The mayor attended the 2003 ribbon-cutting ceremony with Missouri Sen. Kit Bond, former Congresswoman Karen McCarthy and assorted members of the City Council. Bond told the crowd, "Today's announcement is proof positive that we are making progress in housing, economic development and overall growth in Kansas City."
City Manager Wayne Cauthen even moved into the penthouse.
It took a lot of tax abatements to make Library Lofts' developers Tom Trabon and Roger Buford happy. The city's Housing and Economic Development Financial Corporation lent the Library Lofts $1.5 million in 2001 to buy the buildings at 117 and 127 West 10th Street and 1004 Baltimore. Since then, Library Lofts LLC has received $4.2 million a year in property tax exemptions.
The Library Lofts buildings boast a sauna, an exercise room and a single-lane swimming pool. It wasn't hard to lure urban pioneers; just 12 of the complex's 286 apartments are unoccupied.
But despite the fanfare and amenities, some Library Lofts residents say management has skimped on security and ignored complaints about crime in the buildings. Tenants say Embassy Properties, which runs the Lofts, dropped the security service last summer that used to patrol the buildings. A resident tells the Pitch, "In June or July, the management ran security down to zero without telling the tenants. Nobody really noticed at first."
Todd Vasko, the executive vice president of Embassy Properties, refused to comment on the level of security.
But between June 2006 and April of this year, the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department received 97 calls to 911 to investigate possible crimes at 127 West 10th Street. The reported crimes included a rash of burglaries. On October 30, two Library Lofts West residences on the 12th floor were burglarized during daytime break-ins. A Sony receiver and CD player, a jar of change and four credit cards were stolen from one apartment; the owner's losses totaled $700. The same day, a $3,700, 50-inch plasma TV was stolen from another apartment. Three days later, another burglary occurred at an 11th-floor Library Lofts West residence. The victim claimed that 25 pairs of blue jeans, sweat pants, camouflage pants, a brown North Face coat and a credit card were missing, a loss worth $2,830.
Last November, 28-year-old David Maynard-Moody was arrested at 39th Street and Wyandotte driving a stolen car. A manager of the Library Lofts told police that she had seen Maynard-Moody in front of the 11th floor apartment that was burglarized. Police discovered that Maynard-Moody had been sleeping in a Library Lofts basement storage area, where he was also keeping stolen goods. He had pawned some of what he took from the buildings, including two diamond rings, a Sony receiver and a CD player. He was charged on November 6, 2006, with three counts of stealing and four counts of burglary and was sentenced to four years in prison on November 16.
Library Lofts tenants — most of whom spoke with the Pitch anonymously, fearing that management wouldn't return their security deposits — say problems with crime are common at the Lofts. And it isn't unusual for homeless people to sleep in the basement of the Lofts, they say.
Sara Yaw, a former resident, broke her lease a year ago. "I've seen a couple places that advertise a 24-hour security presence at a desk," Yaw tells the Pitch. "With all the crimes and problems they've had, it seems like something they ought to address."
Dyanna Chapman, a legal assistant, was one of the first Library Lofts tenants. She moved out March 1, losing her $600 deposit for breaking her lease. Chapman was bothered by the lack of communication from Embassy Properties regarding the break-ins. "I saw it steadily go downhill," Chapman says. "The last week I was there, there was a carjacking right out front. I thought, You know what? I'm so done."
The Library Lofts complex was also the site of a killing. In October 2005, a 23-year-old Russian accountant named Alexander Gladkov was shot and killed outside the buildings. One tenant claims that Gladkov had complained to building maintenance staff about the common-key access into the building's main lobby and had changed the locks to his own loft just weeks before he was shot.
After the October break-ins, Embassy responded by hiring Sunset Security to patrol the buildings. But residents say the security was discontinued in January. Calls to the KCPD from 127 West 10th Street continued. The police received five 911 calls in January, 16 calls in February, five in March and four in April. The callers reported armed robbery, burglary, theft from cars and apartments, and one assault.
Vasko said he wasn't aware of any jump in the number of crimes reported to 911. "They could be calling from their unit about something that happened across the street or across town," says Vasko, who serves on the TIF Commission. "I just know we haven't had any reports turned into my leasing office about any issues. I don't think we have an issue."
Last October, the banker in charge of the books for the city's now-defunct Housing and Economic Development Financial Corporation threatened to foreclose on the properties after Library Lofts failed to repay the $1.5 million loan it received from the city agency. The City Council stepped in with an ordinance that gave Library Lofts an extra two years to pay back the money. The ordinance reads: "The Library Lofts project was, and still remains, an important and pivotal housing project for the continued revitalization of the City's Downtown."
