Kansas Revitalization Project Becomes Asbestos Dump

August 8, 2006 - A project that was supposed to revitalize a downtrodden neighborhood in Kansas City has turned into a nightmare for area residents.  Concerned activists say the proposed site of the Citadel Plaza has become a dumping ground for half-finished projects, including a large amount of debris that contains hazardous asbestos.

Residents have told the Kansas City Star that a safety hazard may never have happened if the city had followed its own ordinances.  According to reporter Karen Dillon, one of the ordinances states that after a contractor begins to tear down a home, the contractor has 30 days to finish and clean up the debris. If that doesn’t happen, an inspector can issue a citation.

Tom Coyle, director of Kansas City’s Planning and Development Department, told the Star that the demolition work should have been continuous, and he could not tell what happened because he doesn’t live in the neighborhood.

A poor excuse, say neighborhood activists who’ve had to live with the trash and dangerous debris.  They believe ordinances were not enforced because the city has given Community Development Corp. of Kansas City (CDC-KC), the contractor for the project, preferential treatment.

“This doesn’t surprise me,” said Bill Hart, vice president of Blue Hills Neighborhood Association, which for years has sought help from the city to stem the growing mess. “The city has given CDC-KC a lot of leeway over the years.”

The city reports that crews are now cleaning up the piles of debris above ground, while the CDC-KC is working on a plan to remove buried rubble.  A study has shown asbestos contamination in samples above the ground and up to 6 feet below the ground.

Neighbors have been particularly concerned about hazards posed to young children who venture into the area to explore the piles of discarded materials, which, in addition to asbestos, also includes spilled motor fuel, nails, broken glass, and garbage, providing an ideal hiding place for spiders, snakes, insects and rats.