by Mary Wilson
Two motels in Kansas City were demolished by contractor JE
Dunn last week as a result of the original plans for the Cerner Innovations
Campus to create more jobs. The approved plan included the parcel of property
on the southeast corner of 87th Street and I-435. The motels served
as some of the highest crime locations in South Kansas City.
“In addition to thanking Cerner for creating 16,000 new jobs
in Kansas City with one of the largest projects in the country including
billions of dollars of investment in South Kansas City, the project also
creates $6 million for the Hickman Mills School District,” said Sixth District
At-Large Councilman Scott Taylor. “Cerner will work with the district to create
the workers of tomorrow through STEM programs.”
The City will also receive $2 million in infrastructure
improvements in surrounding neighborhoods because of the Cerner project. After
initial approval, Cerner had intentions of expanding the project to include the
property with the motels.
“These two hotels were high-crime areas and creating a lot
of work for our police department,” said Taylor. “Quite frankly, they could
spend their time elsewhere doing other things.”
The Cerner Innovations Campus is the largest economic
development project in the State of Missouri’s history, and the motels
continued to be a nuisance in the area.
“The bottom line is, these hotels needed to come down,” said
Sixth District Councilman Kevin McManus. “Hopefully small businesses and
homeowners will see this investment, not just in removing this blight, but the
investment in infrastructure and the investment by Cerner, and will see the
opportunity to make their own investment in their community.”
McManus stated that the demolition of the motels serves as a
symbol of promise for the area’s future. The A1 Hotel and Capital Inn,
according to Major Louis Perez, South Patrol Commander, have used a lot of
police manpower over the last several years, as the location was a breeding
ground for crime in the area.
“The hotels ranked high in call for service demands for the
division,” said Perez. “Crimes included homicides, assaults and prostitution,
making it a nuisance business.”
Some crimes spilled out into the neighboring communities and
businesses, according to Perez. He added that the demolition helps free up
officers to answer other emergency calls and provides the opportunity to put
officers back in their assigned neighborhoods.
“The surrounding neighborhoods and businesses are much safer
and thriving because of the work that’s been done,” said Perez. One area
business owner reported that they have seen a decrease in trespassing,
panhandling and stealing.
“South Kansas City is on the move and we are going through a
renaissance here,” said Missouri State Representative DaRon McGee. “We are
getting statewide recognition and notice. This is just one step in the progress
we are making.”
Former Councilman John Sharp, who has lived in the community
for 50 years, said that his house is less than five minutes from the Cerner
campus.
“I can’t tell you how pleased I was to see these motels
start coming down,” said Sharp. “I remember when this Ramada Inn was very nice
at one time, but it sure wasn’t nice in recent years.”
With the Cerner development, the area has also seen a
revitalization of retail, and there is potential for new residential projects
as well, according to Sharp. With the reclaiming of the property for a
positive, public benefit to the community, Cerner, who has already built two
new buildings, is expected to expand even further on the campus over the next
decade.
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