KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Kansas City leaders approved a new ordinance Thursday creating semi-annual fees for chronically vacant and nuisance properties, with fines of up to $200 for homeowners and up to $1,000 for commercial lots.
Mayor Quinton Lucas presented the ordinance and cited a property near 52nd and Bellfontaine — the neighborhood where he grew up — as an example of the problem the measure aims to address.
Realtors raised concerns during negotiations
The Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors raised concerns during the ordinance’s development, including questions about property owners who may have recently inherited a home or live out of state.
“First thing that came to my mind was what if someone’s loved one passes away and they’re out of state,” said Jennifer Justus, a Realtor in Gladstone and member of the Kansas City Realtors Association…