Brush Creek Community Partners-Monthly Newsletter

Neighborhood Housing Services of Kansas City (NHS) has secured approval for a $38 million urban renewal plan north of Brush Creek between Troost Avenue and The Paseo in the Center City, Squier Park and Manheim Park Neighborhoods.

The Parkway Redevelopment Plan includes approximately 120 new single-family homes, 100 fully rehabilitated homes and 150 fully rehabilitated multi-family apartment units. Additionally, approximately 130 existing homeowners will be provided direct home improvement or renovation assistance.

Working with the neighborhoods, NHS has identified those properties to be targeted for rehabilitation or new housing. Some are blighted areas with vacant lots and abandoned properties. NHS will invest about $14 million to develop one-third of the houses and expects the private sector to complete the plan. New homes will be available by the spring of 2005. The community development corporation expects to complete its commitment to the Parkway Redevelopment Plan in seven years.

NHS has special financing available to assist both existing homeowners and prospective buyers.

Neighborhood Housing Services was established in 1974 to foster public-private partnerships in impoverished parts of Kansas City. Since its inception, the organization has redeveloped 825 housing units. The Parkway Redevelopment Plan grew out of work NHS has done during the past three years along Paseo Boulevard to build 29 single-family houses.

The Stowers Institute for Medical Research announced this month it will locate its second phase of campus development in Kansas City.

In making the announcement, founders James E. and Virginia G. Stowers acknowledged the efforts of city, state, and academic leaders to strengthen life science research at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and at the University of Kansas.

“Virginia and I have been gratified to witness the efforts of our government leaders in Kansas and Missouri to support growth of excellent life science at both state universities,” said Mr. Stowers. “Their actions have reinforced to us that they are as committed as we are to making Kansas City the best place for life science research and discovery development.”

The planned expansion will double the size of the Institute’s world-class scientific research facility in Kansas City. The location of the second phase of campus development has not been determined, but it will be constructed as close to the existing site as possible.

Founded in 1994, the Stowers Institute for Medical Research
conducts research on the fundamental processes of cellular life,
seeking insights that will lead to more effective ways of preventing and
curing disease. Institute officials anticipate they will need
more space than can be accommodated on its ten-acre campus
overlooking Brush Creek by the end of the decade.

“International leaders in cell and molecular biology have marveled at both the quality of our research team and the speed at which we have reached this point,” said Richard W. Brown, co-chairman of the Stowers Institute for Medical Research and chairman and president/chief executive officer of the newly established BioMed Valley Corporation. “Now, with the momentum achieved in growing the basic research program, it is time to decide where the next phase of the institute’s expansion will occur.”

The timing of the expansion has not been set, but the institute’s board intends for construction to begin before the current facilities are filled.

“At the present rate of recruitment, the existing buildings of the Stowers Institute campus will be filled within four or five years,” said institute President and Chief Executive Officer William Neaves. “Maintaining our current pace of adding new laboratory leaders will require expansion of the research facilities before the end of this decade.”

In making the announcement to a group of business and civic leaders, Mr. Stowers noted the importance of collaborative partnership among the universities and research organizations in the Kansas City area. This concept is embodied in the creation of BioMed Valley Corporation, dedicated to discovery development and fundraising for the research partners of BioMed Valley.

The new Twin Elms apartments for seniors opened
at 4109 Paseo Boulevard in February.

Twin Elms apartments at 4109 Paseo Boulevard, has given way to the Twin Elms Senior Community project.

Beginning the end of this month, residents will begin moving into the 54 new apartments developed by Swope Community Builders. The one-bedroom apartments include complete kitchens, a living room and bathroom with off street parking and on-site laundry and community facilities. They will rent for $435 a month.

The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation received more than $113 million in new contributions last year from donors wanting to further their charitable goals.

"This once again will place us among the largest and strongest community foundations in the country, with nearly 1,500 funds, approximately $858 million in assets and grants totaling more than $81 million, including our affiliated trusts and supporting organizations," said Janice C. Kreamer, president and chief executive officer of the Community Foundation.

Kreamer attributed a successful year in part to the foundation's ability to quickly and easily accept alternative assets, including bequests, real estate, closely held stock, and supporting organizations, amounting to more than $37 million.

According to the latest Columbus Foundation survey the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation was ranked the sixth largest community foundation in the country according with assets of $641.1 million, third in contributions of $118.5 million, and second in grants, distributing $101.9 million.

More than 11,600 grants were issued in 2003, totaling more than $81 million in support of nonprofits and important initiatives across the region. The Community Foundation now includes approximately 1,500 funds; many designated to support a specific organization or particular field of interest.

To strategically leverage its limited unrestricted grant dollars (two percent of total assets), the Community Foundation has identified five leadership areas it believes will most impact the successful development of the region: improved race relations, healthy children and families, arts and culture, a revitalized urban core on both sides of the state line, and strategic investment in the Life Sciences.

During its 25th Anniversary last year, the Community Foundation announced 16 major gifts tied to its leadership areas totaling more than $19.5 million. Among the gifts were multi-year grants in support of the proposed Institute of Urban Education at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and the new Young Audiences Community School of the Arts at St. Theresa's Academy.

The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation is a member of Brush Creek Community Partners.

Café Nerman Now Open on KCAI Campus
A new coffee house on the campus of the Kansas City Art Institute is now open for business, serving the public as well as students, faculty and staff of KCAI. The café is located on the first floor of Vanderslice Hall, 4415 Warwick Blvd.

The café is named for KCAI supporters Margaret and Jerome Nerman, whose lead gift made construction possible. It is open from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday when school is in session.

