Kansas City doesn't meet goal of demolishing 1,000 abandoned buildings in 2 years

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Despite promises of an aggressive campaign to demolish blighted buildings around Kansas City, officials acknowledge they are only halfway to their two-year goal.

The city promised to raze 1,000 decaying and abandoned buildings in two years, but has managed about 500. Mayor Sly James points out that the city previously had been averaging about 100 demolitions a year. But thanks to the rise in the number of abandoned houses because of foreclosures, the city's demolition effort hasn't been able to keep pace.

"We set a high goal for ourselves with regard to our demolition program and, while we didn't reach it, we have certainly made an impact in our neighborhoods," James told The Kansas City Star.

The demolition list has grown to 1,340 structures. And with each house demolition costing the taxpayers nearly $10,000 on average, the city doesn't expect to catch up at this rate given the current $1.6 million set aside annually for that purpose.

"There's no way," said Dalena Taylor, head of the city's demolitions program, "unless we received $8 to $10 million, could we tear down every blighted building in the city."

The city plans to raze 120 buildings this year. Where possible, the property owner will be billed for the cost.

City officials say three factors made it impossible to tear down 1,000 boarded-up buildings in two years. Fewer tax dollars than expected came in to fund the program, then the pace slowed when some neighborhoods objected to tearing down houses they felt were salvageable. And some houses got a reprieve when property owners took steps toward fixing up their neglected properties.

"When it started, we were just going to knock them all down," said city manager Troy Schulte. Since then the city's demolition effort has taken on "a more nuanced approach," he said. He agrees the job is going to take more tax dollars if the city is ever to catch up.

"We're going to keep at it," he said.

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Information from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com