Category Archives: Waldo Community News

Kansas City Academy Celebrates 40 Years in Waldo

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There is a beautiful, large old brick building on Main St in Waldo you have probably driven by many times…perhaps you wondered, what is this place?  Surrounded by residential homes and across from a church, Kansas City Academy is an arts focused middle and high school, located at 7933 Main St.  KCA has a 40th birthday this year, and everyone is invited to celebrate with them.  I stopped by the school earlier this summer and spoke with Development Director Katie Wells to find out more about this unique school.

KCA was started by a group of runs and lay persons when Loretto Academy in Westport closed.  The Loretto (now an event venue) was a girls only day/boarding school with a reputation for personalized educational instruction and religious and racial tolerance.  The original KCA founders first opened a school in a basement on Troost when they left Loretto, incorporating it as a “learning cooperative” .  After several years they purchased the current building, formerly an engineering school, on Main St.  Fun fact:  one of those founders is still teaching at the school!

Wells explained there are several aspects of this tuition based school that make it unique:  classes are under 20 students each, with about 75-80 teens total enrollment.  The majority of teachers have worked at KCA over ten years, creating their own accredited curriculum emphasizing cooperation between classes along with a social justice component.  Students with a creative streak appreciate the emphasis on music, theater, art and culinary classes.  LGBTQ kids feel especially comfortable here.  Wells is also proud of the fact that KCA is a “trauma informed school” with several specially trained teachers equipped to deal with sensitive situations.  “We try to prepare students for actual life, not just teach facts and figures.  I love to see how these incredibly dedicated teachers work to bring out each student’s individual talents.”  Prospective students take an entrance exam and participate in a shadow day to be sure the school is a good fit.  

Kansas City Academy’s 40th birthday celebration kicks off on Saturday September 7  with a Pancake Breakfast from 9:30am-11am on the school grounds–only $5! If you are interested in KCA, stop by to check it out!

A Few Takeaways From Last Week’s Brookside/Waldo Community Crime Meeting

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Last week, representatives from the Metro Patrol Division of the KC Police Department, along with County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker hosted a meeting for residents and businessowners in the Brookside/Waldo area at Research Medical Center. Leaders from the Brookside Business Assn and the Waldo Area Business Assn put the meeting together in response to the increased crime in our neighborhood. I attended the meeting and wanted to share several takeaways from the 90 minute presentation/discussion*:

–Property crimes and auto thefts have increased in our area. This includes stolen cars, business break ins, porch pirates and car looting. There are five people working property crimes, with 15-19 crimes as a daily average.

–KCPD doesn’t have the active duty police force it once did–due to persons retiring, COVID, not as many people applying to be officers. The process to become an active duty officer takes almost 2 years. However, trends are “going in the right direction” according to the KCPL human resources head who spoke.

–When someone calls 911, depending on who is available, the officer responding could be coming from north KC or far south KC. Response can take longer than expected due to travel time.

–Juveniles are responsible for much of these property and violent crime. The police are aware of a particular group of these kids. Their motivation? Could be money, drugs-but also it’s very much a macho group thing, posting on social media and knowing there is a slim chance they will get caught and prosecuted.

–As for houseless people roaming the streets, setting up camps, harassing pedestrians and small shops, urinating in public, etc–a low barrier shelter is desperately needed in KCMO. And last week the KC City Council did approve funding for such a shelter in the NE area of the city.

–Jean Peters Baker, Jackson County Prosecutor, along with the officers, did seem to express frustration with some of the current laws on the books, evidence needed and paperwork involved with trying to prosecute these people when caught, especially the younger kids. Witnesses often won’t talk.

–The police had several suggestions to deter property crime: keep your cars empty of any valuables and locked at all times; set up security systems; keep your vehicle in a garage. One attendee suggested the police staff a small pop up storefront in Brookside and Waldo for quick response to the community; it didn’t seem like that suggestion would be implemented. Several neighbors and small businesses are setting up phone trees to keep the lines of communication open and immediate when something happens.

