Residents in a midtown Kansas City neighborhood say the owner of a century-old building they saved from demolition continues to neglect the structure and its upkeep, causing issues for neighbors. They hope proposed new city rules will make a difference for that property and others that are in poor condition.
Mayor Quinton Lucas has proposed a trio of code changes that would strengthen regulations for owners who leave their properties vacant, including requiring owners to disclose their plans for vacant buildings and adding “mothballing” standards to prevent them from deteriorating. Owners could face fines or liens for violations.
The changes would also aim to close the “dangerous buildings loophole,” which allows owners to demolish a building without special review if the city deems it dangerous. Neighborhood advocates say the loophole encourages owners to let their buildings deteriorate so that it’s easier to demolish them…