassets include places, groups, organizations, equipment, skills, abilities and any otherasset that adds value to the neighborhood.

n Here’s Waldo Neighborhood As-sociation

n Ward Parkway Citizens Groupn Nice homes and nice peoplen Sunnyside Park and walking trails

within the parkn Indoor walking trail at Ward

Parkway Shopping Centern Wildlife, nature, mature treesn Good geographic location close to

Ward Parkway, Plaza, Brookside,and Bannister Mall shopping dis-tricts

n Good conveniences (retail stores,services, restaurants) within walk-ing distance

n Waldo Branch Libraryn Charm and character of the homesn Armour Heights Baptist Churchn Public transportationn Antique stores on West 75th

Streetn Calvary Lutheran Church and

Schooln Armour Homes Campus (senior

citizens residential living)

The Waldo Public Library Branch: A neighborhood asset

The Calvary Lutheran Church and School: Aneighborhood asset

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STEP 4: Facts About My NeighborhoodThe data presented at the Here’s Waldo Neighborhood Assessment was from the 1990U.S. Census, and from 1998 information from the Kansas City, Missouri Police Depart-ment and the Kansas City, Missouri City Planning and Development Department. Beloware the facts the participants said were surprising or noteworthy. (See the neighbor-hood assessment workbook for more detail.)

Change in Number of Housing Units 1980-1990

27%

0%5%

Here's Waldo Council District 4 Citywide

The duplexes built on Washington Street in 1983 (see picture below) account for the27% increase in the new housing units.

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Median Value of Single Family Homes

Residents believe the current value of single family homes maybe as high as $80,000-$90,000 as compared with the 1998 projection of $70,0000.

$70,000

$88,000

$71,000

Here's Waldo Council District 4 Citywide

Here’s Waldo’s non-violent crime rate is low compared to the City and Council District4. Residents attribute the crime that does exist to the businesses and commericalareas on Wornall Road. The business activity appears to correlate to certain crimeproblems, such as auto theft and stealing contents from autos.

Non-Violent Crime Per 100 Persons

0.00

5.00

10.00

15.00

20.00

1983

1985

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

Here's WaldoCouncil District 4Citywide

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Although the commerical land use for Here’s Waldo is relatively low (13.6%), residentsbelieve that the commerical area contributes to increased crime, i.e. auto theft. Resi-dents also want to see improvements in the commerical area, such as renovations of thebusinesses and uniform business signs along Wornall Road.

Land Use

Agricultural5.6%

Residential76.2%

Vacant0.8%

Commercial13.6%

Institutional0.05%

Parks2.7%

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STEP 5: Describing My NeighborhoodThose who attended the workshop were asked to vote on the Neighborhood Type thatbest described their neighborhood. Their choice was Stabilization .

Residents converse about the map information

StabilizationMy neighborhood has been developed for some time. Several of the businesses andinstitutions located in the neighborhood may be changing, either recently expanding,scaling back services, just moved into the neighborhood or considering moving to an-other location outside the neighborhood. Places of worship, schools, recreational andentertainment facilities, and businesses provide opportunities near my home.Tree-lined streets, historic structures or qualities, public art and/or other amenitiescharacterize the neighborhood and give it a sense of place. Due to age, several of thestreets and sidewalks need repair or replacement and the water and sewer servicesmay also need to be upgraded. Many houses, businesses, and public areas appear tolack routine maintenance (painting, yard upkeep, tree trimming, awning repair, etc.) orare vacant. Such conditions are impacting the value of my property and I don’t know ifI want to invest more money in the property.

Problems are starting to add up and are becoming harder to fix through our neighbor-hood association, a call to the City, or neighbors getting together to help one another.There are good aspects to the neighborhood but there are also problems that need tobe addressed if the neighborhood is going to continue to be a place I want to live.

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STEP 6: Making My Neighborhood BetterHere’s Waldo neighbors talked about specific actions their community can take toaddress the issues and challenges identified earlier in the assessment. They brainstormedideas, concentrating on those actions that can be performed by the community to im-prove the neighborhood. Below is a list of all the ideas mentioned by workshop partici-pants. They voted on the ideas that they most want implemented to make their neigh-borhood better.

Things we can do Ourselves:

n Invite City Departments to attend neighborhood meetings and ask them to ad-dress problems with the proposed plans for the Creek and storm drainage

n Utilize the resources of the Shepherd’s Center to identify services for seniorcitizens, for example transportation to appointments, home repair services, ac-tivities for seniors, etc.

n Meet with the KCATA (Kansas City Area Transportation Authority) to discusstransportation improvements for senior citizens and persons with disabilities,suxh as improvement of bus shelter on 75th and Wornall, longer and wider benches,larger bus shelters to accommodate persons with wheelchairs and other devices

n Organize the neighbors to identify their role in improving Sunnyside Park, i.e.follow up on reporting problems to Parks and Recreation Department, reportsuspicious problems to police department

n Hold neighborhood meetings that can accommodate families with young children,publish meeting notices in the neighborhood newsletter and make childcare avail-able

n Contact young families with children to determine how they can be more involvedin their neighborhood

n Work with the Waldo Homes Association (79th to 82nd Street, Wornall Road toOak Street) and other surrounding neighborhood associations on large scaleneighborhood projects like storm water improvements, replacement of curbs/sidewalks, and other infrastructure improvements

