What is Save Valentine?

The Kansas City Life Insurance Company notified the Valentine Neighborhood in Midtown Kansas City, Missouri in late 2024 that it planned to demolish 23 properties between 33rd to 35th Street from Southwest Trafficway to Pennsylvania for redevelopment. 

Valentine responded that it has always opposed demolishing homes without a replacement plan. The neighborhood invited Kansas City Life to a meeting to discuss the demolitions and its plans for the future, but Kansas City Life declined to attend and did not share any plans. Demolition of the homes began on Oct. 23 and is continuing.

The Valentine Neighborhood Association was formed in 1971 when the Penn Valley Plaza Redevelopment Company, which included Kansas City Life, proposed a 19-acre redevelopment project from Summit to Pennsylvania between W. 33rd Street and Valentine Road. Homeowners said they did not want to leave their homes. The project was abandoned after a protracted fight that spilled over into city hall.

However, the demolition of homes in the Valentine neighborhood continues today. In 1909, there were 68 homes in the four-block area between 33rd and 35th Streets from Southwest Trafficway to Pennsylvania. By the fall of 2024, only 32 buildings remained. When the current demolition of this area is complete, just a handful of properties will be left standing. Many of the lots in the area have been vacant for years, and the neighborhood is concerned that they will remain vacant as there is no plan for the future. 

The neighborhood held a memorial service to express concern for the demolitions. Shortly afterward, Save Valentine was formed to focus attention on the demolitions and work with stakeholders to find a future for the area that meets the needs of neighborhood residents and others.