KANSAS CITY, Mo. — There aren’t many residents left in one east side neighborhood, but those who remain say they are getting a raw deal.
The Kansas City Missouri Police Department will begin construction in just a few months on a new East Patrol Division and Crime Lab. That construction means the destruction of dozens of homes in a four block area bordered by Prospect and Brooklyn between 26th and 27th streets. City council agreed that the city would pay homeowners left in the area to move out and relocate so that their homes could be torn down to make room for the new campus.
Lawrence Johnson has lived in this particular neighborhood for 15 years — his family for 44 years. He says the city did not give him what he was discussed.
“They promised me a lot of things that I didn’t get,” said Johnson. “We were all treated unfair and they didn’t give anyone any money for their homes.”
Many residents agree they were given less money than discussed and paid less than the value on their property. Kim Williams has rented the same home for over a decade on Park Avenue. She says she was rushed to get find a new home.
“It’s been stressful because I’ve been here for 11 years and to up and have someone saying you have to move immediately,” said Williams.
The project is funded from money raised from a 2010 public safety sales tax. The overall project will cost $60 million and the station and crime lab will be open in 2015.
