KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KCTV) – The vacant lot at 1200 Independence in the former Belvidere Park will officially be converted into a mental health hospital that will treat hundreds of mentally ill patients.
The new facility will serve at least 200 Missouri residents who have difficulty finding the help they need.
The ordinance outlines the entire property as 533 Tracy Avenue, 1200 Independence Avenue and 1408 Independence Avenue.
The land formerly known as Belvidere Park is approximately 15.5 acres in size.
The Chouteau Courts social housing development was built on the site in the 1950s. It had 144 housing units and around 500 residents before it was completely demolished and washed away in 2020.
The ordinance was introduced by Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Quinton Lucas and co-sponsored by several council members. Last week’s City Council vote officially declares the park land beyond the city’s needs.
The Missouri Department of Mental Health and University Health, which is about two miles from the 1200 Independence Avenue site, will manage the operations. They said the hospital will create more than 600 new jobs and help anyone in need.
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