Demolition began on January 7th near 26th and Olive, as Kaw Valley Wrecking used equipment to take down the first of a series of boarded-up houses in a matter of minutes. Community members, neighborhood residents, civic leaders, city and police officials, and all of Kansas City’s major media outlets watched the process unfold.
Councilman Jermaine Reed said the Third District project will provide employment opportunities for minorities and small businesses, with specific opportunities for those who are certified with the City’s Section 3 program. City architect, Eric Bosch, added that there will be an effort to preserve and reuse materials from some of the properties by deconstructing the homes and working with Habitat for Humanity to make items available at the ReStore if they cannot be used on the new East Patrol Division Station and Crime Lab.
Kansas City Star story: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/01/08/3998772/demolition-starts-clearing-space.html