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I lived in the Library Lofts from Jun 05 - Jun 06 and for the most part it was nice. My storage area in the basement was broken into twice but there was nothing of value to steal. I have to say the attitude of management about the break-ins was disappointing and the large increase in rent they offered for my next lease was a breaking point since I don't think you get much space for the money there. I found the River Market a much nicer area and I think people who aren't happy with their Downtown experience should check it out. I live in LoDo here in Denver now and even in a city with a more developed downtown you still have to deal with things that you don't have to in the burbs so you have decide if urban living is for you.
I lived in the Library Lofts from Jun 05 - Jun 06 and for the most part it was nice. My storage area in the basement was broken into twice but there was nothing of value to steal. I have to say the attitude of management about the break-ins was disappointing and the large increase in rent they offered for my next lease was a breaking point since I don't think you get much space for the money there. I found the River Market a much nicer area and I think people who aren't happy with their Downtown experience should check it out. I live in LoDo here in Denver now and even in a city with a more developed downtown you still have to deal with things that you don't have to in the burbs so you have decide if urban living is for you.
I tend to agree with Matthew. I live in SoHo South, another building managed by Embassy Properties. I have no complaints about the management. The staff for my building has always been helpful and prompt to respond to any complaints or concerns I have. My car has never been vandalized or broken into. I don't feel at all unsafe in my building or walking in the immediate area around my building, day or night. As for panhandlers, that's just a fact of life if you live in a downtown area. I lived in Pittsburgh before coming to KC and have become quite proficient at saying "Sorry, I don't have anything for you." Noise and construction are also a fact of life in an urban setting. If you work night shift and are a light sleeper, downtown is not for you. I can sleep through just about anything so the noise doesn't bother me. I can't speak to specific conditions inside of the Library Lofts but the attacks on downtown as a whole, I think, are a bit unfair. The bottom line is that you need to be sure you are ready for urban living and everything that comes with it (noise, panhandlers, construction) before you decide to move downtown.
I tend to agree with Matthew. I live in SoHo South, another building managed by Embassy Properties. I have no complaints about the management. The staff for my building has always been helpful and prompt to respond to any complaints or concerns I have. My car has never been vandalized or broken into. I don't feel at all unsafe in my building or walking in the immediate area around my building, day or night. As for panhandlers, that's just a fact of life if you live in a downtown area. I lived in Pittsburgh before coming to KC and have become quite proficient at saying "Sorry, I don't have anything for you." Noise and construction are also a fact of life in an urban setting. If you work night shift and are a light sleeper, downtown is not for you. I can sleep through just about anything so the noise doesn't bother me. I can't speak to specific conditions inside of the Library Lofts but the attacks on downtown as a whole, I think, are a bit unfair. The bottom line is that you need to be sure you are ready for urban living and everything that comes with it (noise, panhandlers, construction) before you decide to move downtown.
Well, obviously this article has been a magnet of discontent. The vast majority of downtown residents who love where they live have no incentive to post complaining comments on a website. I'm not surprised the majority of these comments have been negative. Note, however, that I've been the only one that has posted more than baseless complaints. I'd suspect that some of these attitudes are severely outdated as I've seen many of these problems at concerning levels several years ago, but not today.
First of all, in response to the assertion that I never leave my loft: that couldn't be any less correct. I walk or bicycle daily to my job in the loop. I walk to lunch every day. My claim regarding panhandling is that the problem has all been eliminated in the Library District, not downtown at large. It does happen, yes, and it does happen more often on the east end of downtown.
It seems like posters here are pretty naive to the urban environment. There isn't a city worth anything anywhere that doesn't have some panhandling. That said, in being on the downtown streets every day and many nights, I can count the times I've been panhandled in the last year on two hands. Panhandlers are annoying, intimidating to some and bothersome, but they aren't hurting anyone. Most of them are professionals who make a living off of it. STOP GIVING THEM MONEY and they will stop bothering you.
On the assertion of it being a crime-ridden neighborhood: LOOK IT UP! Check the stats on UMKC's CityScope or with the police. Downtown is an exceptionally safe neighborhood, comparable to some of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city. The stats are very similar to Waldo. How long can people continue to perpetuate this gross misconception about downtown?
Again, I'd welcome any challenge to my statements aside from "14 people whined about it." Downtown has challenges, of course, but it is doing well and it is a great place to live.
