The meetup of the KCMO City Plan Commission today has implications for every neighborhood in town and basically decides if residents with enough cash to build stupid, overly designed structures can bully residents who obey building codes.
More to the point . . .
A LOCAL RICH DUDE THREATENS TO CHANGE KANSAS CITY CODES SO HE CAN BUILD A GARBAGE TINY HOUSE!!!
We'll get into names and fun times later but, as always, for now we'll simply note that this development scheme nightmare starts on the Westside.
Here's the 12th & Oak narrative from City Hall which deserves a bit of skepticism given that they've never met a developer project they didn't like:
"Text within Chapter 88 that was adopted with the new code in 2011 has been determined to be problematic in allowing single-family dwellings to be erected, particularly, the case of infill development on vacant lots. Many lots within the city were platted either prior to adoption of the first zoning ordinance in 1923 or enactment of the subdivision regulations of 1954. Although legally created at the time, they were platted with less lot width or lot area than currently required by Chapter 88. For example, many lots within the urban core are platted with 25 or 30ft. lot width. Current minimum lot width requirements rage from 150 to 25f. with 50ft. required for the typical single-family districts R-7.5 and R-6 . . . The intent is to enable infill development in the city, particularly on vacant lots within the urban core where transpiration and utility services are available, the contradictory provision should be deleted."
Translation . . .
SOME RICH GOOFBALL THREATENS TO SWITCH KCMO RESIDENTIAL CODES SO THAT EVERY NICE NEIGHBORHOOD CAN BECOME A TINY HOME COMMUNITY!!!
This isn't old law, local zoning appointees have considered this kind of JENGA style building not so long ago and decided against it.
Again, we've got names and even more fun examples so that our newsie friends can follow-up and just about everybody in town can delve into the beeswax of sketchy developers who don't think neighborhood rules apply to them.
But what's important right now is this:
- City Staff continues to cave to developers at every turn and the question of this rule was ALREADY SHUT DOWN by the BZA. But, because deplorable boomer empty nesters don't think the rules apply to them . . . The case earned another meeting.
- Of course the urban core is growing more populated and that's mostly a good thing. However, what this move shows us is that KCMO is willing to bend over backwards to encourage "density" which really makes neighborhoods near downtown far less livable and subject to overcrowding.
- Finally, the designs of these small lot tiny homes are just silly looking post-modern garbage. KC has a great many historic structures and plenty of nice homes in the urban core . . . This redraft specifically benefits those stupid-looking warehouse-style-boxy tiny homes that look like sophomoric architectural student projects and not homes that improve local neighborhood life. Whilst they often get a tough time for keeping everything beige, better (managed) communities in JoCo usually prevent this kind of design attack on their neighborhoods.
This issue might make it all the way to council and we're hoping that, once again, the BZA might once again show a bit of backbone and force upper-middle-class real estate speculators to obey the rules for a change.
Developing . . .
Elected officials don't obey the rules, why should developers?
ReplyDelete^^^ Totally the problem with KCMO.
DeleteAgree that some of those tiny homes are garbage but a lot of them have really cool designs. I think KC should start thinking about a tiny home community so that more people have access to more sustainable and smaller living spaces.
DeleteKansas City has the best government money can buy.
ReplyDelete- Ghost of Boss Tom
^^^ +15K
DeleteA fool and their money, any rich person building in KCMO needs to have their head examined. It's a losing proposition.
ReplyDelete^^and yet they build here ALL the time. Weird.
ReplyDelete^^^
ReplyDeleteNo, actually YOU and other KCMO taxpayers build here.
The transaction crowd like the bond attorneys, architects, financial gang, "developers", and all the rest have already gotten their money by the time ground is even broken on these "projects".
The public is regularly left with the detritus of the "public/private" partnerships.
Exhibit A?
The P&L District, which costs the taxpayer $15 million/year and will through 2030.
Not weird.
Stupid.
Especially over and over again.
Wow! Killa Shitty going Killa Shacky!
ReplyDelete^^^^ lol
DeleteNo building codes in KC. Just have to payoff the right people.
ReplyDeleteKc has no standards, that is obvious from the current candidates for mayor.
ReplyDeleteThis is how shack towns and favelas become a thing
ReplyDelete^^and yet none of this will ever happen. Weird.
ReplyDelete^^^^Same as you will never ever amount to anything.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget those developers who are going to engulf those houses in Central Hyde Park with their 6 story buildings and no parking to cover the amount of apartments that those buildings will have.
ReplyDelete@8:54 Maybe you should take your weirdness and get a clue instead of spewing your limited vocabulary. These builders are here to get paid even when they know it's a losing proposition like 8:39 says.
Hell @12:21, "Build in order to Borrow" has been the operating principle of Real Estate Development since the late 1970s.
ReplyDeleteAll you need is a good relationship with a Banker, or better still, the Manager of a Pension Fund (KPRS, anyone?) and it becomes incredibly easy to borrow a couple of hundred million over what is going to actually be spent on the development, then pay that back to yourself for "Management and Development" fees. Do that on six or seven developments a year, transferring the entire debt load to a stand alone fully owned subsidiary, and you can pocket a nice bit over a decade or so.
We're seeing this principle at its most rampant with the "New and Improved" KCI fandango.
Several problems here.
ReplyDelete1. Little houses might fit right in to the West Side on the narrow lots. But must provide parking.