Overall, I think it was a productive meeting; personally, I would like to see this meeting conducted every other month so we can get accurate reports on any progress being made by the KCPD and prosecutor’s office. The police seem to be frustrated with the higher level of crime and just don’t have the staff to be more pro-active; that was my main takeaway. Here’s a summary of the meeting from one of the news stations:

https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/residents-from-waldo-brookside-neighborhoods-pack-meeting-on-crime-issues

To track crime in the neighborhood, here’s a link from the KCPD website:

https://www.kcpd.org/crime/crime-mapping/

*Disclaimer: I am not a journalist and my notes from this meeting may not be 100% accurate! The AV equipment broke down early in the meeting so the written stats being presented were not readily available.

Modern New Apartments Open on Gregory

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New apartments with modern amenities–difficult to find in our Brookside/Waldo neighborhood.  Waldo’s 222 Flats just east of 75th and Wornall opened in 2021; now a few blocks north we have The Romanelli Reserve at 200 West Gregory, developed by longtime Kansas City resident Marshal Blount. 

Driving along Gregory you probably noticed this project took quite a while to finish–but it’s worth the wait.  The 9 unit building has several special features that show the extra thought and care Blount put into the apartments:  high density insulation for energy efficiency and sound absorption; exterior stone accents and Hardie siding;  high ceilings, dimmer lights, quartz counters, upgraded appliances and balconies for each unit. Blount even got KCMO to sign off on a new outdoor material called aluma board; this product looks like wood but is actually a powder coated aluminum that resists water and other weather elements.  The result is a sleek, modern building with open floor plan apartments in an older, walkable neighborhood. 

Units rent for $2195 per month, plus a $100 monthly fee to cover water and trash service.  The all electric apartments also  feature walk-in pantries, in unit washer and dryer, double closets in bedrooms,  tiled baths and surface parking behind the building.  Each unit is approximately 1100 square feet, with two bedrooms and two baths;   Pets are allowed.

Marshal Blount

Marshal has lived in the Brookside area since he was 7 years old, attending Visitation grade school and Rockhurst high school..  He is a commercial broker with Block and Company–you’ve probably seen their signs in the Waldo area.  Over the years he worked in the restaurant industry, trained as a chef, worked for a wine distributor and eventually got a license in the real estate industry to work for himself.  Marshal is very proud of his apartment baby, and really enjoys getting to know the new tenants.  “Brookside is a friendly place where neighbors like to know each other, support one another and the locally owned businesses here.  It’s exciting to provide such a high quality building in this walkable neighborhood for those that prefer to rent rather than own a home–there’s much less maintenance.”

Most of the building is leased; as of this writing there are a couple of apartments left. For more information and a personal tour, contact The Romanelli Reserve through their website.

Brookside Has It’s Own Bagels Now!

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If you are a bagel lover as I am, you know how challenging it can be to find a bagel like the kind you can buy in New York City.  The situation is similar to  pizza:  so many different kinds and ways to make them; buying  frozen bagels or pre packaged bags at the grocery store – NOT even worth the money in my opinion.  So I was very excited to learn about Brookside Bagels, available at the Brookside Farmers’ Market…and lovingly made nearby at a Brookside home kitchen.

Owner James Holler would visit NYC a few times a year and loved the bagel sandwiches he bought there; however he was discouraged that he could not find a comparable bagel here in KC.  Along with his wife Carley, he started to bake them at home, tinkering with various recipes. His home based CPA job originates in Phoenix, so  due to his later business hours, James spent early mornings watching YouTube videos for inspiration.   He started giving samples to friends, getting good feedback and kept on baking, finally settling on a recipe using only organic flour, yeast, salt, water and barley malt syrup.  In April, James and Carley opened their stand at the market… and now sell  out every week. 

James and Carley Holler started Brookside Bagels

If you’ve ever tried to make bagels  from scratch, you know it is a time consuming process.  James mixes and preps the dough on Friday, and gets up at 4am on Saturday to start baking hundreds of bagels.  He hand rolls and boils  each one and even makes his own “everything” seasoning–the everything bagel is his top seller; he also sells sea salt, sesame seed, poppy seed, blueberry and chocolate chip flavors. Customers can order ahead and pick up at the market; on rare Saturdays Carley can’t operate the booth, she will deliver the bagels to your Brookside area home–that is rare, dedicated customer service!!!

