West Bottoms Collective Advocates For Strengthened Measures – Decades-Old Businesses Face Uncertainty

The Fight For Survival

Business owners in West Bottoms, Kansas City, Missouri, are taking a stand, seeking further safeguards for their decades-established businesses. On first glance, the antique haven may seem tranquilly asleep on weekends, but beneath the surface, there’s a collective brewing momentum, advocating for preservation amidst rapid change.

The West Bottoms Cooperation Committee, a group created by local business owners, is undertaking this significant advocacy. Their fear? That their businesses might be forced out of operation due to future regulations, new occupants, and advanced construction.

Constructive Concerns

Properties around the neighborhood are turning into major development projects by SomeraRoad Inc., starting with the iconic Weld Wheel Building. They plan investments of more than $500 million for the area’s renovation. With these new developers marching in, the West Bottoms Business owners are apprehensive that their businesses might not be included in these transformations if they don’t address their concerns collectively.

Preserving Legacy

These businesses have been the lifeblood of West Bottoms for many, including Edward Phillips of Phillips Fender Guide Company. For over 60 years, these businesses owners have been nurturing the neighborhood with their roots deeply ingrained. They call these businesses their home – a legacy in the making, a history waiting to be carried forward.

Safety Woes

Alongside the need for security for their businesses, the issue of safety looms. As Doc Synder, an owner in the West Bottoms, put it, “If we are going to welcome residents with children, this is a very unsafe environment.” The area sits adjacent to a major railroad crossing, and people can often be seen crossing the road in an undesignated manner.

City’s Questionable Response

In 2023, the city conducted a quiet zone study evaluating the safety conditions of the neighborhood, but seemingly, no action has followed. Concerns persist, with many believing the safety aspect to be critically neglected in the rush for development.

A Shared Goal

The West Bottoms Cooperation Committee and the business owners hold the mutual goal of watching Kansas City thrive. But they seek this prosperity without it being at the expense of those who have invested their lives into the area. The harmony of preservation and progress is what they envision for the West Bottoms. The SomeraRoad Inc. project, slated for completion in 15 years, can potentially disrupt this harmony if not managed with the stakeholders’ concerns in mind.