North Loop Neighbors

We are neighbors advocating to eliminate the North Loop highway from Downtown Kansas City, and replace it with all of the things that make downtown so great.

[Dion @2024dion]

Walking across the freeway Detroit is planning to tear out has really reinforced the case for North Loop removal in my mind. This is a much worse project, connecting the edge of a very unevenly developed part of downtown to a low rise residential area. The North Loop slices through two thriving commercial districts.

[Abundant Housing for North Carolina @CityBuilder_NC]

As cities like #Durham consider removing their urban freeways, let us:

1) never forget what we lost to "urban renewal", and
2) develop a better future for all

The photo here shows #Kansas City's North Loop freeway (right), and the neighborhoods that it displaced (left).

Our friends at @kcnorthloop North Loop Neighbors have a vision of what this amazing space could become 🏙️

Should Durham, NC get rid of the Durham Freeway?

#freewayremoval #urbanrenewal #transit

[North Loop Neighbors @KCNorthLoop]

The North Loop destroyed a huge swath of our downtown. North Loop Neighbors is an advocacy coalition to rebuild what was lost.

See more at https://t.co/gufU7xEgM1

#NorthLoopNeighbors #ReconnectingCommunities

[Strong Towns @StrongTowns]

Removing a highway is about more than eliminating a costly and decaying road. It’s about creating opportunity for community to thrive.

Rochester did it with the inner loop, and already the city is seeing the fruit of that labor.

[North Loop Neighbors @KCNorthLoop]

@BarsottiKlb The highway viaduct is getting old (it’s the oldest expressway in the City) and will need some major reinvestment eventually.

[North Loop Neighbors @KCNorthLoop]

Should the I-35 through the Westside Remain, be Realigned, be Removed, or something else completely?

Kansas City is looking for feedback and ideas to Reconnect the Westside here: https://t.co/Jhe6pEgwd9

[Johnathan Duncan @JDuncanKC]

I stopped by to listen to the reconnecting the Westside conversation today. Great stories, beautiful history, and proud people are exactly the right combination to envision and build a beautiful future for our Westside. Excited for what’s to come.

[Mayor Q @QuintonLucasKC]

Proud to see outstanding community engagement this morning on Kansas City’s Westside for our reconnecting communities event. We can build a great future for our impacted neighborhoods by first listening. Glad to do it today.

[Mark R. Brown, AICP, CNU @CompletedStreet]

The Rochester highway removal was able to reclaim 6.5 acres of land, leading to $229 million in development and millions in new tax revenue for the city.

We need more urban highway removals.

[North Loop Neighbors @KCNorthLoop]

Check out this thoughtful KCQ article about the history of I-35 through the Westside and the community it impacted

[The Kansas City Star @KCStar]

How highways decimated Kansas City’s West Side over decades of development https://t.co/mwJeoXqTe4

[Zach Molzer @molzer]

“Why sad?”

Before & after.

[ʀ.ᴄ. @McMullinRC]

Say, what if we rerouted all of these highways to go around the city instead of through it? I'd bet that'd open a lot of land for development!
Since we're now all-in on developing government-held lands!

[The Kansas City Star @KCStar]

Eight redevelopment controversies reveal Kansas City neighborhoods’ resilience https://t.co/7KH6mCwhU9

[North Loop Neighbors @KCNorthLoop]

The @UMKC junior year urban planning and design studio recently reimagined the North Loop as a BRT transit way and TOD site for the Bistate Transit Corridor. Check out their work below!

@KansasCity @MARCKCMetro @FrischPlan

https://t.co/2LVjOB69kP

[North Loop Neighbors @KCNorthLoop]

@John5tork No grass fields, but there are vacant parking lots. They are held by a small group of speculating landowners.

[North Loop Neighbors @KCNorthLoop]

You already know our answer!

But the great thing about removing the North Loop is that we don’t need “unlimited funding.” For a little up front planning and infrastructure work, we can restore a vibrant, revenue-generating neighborhood and create a financial net positive for KC.

[The B1M @TheB1M]

You can green light and give unlimited funding to any megaproject in the world. What are you doing first?

[North Loop Neighbors @KCNorthLoop]

@NoMoreBikeLanes Lewis and Clark could remain open under our framework, if needed. It could also be converted to a local road and transit way paired with the riverfront heritage trail below.

We also need a solution to open the Kansas Avenue and Central Avenue bridges.

[Celisa Calacal @celisa_mia]

Really proud of this one!

For A People’s History of Kansas City, I explored the construction of Highway 71 — Bruce R. Watkins Drive. 2,000 homes were destroyed and thousands more Black residents were displaced because of it.

https://t.co/lWMphWSBWj

[North Loop Neighbors @KCNorthLoop]

Reconnecting the Westside Community Summit materials and a survey are posted online. Great opportunity to share your ideas and opinions: https://t.co/blmyyA2MdJ