UMKC sells 10 homes to CORE Urban Renew after push from the local community

  In a sale that was announced in Late January, UMKC sells 10 homes to a local developer, CORE Urban Renew, in an effort to re-occupy the homes and revitalize the neighborhood. 

  All 10 homes are located south of Volker Campus, near Holmes and East 54th Terrace.

  CORE Urban Renew works exclusively in Kansas City, Missouri, and provides homes with modern amenities while maintaining the homes’ century old charm. 

  “CORE is committed to engaging neighbors in the revitalization process and keeping them informed,” said Stacy Downs, Director of Strategic Communications at UMKC.

  In a slideshow presented to the Neighborhood Association Council, CORE details the plans for the homes, before and after pictures of previous work, and the timeframe for the construction. 

  According to Karen Reilly, who works for Core Urban Renew, each home will receive an update to all mechanical systems, insulation to match modern industry standards, floorplan enhancements that add extra bathrooms, kitchen upgrades, first-floor laundry, repaired hardwood floors, and updated exteriors and driveways. 

  “The properties present a great opportunity to impact a neighborhood through thoughtful and efficient rehabilitation work,” Reilly said.

  The Neighborhood Association Council advised the university to return the homes to an occupiable status. UMKC later determined that less than a quarter of the university-owned homes were being leased by students, and that residence halls and other nearby housing options still have availability.

  “There are great opportunities for first time home buyers, single people, couples, families – and perhaps people approaching or in retirement that want to continue to live in the area but want to downsize,” Reilly said. “That diversity of potential homeowners will be in keeping with this vibrant neighborhood.”

  More than 90% of the proceeds from the sale will be funneled to student scholarships, according to Downs. This sale allows UMKC to focus resources on the university’s core academic mission. 

  Also built into the sale were protections to ensure that the homes would be owner-occupied. UMKC wants the surrounding neighborhood to be a “desirable location to live, work, and study in,” Downs said.

  This sale is the first of many, and if everything goes accordingly, the university plans to sell other houses to CORE Urban Renew for revitalization. 

  Construction will be broken down into two phases, with all 10 homes scheduled to be complete and sold at market rate in May 2027.

  Renovations will start February 27 on the first five houses.

[email protected]