Rockhurst’s New Physical Plant to Edge the Campus
Rockhurst University has purchased 5109 Troost Avenue, recently vacated by Blockbuster Video, to house the work of twelve of the school’s physical plant operation staff members. Occupation of the building in May will constitute a new northwest edge of the campus.

Relocation of the skilled tradesmen will alleviate overcrowding of Massman Hall in the center of the campus. The university believes the increased traffic around the building will increase the security presence around the area.

Barrett Hatches is the new president of Swope Health Services and senior vice president, Clinical Operations of Swope Community Enterprises. Hatches was previously president and chief executive officer of Northern Indiana Public Service Company, Northern Indiana Fuel & Light Company and Kokomo Gas & Fuel Company in Merrillville, Indiana. He previously held senior management positions with North American Salt Company and Missouri Gas Energy, both in Kansas City. In his new position, Hatches will be responsible for the strategic direction and operations of the Swope Health Services non-profit system of health centers throughout a five-county area in Missouri and Kansas including its continuous improvement and future growth.

Lora Lacey-Haun, Ph.D., has been appointed as Dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Lacey-Haun served as associate dean for Graduate Studies at UMKC for the past two years. She was previously Associate Dean at the School of Nursing, where she established a track record of attracting competitive grant funding, building academic programs, and expanding the school’s partnerships.

Midwest Research Institute (MRI) is part of a team serving as a biodefense hub for the Midwest region and helping to protect Americans against bioterrorism and emerging infectious diseases. Led by Washington University in St. Louis, MRI along with Saint Louis University, the University of Missouri-Columbia and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland will form the Midwest Regional Center for Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research (Midwest Center). Grants administered by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases could amount to $35 million over the next five years. MRI will perform applied research in the areas of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines for infectious diseases. Secondary roles will include supporting work with infectious agents that require biosafety containment facilities, and providing chemical analysis to other researchers.

The Stowers Institute for Medical Research has announced the creation of a new science education program for Greater Kansas City area high school science teachers. Beginning this fall, Science Teachers Access to Research at Stowers (the STARS Program) will inform high school science teachers of research underway at the Stowers Institute and provide them with information to stimulate student interest in careers in life science. The program is patterned after a highly successful program initiated in 1990 by Southwestern Medical School in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.

The Women’s Cardiac Center of Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City was recently honored by Women’s Day for the institution’s leadership in educating women about women’s heart health. The recognition by came as part of the magazine’s inaugural “Red Dress Award” activities, which is part of a national awareness campaign to educate women about heart disease and encourage them to take an active role in their health. The center was also honored for being one of the first contributors in this field.

The world’s largest tax services company, H&R Block also delivers financial, mortgage and business products and services to its 21 million clients. H&R Block offers a full range of software, online and in-office tax solutions, combined with personalized financial advice about retirement savings, home ownership and other opportunities to clients.

Mission
To help clients achieve their financial objectives by serving as their tax and financial partner.

Founding and Growth
Nearly 50 years ago, Kansas City brothers Henry, Richard and Leon Bloch started the United Business Company bookkeeping business a few blocks from the company's current headquarters at 4400 Main. They provided a wide variety of services for individuals and small businesses. In 1954, a customer suggested they target tax customers. The decision was timely because it unexpectedly coincided with an IRS decision to no longer provide free tax preparation services. In 1955, Henry and Richard renamed the business H&R Block and began specializing in income tax preparation. One year later, H&R Block began opening franchise offices; the company went public in 1962. In 1971, having survived lung cancer, Richard retired and devoted his time to cancer research and education. Henry continued leading the business and retired in 2000. The company created The H&R Block Foundation with a focus on building stronger communities by supporting the arts, education, health and human service, neighborhood development and volunteerism.

Staff at the H&R Block Service Center at 4400 Blue Parkway
provide support to associates and franchise offices around the country.

The H & R Block Service Center opened at 4400 Blue Parkway in December 1999. The company recently announced plans to build a new world headquarters office in downtown Kansas City at 13th and Main. The Service Center will remain in the Brush Creek Corridor.

The opening of the H&R Block Service Center in December 1999
represented a $17 million dollar investment on the
eastern edge of the Brush Creek Corridor.

H&R Block offers tax expertise around the corner, and from its Service Center along the Brush Creek Corridor
"Nearly a half-century of tax expertise is just around the corner. Find the H&R Block office near you," goes a tagline for H&R Block. This time of year, millions of people with W2s and receipts in hand find H&R Block franchise offices.

But customers who call with questions are connected to associates at the H&R Block Service Center along the Brush Creek Corridor at 4400 Blue Parkway.

"Our Service Center provides year-round customer service and technical support to Block’s national and international offices,” explained Sarah McElwee, vice president, Service Center, H&R Block. “It is the home of three business units staffed by about 145 year-round associates and 500 seasonal associates."

The units include the Repair Depot, which supports the headquarters’ and retail offices’ computer hardware needs; the Investor Center, which takes calls from H&R Block Financial Advisors customers on financial products; and especially busy this time of year, the Contact Center.

The Contact Center handled about 1.3 million contacts last year, including calls from customers phoning 1-800-HRBlock, e-mails through HRBlock.com, online support for the company’s online tax preparation product, and calls from H&R Block retail offices.

And for questions from every corner, come answers from Kansas Citians located along the Corridor.

“We’re happy the Service Center can contribute to the vibrant and growing community of the Brush Creek Corridor by providing year-round and seasonal employment in a safe environment,” McElwee noted.

But the Service Center offers more than employment to the community. “We encourage our associates to volunteer in the Brush Creek Corridor and throughout the Kansas City area,” McElwee added. The result is H&R Block associates working, as well as volunteering, around the corner and in the Corridor.