Vacant land as a possible location for a new government facility | Photo by Dorri Partain
Dorri Partain
Senior Editor
An ordinance sponsored by Mayor Quinton Lucas and 3rd District Councilwoman Melissa Patterson-Hazley begins the process of selling the vacant property at the intersection of The Paseo and Independence Avenue to the State of Missouri.
Ordinance No. 240691, which will be presented to City Council during its weekly business meeting on Thursday, August 15, outlines the process for selling properties at 533 Tracy, 1408 and 1200 Independence Avenue for the construction of a new Missouri State Behavioral Health facility.
Prior to the council meeting, representatives from the Missouri Department of Mental Health, the Office of Administration and the Division of Behavioral Health at University Health outlined the goals and functions of the proposed facility. The meeting was held on Monday, August 12, at the Butterworth Conference Center at Kansas City University.
Attendees included both neighborhood leaders and business owners, all willing to ask questions ranging from why this location is considered optimal to what type of services would be offered.
The planned facility will house 200 patients, all referred to the facility by the Department of Mental Health, which will operate the facility in partnership with University Health. Both providers currently operate facilities in Kansas City’s Hospital Hill neighborhood but need additional space to provide comprehensive care for patients with mental health issues.
The 15-acre site the state wants to acquire has been undeveloped since 2020, when the last debris from the demolition of Chouteau Court public housing was removed. The site also includes a former park called Belvidere Park.
If the city council approves, the state will provide $300 million in funding to locate and build the facility.
Northeast News will provide more detailed information as the story develops.
