Developer Seeks Tax Credits
Update on Norman School Proposal
 In the December, newsletter we reported on the proposal of Sherman Associates of Minneapolis to convert the Norman School at 3514 Summit. The property previously belonged to the Kansas City School District, who sold it to a local developer several years ago. Since the sale, the property had deteriorated significantly.
norman school copy
Sherman proposes to purchase the property, rehab the exterior to preserve its historic character and renovate the interior for senior apartments. However, Sherman says it needs to be awarded Low Income Housing Tax Credits from the Missouri Housing Development Corporation in order to complete the project. These tax credits are highly competitive with 27 different projects seeking tax credits this round. Ten Valentine residents attended a Jan. 11 meeting to urge the housing commission to support the credits for the Norman School. Brian O’Neill, Amy Abshenia and Pam Hoelzel spoke in support of the project on behalf of the neighborhood. The commission will announce its decision on the tax credits in late February. If Sherman does not succeed in receiving the tax credits this year, they have said they may try again in the future.

VNA believes this conversion of the school would be an asset to our neighborhood and a very needed improvement. More on the history of the Norman School in the history pages of this newsletter.

Little Ambassadors to be Razed
 Kansas City Life Insurance Co., owner of the apartment buildings at 435 and 451 Knickerbocker Place (known as the Little Ambassadors), has received permission to demolish those buildings due to hazardous conditions within the structures. We reported on this at the last General Meeting and there has been no opposition within Valentine about their action. You can expect to see the demolition anytime. More about the Little Ambassadors

Down-zoning continues
Jim Martin has informed the City Planning Office that we are ready to proceed with the down-zoning within a defined area north of Valentine Road. He is waiting for their response. Since there is a sizable fee involved in this down-zoning, neighborhood residents will be asked to approve the board to use funds collected from homeowners’ dues. See past issues of the newsletter for full details on the down-zoning.

St. Luke’s to build hospice on Cresthaven grounds
Saint Luke’s Hospice will begin demolition of existing property on the west side of Southwest Trafficway between 35th and 37th Streets in mid-February. The site, formerly the Cresthaven Nursing Home, has been vacant for more than 20 years. St. Luke’s will construct a free-standing hospice facility. A groundbreaking ceremony is planned this spring. The facility is scheduled to open in summer 2013.

The $7 million project has received $3.5 million in funding from philanthropic donors. St Luke’s says the facility will include 12 family suites with room to expand to 18. A full-service kitchen, two chapels, common living rooms, and patios for family use are also part of the project.