2. The ones in the Architectural Digest mags are little gems. Others however, especially when owners start stacking shit against the foundation, become like KOA campgrounds or mobile home parks. So it's a matter of consciousness and design aesthetics, neither of which these codes really do a good job of controlling.
3. I notice around the country that the way developers get their size 12D feet through the tiny door of rezoning and codes is some socialist project: housing for homeless veterans who are unemployable, and thus it is far cheaper than other forms of public housing, and gives someone with severe PTSD some privacy which is often needed. Or, in Florida, the social service community figured out a plan to allow one tiny house behind large rambling homes--and then they offered contracts to the large homeowner for taking in a homeless person, someone in recovery from drugs or alchohol or a foster teen that has aged out.
In other words, zoning and codes to solve a social challenge or problem.
4. Ya kinda can't have it both ways--if you want affordable housing, then it will by economic necessity be smaller.
5. And I so agree with 12:21. The apartments being built on Armour just west of Troost will RUIN the home values in Central Hyde Park. Do you realize the city allowed the developer to build parking for just 6/10ths of one car per apartment???? Even if it were marketed and leased just to singles, they have company that drives a car that is 9.9/tenths in size! Central Hyde Park already has insufficient parking for their owners. Think Central West End in St. Louis, or Greenwich Village in New York. Or LoDo in Denver's downtown. Endless circling of cars, $90 parking tickets every day...
KCMO needs to fix the streets and stop the crime. Let someone else study the future, and how other cities have done Tiny Homes. KCMO's problem is a council with Tiny Courage to address the present.
Hey you have to have a place for the veterans!
ReplyDeleteGood funnies there, T.T./12:53!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, greed is the drug of choice for certain Kcowtown capatalists and their accomplices in gubmint! They know, but care not, that benefits beyond their own gain, are mostly, lil' to nil.
Oh, sure, there was a charm to all those urban 'Little Italys' and 'Strawberry Hills' with their tidy bunches of bungalows and such. They, and some big families inside were like sardines packed tight. Residents of these petite "pads" shared aromas of pipe tobaccos, poviticas, every possible pasta dish, and more. But, that was way back in the day. We were a simpler living lot, then. People really rode bikes as primary transportation. The majority of those households were owners of ONE car. The big cars fit with room to spare for easy parallel parking along the POTHOLE-less streets, swept, and SAFE streets!
^^Jesus, that was an awful take. Just Terrible! What are you retarded?????
ReplyDelete^^Assbugger syndrome boi, get back to the BathHouse. Your short attention problem renders you incapable of reading much beyond your boyfriend's undies labels. Hey, when are you going to stop messing up his white boxers? "Wash with like colors" doesn't mean some Occasional-Cortex goof wrote the laundry label!
DeleteJust the beginnings of socialism, this reminds me of how socialist countries supplied tiny apartments for housing and tiny little cars for the citizens. This is just the sneaky part of getting people used to it. The future of section ape housing. If you’ve noticed the city is expanding busing in the hood too.
ReplyDelete^^nah, haven't noticed cause I'm not a fucking nutbar.
ReplyDeleteSo, you never left the bar?! It shows.
DeleteKansas City Contractors will not build anything to last so it's easy to tear down after the drugs wipe out the community. It would be just as effective to pitch tents in empty commercial property.
ReplyDeleteEast side has TONS of housing that should be looked at and rehabbed before zoning should even be involved. Changing zoning laws has directly led to declining urban cores in every US city it has been instituted in
ReplyDelete@2:50, you forgot to add "them damn Socialists better keep their Commie hands off'n my Social Security and Medicare", didn't you, Bubba?
ReplyDeleteI left KCMO 9 years ago soooo glad I did.
ReplyDeleteSo long suckers.
We already have tiny houses. See the trailer park on forty highway west of 435. Classy!
ReplyDeleteCordish will get about 800.00 for those?
ReplyDeleteI want to build a tiny house next to a dumb fuck who "works to live", My tiny house will be self sufficiant, and will take up less space, use less resourses, and leave a smaller imprint! I will grow much of my own food, and can most of the food I grow, it will allow me to be healthier without being connected to the tit of big pharma who only makes bank off of you IF you are sick which is most of the population. Cancer comes in the form of 2 things, your lifestyle and what you put in your body. Cancer had a cure a long damn time ago, but today the diasease is one of the greatest money makers of all time, along with Diabetes, heart diasease ETC ETC ETC! The man doesnt want you to live outside their money making algorithm. I think Tiny homes and people who have figured out the "big" scam should be allowed to live in them.
ReplyDelete8:58 - Go fuck yourself mother fucker!! I own rental properties and make a killing off of them, if tiny living was allowed no smart human in their right mind would continue to pay me the rents I get. We dont need tiny homes we need to keep people broke and me rich with a roof over their head that I provide for them. Again fuck you 8:58 dumbfuck!!!
ReplyDelete9:04 A defensive nerve was struck obviously, hmm could it be that 8:58 had a point and your greed was threatened??
ReplyDelete6:13 either you are a KCFD FF who ran a call in that trailer park, or just a judgemental asshole, either way you are still a judgemental asshole!!
ReplyDeleteZoning changes have RUINED KC. This one looks like it will cause even more damage.
ReplyDelete9:46 quite the contrary. I was conceived in a trailer park, in the Dotte no less. My comment was that we have always had “tiny houses” trailers for example, and that people don’t prefer them. Zillow informs me that the house I grew up in is 850 sf so I kind of know what I’m talking about.
ReplyDelete