How we approach the development of our cities has the potential to benefit every resident that lives there, or it can lead to slow deterioration. This week, our studio was privileged to hear "We've Built Cities We Can't Afford" presented by Principal Emeritus Dennis Strait of Multistudio, which fundamentally challenges how we view development in Kansas City. Our city’s physical footprint has quadrupled since the 1950s, while our population in that area has remained flat. This has left us with massive infrastructure liabilities, over 6,500 miles of streets, that our current tax base simply can’t maintain. Data reveals that our older, pre-1950s neighborhoods (often mixed-use and higher density) are far more financially productive for the city than the sprawling, high-value suburban developments, which typically cost more in long-term infrastructure maintenance than they generate in tax revenue from day 1.

Multistudio, along with urban development firm Urban3, has worked to create value per acre maps, which visualize these economic disparities in an easy-to-understand graphic. By shifting our focus from value per parcel to value per acre, we can better identify opportunities for infill development and mixed-housing types (like duplexes and fourplexes) that utilize existing infrastructure. Currently, we continue to develop suburbs on the outskirts of the metro area that require more of every infrastructure type to support new residents, all while not having enough density to financially support themselves from day 1.

There is an urgent need to repopulate and reinvest in our city’s core, specifically Downtown and the East Side, to correct our financial imbalance over the next 30 years. Strait notes that while downtown represents the most "productive soil" in our region, our current tax code often incentivizes low value uses like surface parking lots rather than productive density. To solve our infrastructure crisis, we must shift focus away from building new roads on the edges and instead prioritize repopulating these central neighborhoods where infrastructure already exists. Ultimately, achieving a financially resilient Kansas City isn't just about math. It will require a shift toward cultivating our existing neighborhoods, rather than avoiding them. This means valuing the efficiency of our core, healing historic divides on the East Side, and choosing sustainable density over endless expansion.

Written by Alex Smith, Architecture Student

This semester, KCDC is studying the Greenline, a 10-mile urban trail that will loop around Downtown KC. This week, we went to Blip Coffee for our Community Kick-Off Event, where we presented our research across five focus areas: Community Connectivity, Social Equity, Environmental and Ecological Systems, Economic and Urban Impact, and Public Space Use and Character. Representatives from BNIM, the Downtown Council, BikeWalkKC, the Levee Betterment Project, and others attended to listen to our presentations and help us deepen our research.

The event began with a short talk by Steve McDowell from BNIM, who gave us background on the Greenline project and how it first emerged as an idea. He explained that the project began as a volunteer effort before gaining support from the Downtown Council, which helped move it forward. From there, the project secured funding through MARC and is now actively underway. He concluded his talk by reminding us that “designers are good at moving communities.”

The Greenline concept itself is not new. First proposed in 2019, the Greenline is an ambitious vision for a 10-mile recreational loop around downtown Kansas City, inspired by successful rails-to-trails projects like Atlanta’s BeltLine. Championed by developer Vince Bryant and supported by BNIM, the concept focuses on repurposing underutilized infrastructure, such as access roads along existing rail corridors, to connect neighborhoods, parks, and cultural districts. The Greenline aims to bring safer, greener paths that improve mobility, livability, and access to public space to people living in the urban core. With growing support from the Downtown Council and community organizations, the project represents a key step toward a more connected and people-centered downtown.

Following the kickoff, students continued to dive deeper into their research. The Community Connectivity team is studying the history of Kessler Park, downtown neighborhood connections, transit access, greenways, cycling infrastructure, and relevant case studies. The Social Equity team is focusing on population and demographics, health and wellness, and access to essential goods and services. The Environmental and Ecological Systems team is researching watersheds and stormwater mitigation, pollution reduction, ecological longevity, and greenway systems. The Economic and Urban Impact team is examining land use, displacement precedents, crime rates, and nearby development patterns. The Public Space Use and Character team is documenting neighborhood characteristics, trail segment identities, landmarks, and historical aspects along the corridor.

As we move into the next phase, we are beginning to think about how these findings will directly inform our design work. This phase will focus on connecting insights across teams, identifying key opportunities and challenges along the Greenline, and translating research into early design ideas. Our goal is to use this groundwork to guide thoughtful, community-centered design decisions as the project moves forward.

Written by Anna Hurst, Architecture Student

Resilience is a complex idea made up of multiple factors working together to create strong, well-supported communities. One crucial component of social resilience is the ability for communities to build relationships that support: trust, resource sharing, and mutual aid to better support themselves in times of disaster and begin to rebuild after tragedy. This social resilience is actively built through repeated gathering that develops relationships. This capacity for community self-reliance is especially vital for minorities and marginalized populations who are less likely to receive timely aid from government institutions during crises. Sociologist Eric Klinenberg explains this concept in his book Palaces for the People, writing that "People forge bonds in places that have healthy social infrastructures not because they set out to build community, but because when people engage in sustained, recurrent interaction, particularly while doing things they enjoy, relationships inevitably grow." In other words, the casual, repeated interactions that happen in shared spaces, whether at a community garden, library, or neighborhood gathering place, naturally build the connections that become critical during emergencies. These organic social networks enable communities to act quickly and effectively, filling gaps where formal systems may fall short or arrive too late.

How Does This Affect Our Local Neighborhoods in KC?

The concept of social resilience deeply resonates in the Dunbar neighborhood, historically known as the "Garden of Eden" precisely because of a strong, self-reliant community structure and the abundance of shared spaces, such as the original Dunbar School. Today, the erosion of this social infrastructure, due to decline, razing of original buildings, and residents moving away, stands as a significant threat to current community resilience. Yet, efforts are underway to rebuild this vital capacity, especially through the Resilience Hub and various community garden projects that would intentionally reconnect those casual, repeated interactions that foster trust. The gathering places and food system initiatives of today focus on honoring Dunbar's historical roots as an intensive way to strengthen the organic social networks required to protect and sustain this marginalized community during future crises. This focus on rebuilding shared spaces like Dunbar Park, with its many events, including “Make Music Day”, has critical implications for mutual aid capacity and overall neighborhood stability.

Our Studio Experience

Designing for resilience today goes far beyond preparing for climate events. Our learnings show a shift toward a holistic, community-centered approach that responds to changing social and economic conditions. Adaptability is now a priority, ensuring facilities can support public safety partners and local service providers whenever needs arise. Flexibility is essential, with everyday community spaces designed to transition quickly during emergencies, similar to educational medical environments that can operate as surge-capacity care centers. Even with rising material costs, designers continue to pursue strategies that create multiple benefits, such as integrating green infrastructure into public amenities to manage stormwater and enhance overall quality of life.