Well, obviously this article has been a magnet of discontent. The vast majority of downtown residents who love where they live have no incentive to post complaining comments on a website. I'm not surprised the majority of these comments have been negative. Note, however, that I've been the only one that has posted more than baseless complaints. I'd suspect that some of these attitudes are severely outdated as I've seen many of these problems at concerning levels several years ago, but not today. First of all, in response to the assertion that I never leave my loft: that couldn't be any less correct. I walk or bicycle daily to my job in the loop. I walk to lunch every day. My claim regarding panhandling is that the problem has all been eliminated in the Library District, not downtown at large. It does happen, yes, and it does happen more often on the east end of downtown. It seems like posters here are pretty naive to the urban environment. There isn't a city worth anything anywhere that doesn't have some panhandling. That said, in being on the downtown streets every day and many nights, I can count the times I've been panhandled in the last year on two hands. Panhandlers are annoying, intimidating to some and bothersome, but they aren't hurting anyone. Most of them are professionals who make a living off of it. STOP GIVING THEM MONEY and they will stop bothering you. On the assertion of it being a crime-ridden neighborhood: LOOK IT UP! Check the stats on UMKC's CityScope or with the police. Downtown is an exceptionally safe neighborhood, comparable to some of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city. The stats are very similar to Waldo. How long can people continue to perpetuate this gross misconception about downtown? Again, I'd welcome any challenge to my statements aside from "14 people whined about it." Downtown has challenges, of course, but it is doing well and it is a great place to live.
This is just another example of a crime infested area with no support from city hall or the kansas city police department.
Thank goodness for blogs and the Internet were the voice of the people is not lost in the government gloss over.
This is just another example of a crime infested area with no support from city hall or the kansas city police department. Thank goodness for blogs and the Internet were the voice of the people is not lost in the government gloss over.
I felt sorry for the lady with the children trying to avoid the panhandlers. I was wondering what the men were thinking about when the said just cross the street to avoid them? When you have toddlers you just can't grab them by the arms and run across the street.
Why do mother's with children have to run in the first place? Should it not be the panhandlers running and not the mother of children? That should tell you something about the downtown area attitudes.
I felt sorry for the lady with the children trying to avoid the panhandlers. I was wondering what the men were thinking about when the said just cross the street to avoid them? When you have toddlers you just can't grab them by the arms and run across the street. Why do mother's with children have to run in the first place? Should it not be the panhandlers running and not the mother of children? That should tell you something about the downtown area attitudes.
Loft living is basically "Downtown KC Living" you just have to make up your mind that it will be full of noise, people up at all hours of the night, police sirens, homeless people, pan handling, smog, stalkers, etc. that's why it's called Downtown living in the first place.
..... get use to it or leave.
Loft living is basically "Downtown KC Living" you just have to make up your mind that it will be full of noise, people up at all hours of the night, police sirens, homeless people, pan handling, smog, stalkers, etc. that's why it's called Downtown living in the first place. ..... get use to it or leave.
Anyone who lives or works downtown Kansas City knows that panhandlers are a problem. The 10th and Main bus stop is full of people asking for bus transfers or money for meals.
Anyone who lives or works downtown Kansas City knows that panhandlers are a problem. The 10th and Main bus stop is full of people asking for bus transfers or money for meals.
I think if you read the comments people ARE leaving the Downtown area. Most are just waiting for their lease to expire. I'm sure they won't be back since they were part of those crime statistics that you mentioned.
I think if you read the comments people ARE leaving the Downtown area. Most are just waiting for their lease to expire. I'm sure they won't be back since they were part of those crime statistics that you mentioned.
As a lifetime Kansas City, MO resident, I am honestly shocked by these comments; with the notable exception of Michael's. Each time I've considered a move to a new area, I've checked out kcmo.org and checked out the crime stats for that area. If you don't like what you see, don't move there. If you have a problem with urban living, then don't live in the urban core. If you are truly frightened of a panhandler, cross the street to avoid him or her. This is not a difficult concept and surely not a deterrent to those who are aware of their surroundings. So, quit your complaining and move elsewhere.
As a lifetime Kansas City, MO resident, I am honestly shocked by these comments; with the notable exception of Michael's. Each time I've considered a move to a new area, I've checked out kcmo.org and checked out the crime stats for that area. If you don't like what you see, don't move there. If you have a problem with urban living, then don't live in the urban core. If you are truly frightened of a panhandler, cross the street to avoid him or her. This is not a difficult concept and surely not a deterrent to those who are aware of their surroundings. So, quit your complaining and move elsewhere.
"The panhandling and loitering problems that had plagued the library area are all but gone." Matthew you have to be BLIND or never leave your Loft, If you think a statement like that is true. Hey Kansas City just go down to the Arcade across from the Bus stop to check out the FACTS. Just walk around for 10 minutes to see if your not ask for money for a meal or for a bus transfer. Then come back in a couple of days and you will see the SAME PERSON needing help again. Like Duh.
"Feel free to challenge them"...... OK Steve's positive comments=1 ....... the others residents living downtown with negative comments=16.
"The panhandling and loitering problems that had plagued the library area are all but gone." Matthew you have to be BLIND or never leave your Loft, If you think a statement like that is true. Hey Kansas City just go down to the Arcade across from the Bus stop to check out the FACTS. Just walk around for 10 minutes to see if your not ask for money for a meal or for a bus transfer. Then come back in a couple of days and you will see the SAME PERSON needing help again. Like Duh.
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