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Things we can do with a Partner:

n Work with Waldo Homes Association and other surrounding neighborhood orga-nizations on larger infrastructure improvement projects such as curbs and side-walks, storm drainage

n Develop a partnerhip with other homes associations, Parks and Recreation De-partment, and surrounding neighborhood businesses to address issues involvingSunnyside Park and the vacant commerical building at 76th and Wornall Road

n Contact area businesses to assist with funding for Waldo neighborhoodlandmarkers within the neighborhood

n Utilize existing programs through Kansas City Neighborhood Alliance (KCNA)to help identify needs for the neighborhood (attending codes academy training,hosting a capacity mapping workshop, applying for self-help grants)

n Involve the new Kicks Phillips 66 service station business with neighborhoodevents and other activities that would help the service station to become a goodneighbor, such as clean ups of Sunnyside Park; invite Kicks representative to allof the neighborhood meetings

Residents want to work inpartnership with the

property manager to see anew grocery store or a

nice retail business in thisvacant building at 76th and

Wornall Road

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Things the City should do:

n Install curbs and sidewalks and implement other street improvements on 79th

Street from Ward Parkway Plaza to Wornall Roadn Construct new curbs in the 8000 and 8100 blocks of Pennsylvanian Schedule quarterly leaves/brush curbside collections as opposed to the current

Spring and Fall leaves/brush collectionsn Allow leaves/brush to be placed in plastic bags as opposed to paper bags; paper

bags are more costly than plastic bagsn Conduct a traffic study on 79th Street to determine what type of traffic regu-

lations can be imposed for that street to make it safer for pedestrians and theresidential properties that about 79th Street

n Install traffic sign(s) at 77th and Wornall for pedestrian trafficn Keep the residents advised concerning the plans for improvements to the creek;

the neighborhood has been very active in the study, plan and construction of theimprovements for the creek

n Repave and fill the 6 inch deep potholes on Wornall Road (between 75th and 85th

streets) that cause damage to vehicles; the City recently resurfaced/repavedthis area of the street but there are still some potholes

n Work with Parks and Recreation Department to better maintain Sunnyside Park,to include: frequent trash collection, installation of additional trash containersthroughout the park, additional police patrol in the part to deter suspectedprostitution and drug activity

n Identify programs and services for persons with disabilities, i.e. home improve-ment programs, transportation services

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Here’s Waldo Neighborhood Assessment Participants

Armour Heights Baptist Church: a neighbor-hood asset, and site of the Here’s WaldoNeighborhood Assessment workshop

Kay BodeTom BodeLarine CraigMary Ann DuesterGeorge J. DuneansonAmy EckhoffShannon EckhoffShirley FisherPat Foster, KCPD

Naomi C. “Hap” HarmonDoris HindsBecky HorlanderJim HorlanderEula InloesBetty IrvinDonna KesterMark O’BanionRutha Perry

Andre PuleEileen SheehanJohn ShippKen SniderOlive SniderLaura B. UlichGlenda VirtueJim WattersMichele WattersMaryLou Williams

Special guest: Hideki Koizumi, Visiting Scholar, University of Washington, Departmentof Urban Design and Planning; Associate Professor, The University of Tokyo, Depart-ment of Urban Engineering

Getting Involved

Sponsors and Contributors

To find out more about the Here’s Waldo Neighborhood Association, call one of theneighborhood leaders: Eula Inloes (363-8790), Olive Snider (333-7205) or JohnShipp (523-7851).

Thanks to the following persons and organizations that helped to make the Here’sWaldo Neighborhood Assessment possible:

n Here’s Waldo Neighborhood Associationn Armour Heights Baptist Church

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AcknowledgementsThe Honorable Kay Barnes, MayorRobert L. Collins, City Manager

City Council

City Planning and Development DepartmentVicki Noteis, AIA, DirectorDiane Charity, Sharon Cheers, Willie Mae Conway, Suzy Latare, John Pajor, RobertRutherford, Neighborhood Assessment Team

City SupportTeri Casey, Codes Enforcement Officer, Neighborhood and Community Services Dept.

The Honorable Ed FordFirst District-at-LargeThe Honorable Teresa LoarFirst DistrictThe Honorable Bonnie Sue CooperSecond District-at-LargeThe Honorable Paul DanaherSecond DistrictThe Honorable Troy NashThird District-at-LargeThe Honorable Mary Williams-NealThird District

The Honorable Evert Asjes IIIFourth District-at-LargeThe Honorable Jim RowlandFourth DistrictThe Honorable Becky NaceFifth District-at-LargeThe Honorable Kelvin SimmonsFifth DistrictThe Honorable Alvin BrooksSixth District-at-LargeThe Honorable Charles A. EddySixth District