The senior, urban planning + design studio is working with The Troost Corridor Group to effect change in the corridor. The Troost Corridor is one of six corridors in the metro area MARC has chosen to target for federal funding through the Creating Sustainable Places initiative. Troost Ave stretches for more than 10 miles from 4th Street to 95th Streets, through some of the most urbanized development in Kansas City. Troost Avenue has historically had some of the most densely populated neighborhoods in the metro area. The Troost Avenue corridor is the longest of the six corridors MARC is targeting.
The senior studio’s focus has been to provide a baseline overview of current conditions for the group to build on when formulating a plan to address the area’s issues. The Troost Corridor Group will tackle these issues through three aims: creating a viable corridor, promoting the local economy, and place making. The students have provided basic corridor wide examination of the demographics, transportation, business mix, public facilities, and environmental domain as well as an analysis of existing city plans and projects that affect the area. The students’ next presentation to the Troost Corridor Planning Group will be more focused analysis of particular areas the group has expressed interest in. Going forward students will draw on knowledge they have gained to analyze the research they have conducted coupled with input from the steering committee and citizens in the area to propose their vision of what a sustainable Troost corridor could be.