Kansas City, Missouri, is faced with the problem of how to rebuild a devastated historic African-American residential community and core neighborhood retail center, and thereby reverse a 40-year trend of declining property values caused by a failed urban renewal plan.

The Beacon Hill Redevelopment Partnership is an innovative approach to community redevelopment involving the private sector, the community, and the City. These three entities are working together to reach consensus on a plan, secure financing commitments, and set a goal and vision for comprehensive community redevelopment. In its entirety, the redevelopment project is bold, aggressive, and responsive to the residents, the history of the community, and its location in Kansas City.

The effort began in the late 1980's with initial activities by the Jazz District Redevelopment Authority to revive the community's historic African-American commercial core at 18^th and Vine. Building on these initial activities, a partnership of residents, homebuilders, the City, and the private sector was formed in 1998 to address the surrounding residential area. All of these interests have come together to support economic development, housing, transportation, the arts and culture, workforce development, the environment, and public safety in the 18^th and Vine Cultural Center and Beacon Hill neighborhood.

In support of the community, Fannie Mae has committed more than $30 million. This commitment builds upon a public investment of over $100 million for revitalization of this urban core neighborhood.

Increased tourism, higher property values, and healthier environmental conditions in the urban core are just a few of the benefits of this valuable partnership. Following are specific elements of the Beacon Hill Redevelopment Partnership:

• $38 million of local, state and federal support for the revitalization of the historic 18^th & Vine Cultural Center, including the new American Jazz Museum, Gregg Community Center and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, a restored Gem Theater, a renovated Lincoln Building, and new streetscape amenities;
• $17 million in Section 108 financing for residential and commercial developments;
• $7 million in economic development initiative funds for commercial developments;
• $1.25 million for brownfields clean-up in residential areas;
• $10 million of Fannie Mae community debt financing for site development, multi-family debt financing, and purchase of low-income housing tax credits;
• $2 million from the City for public infrastructure funding;
• $80 million in federal, state and local funds to complete a new transportation corridor;
• Planning, financing and management of an estimated $40 million housing development;
• $2 million from the City for residential rehabilitation financing;
• $115,000 in City funding to rebuild the Beacon Hill Community Center;
• Fannie Mae sponsorship of the historic Beacon Hill Trolley Tour;
• Valuable work experience provided through an EPA-funded environmental training program for urban core residents;
• Dramatic improvements in environmental quality and safety; and
• Installation of new streetlights and creation of an improved Neighborhood Watch Program.