Englewood Arts Overlay District

About This Project

Englewood offers great opportunities that would provide permanent affordable housing and a diverse, inclusive neighborhood with lots of amenities including close proximity to the Independence Square and downtown Kansas City.

In October 2024, The Englewood Arts District successfully petitioned to create the West Central Independence Overlay District (WCIOD) to give property owners more rights. The district allows a portion of western Independence to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and homes less than 1,000 feet, matching existing homes in the community.

As a complement to investments made in the revitalization of the Englewood Arts District, collaborators are pursuing the acquisition of permanent affordable housing options.

In the diverse and determined Englewood neighborhood of western Independence, home is where the art is. Embodying that ethos since 2022 is the Englewood Arts Center, a progressively growing hub of art learning, artmaking, art exhibiting and a host of art-driven public events attracting neighborhood residents and visitors from both sides of the state line.

In the last three years, over 22 families have gotten to buy homes because of Englewood Arts. They find real estate agents, help navigate the banks, and anonymous donors help pay part of the down payment — making homeownership possible for those who couldn't afford it otherwise.