At this time, there are no plans to expand to a commercial bakery operation or retail storefront; James likes controlling the quality and output from his Armour Fields kitchen. “We are relatively new to the Brookside area and really feel the love from our customers.  We are excited to stay here, grow as a family and keep providing high quality bagels to Brookside” says James.  As the website states, the mission is to “craft each bagel with care, using traditional techniques and high quality ingredients” for the customer.  And if you are a bagel lover, you’ll agree these are very high quality bagels!

Find out more about Brookside Bagels at their website or Instagram page (brookside.bagels) –or just stop by their booth on Saturdays at the Brookside Farmers’ Market!

Brookside Sidewalk Sale Begins Today July 11

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It’s the annual Brookside Sidewalk Sale, starting today and running through Saturday. Browse the shops along and around 63rd St and pick up some bargains! Many of our favorite shops will be offering deals, including A STORE NAMED STUFF, Corner Candleshop, Sierra Winter, LADYCO and more.

In addition, the Shred Event is Saturday from 8am-11am, in the parking lot between the tennis courts and Red Door Grill.

Thank you for supporting our locally owned Brookside businesses!!

Brookside PatioFest Tomorrow Evening!

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What a great idea….Brookside does it again! The first PatioFest is tomorrow night and everyone is welcome. Come out and celebrate the Summer Solstice with your neighbors and friends! The shops will be open till 7 as well.

There will be live music at several places in the core area of Brookside-including near Jalepeno’s, the Brooksider, Brookside Toy and Science and Foo’s. Check the website for details on who is performing where and exact showtimes.

Waldo Astoria – Unique New Event & Guest House Venue in Waldo

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The Waldo Astoria…does that name sound familiar? Longtime Waldo residents may remember the dinner playhouse at 73rd and Washington, which originally opened around 1924 as the Waldo Theater. That building is long gone…but the name, Waldo Astoria, now refers to a new event space in Waldo.

The newly opened Waldo Astoria is different: it’s an event space, it’s an overnight guest house; it can be a live music venue; it can be a special private retreat space; there are so many possibilities! So let’s dive in and learn about this new spot you may be visiting sometime soon.

Owners Traci and George Ismert, along with partner Joe Hendrickson, have operated businesses along the short block of W. 80th Terrace for several years. The Ismerts renovate and build homes through their company Old Glory Neighborhood Improvement Company, Inc, and Joe operates Hendrickson Tree Care Company. Formerly a airplane parts business, the building across the street from them came up for sale and the Ismerts decided to purchase it. After a full renovation with Joe’s help, they decided to operate it as a multipurpose venue. Honoring part of Waldo’s history, they named their new venture the Waldo Astoria.

Traci and Joe Ismert, left and Joe Hendrickson

The renovated building is divided into two distinct areas. The front part is similar to a house, with a living room, dining room, full kitchen and sleeping accommodations for up to 16 people. Head downstairs to the back of the property and find a large, open space featuring a long bar, high ceilings, and a double garage door that opens to a fenced yard with a concrete pad for a live band. This space can host up to 100 guests, depending on the room set up. And if you book this space for a private event, you can choose your own licensed caterer and bring in alcohol for serving. There is plenty of free parking outside. You can rent just the guest house or the event area; they will not book two different parties at the same time in the different spaces.

Waldo Astoria would be a perfect spot for a wedding, graduation party, family reunion, corporate retreat, holiday party, seminar — so many possibilities! The Ismerts and and Joe are also hosting events open to the public-the next one is a live music event on June 30, a benefit for the Veterans Community Project.

Be sure to follow their Instagram page for updates. If you would like a tour of Waldo Astoria, contact them through their website.

New Arts Center for Kids Opens in Brookside

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Encouraging children to discover and explore their interest in arts and music is a priority for many parents. Here in Brookside, there is a new locally owned business that can help–HeartBeat Studio.

