Ordinance No. 260399, 260400, 260401- For Immediate Release

Good afternoon, Mayor and Members of City Council,

On behalf of the Northeast Neighborhood Coalition, I am sharing the attached letter regarding Ordinance Nos. 260399, 260400, and 260401 related to vacant buildings, property registration, securing/mothballing standards, and review of historic structure demolitions.

The NNC is encouraged by the direction of these ordinances and appreciates the City’s continued work to address vacant and deteriorating properties. These issues have a direct and daily impact on the Historic Northeast, where vacant buildings often affect neighborhood safety, preservation, fire risk, trespassing, and overall quality of life.

Our attached letter is intended to offer constructive feedback as these ordinances continue to move through review. We strongly support the City’s effort to create clearer standards and accountability, and we ask that Council consider the questions and recommendations outlined in the letter to ensure the final ordinances are practical, enforceable, and responsive to the realities our neighborhoods face.

Thank you for your service, your attention to this issue, and your willingness to continue working with neighborhoods on meaningful solutions. We appreciate the opportunity to provide input and look forward to continued progress.

Respectfully,

Dylan Van Gerpen
President
Northeast Neighborhood Coalition
Serving the Historic Northeast of Kansas City