Christi Coffey

Founder Christi Coffey offers year round classes at her central Brookside space, including special summer camps. There’s a music room for guitar, piano and voice lessons; a large space for dance and theater classes and an art room for working with clay, fiber and print making. All of the summer camps are themed–including one on Taylor Swift, of course! Year round classes are offered for ages 1-18; the six week summer camps are geared toward ages 4-13. In addition, Christi hosts the “Kid’s ARTventure Night” on the first Friday of each month. For $35, you can drop off your youngster at 5:30pm and come back at 9:30 for pick up…and enjoy an evening to yourself! HeartBeat Studio hosts birthday parties too.

Christi has a BFA in musical theater from SE Missouri State and has been teaching in the arts for twelve years. She worked at the Coterie Theater, the Jewish Community Center and KCYA. During the pandemic, she purchased a Tippi Toes franchise which she still owns. “I love teaching” says Christi, ” and childhood is the most important time in life to explore the arts. I love to see a shy kid blossom and gain confidence through classes–art can help a child grow emotionally”. Brookside was her preferred location for the new business as she saw a real need. “There are so many families in the area, wanting this type of service”. I think this is especially true for summer camps as most families have two working parents. Christi doesn’t have much free time but when she can relax, she enjoys her backyard ducks and tending her large vegetable/fruit garden in Hyde Park.

Heartbeat Studio dance room

HeartBeat Studio is located at 6314 Brookside Plaza, next to Jalapeno’s.

Bryant School Proposed for Teacher Housing

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Last month I attending a public meeting at Hale Cook Elementary, hosted by the Kansas City Public Schools.  KCPS is proposing turning the former Bryant School into housing for teachers. Bryant was built 1915-1938 on just over four acres of land at 319 Westover, and has been vacant since 2009.  Whatever happens to this property, it will affect home values and the immediate neighborhood.  As a Realtor, I wanted to find out more about the plans….and share them with you!

Jesse Lang and Shannon Jaxx, who both work in “repurposing” closed schools for the district, moderated the event; Superintendent Dr Jennifer Collier kicked it off by talking about increased enrollment in the district schools and the recent hike in teacher salaries.  When KCPS conducted a survey of first year teachers, one of the questions was about housing. The survey indicated teachers are having trouble finding affordable housing and would prefer rents of $800-$1000 per month close to the schools they work in.  KCPS feels converting Bryant to teacher housing would help some of these staff people. Several school districts around the country have built apartments specifically for teachers; California is “leading the way”, also Chicago and Newark.  Locally, the Guadeloupe Center recently broke ground on a 50 unit apartment complex near their elementary school.

Bryant Elementary School, 319 Westover

In addition to the proposed renovation of Bryant, Dr Collier talked in detail about the $650 million in deferred maintenance of the district’s current schools, which they hope to address via COP Bonds and a spring 2025 General Obligation (GO) Bond, which would require voter approval. These measures would not fund the Bryant project.

Approximately 50 persons were present at the meeting and overall, there didn’t seem to be any strong objections to the teacher housing proposal.  I jotted down several notes and have summarized the information in quick bullet points below.  You can also find slides from the presentation here.

*The land Bryant sits on is divided into four tracks, currently zoned for single family or school use.  KCPS would need to have the neighborhood “restrictive covenants” changed to allow the apartments.  KCPS will also apply to have Bryant on the National Register of Historic Places to qualify for tax credits. 

*Approximately 27-40 units would be built, with the possibility of a few single family homes (at market sale rate) on the eastern track.

*No projected cost was mentioned for the project.  Several for profit and nonprofit developers have expressed interest in submitting a proposal.  Philanthropic support will be needed to keep rents below market value. KCPS needs to decide if the land would be a long term lease or sale to the developer.

*Other alternatives for this property are:  demolish the building and KCPS keeps the site as a vacant lot; or sell it to a developer for new, market rate single family homes.

*It was also mentioned that KCPS is “evaluating” the current Southwest High School building for a third middle school location. It is not being considered for teacher housing.

The next steps are this:  over the next several months, KCPS will solicit feedback from the community, make a recommendation to the school board and in the Fall, “proceed with critical actions”. KCPS promises to “participate in good faith negotiations with the property owners” and will “solicit community feedback prior to choosing a developer” if the teacher housing proposal goes through.

KCPS wants your feedback!  You can complete a survey online by May 17.  I’ll plan on attending other public meetings related to this topic and keep you updated via the blog—thanks for reading!!