When Frank DeSimone opened his dry cleaning business on Independence Boulevard in 1937, he was one of many Italian-immigrant, small-business owners in the neighborhood. Together, these entrepreneurs established a close-knit community where they could run their business and raise their families. As a leader in this community, Frank knew it was important to pass on his legacy by teaching his son about his most highly regarded values: strength and honor.
More than 70 years later, Frank’s son, Jack, is honoring his father’s legacy and life’s work by restoring, expanding and leasing space in the building his father owned and operated. With help from his partners at the EDC and Victor Ross & Co., Realtors, Jack DeSimone is creating a new kind of neighborhood on Independence Blvd.
Under the guidance of EDC Development Services Specialist Bob Long, and with the day-to-day leadership of Victor Cascio of Victor Ross & Co., what started as a blighted corner is now home to nearly 5,000 square feet of office and retail space, with a freshly re-bricked building front and a new parking lot.
Playing an early, integral role in the process, Long conducted a financial analysis that clearly demonstrated the need for tax abatement, coordinated meetings with City staff and taxing jurisdiction representatives, took the project application through the Land Clearance Redevelopment Authority, helped secure a 10-year property tax abatement and facilitated the ongoing project with the City.
Long recognized immediately that this project is more than a nod to Kansas City’s history, it’s also reflective of what’s happening in economic development today.
“Jack didn’t do this for the economics; he did it because it was important to keep his father’s legacy alive,” Long said. “He’s like many of the people we work with these days. They are not developers, but they have a real business need to expand or renew. All they need is someone to help navigate through the process. I was glad to be on the team with Jack to honor his father’s life’s work.”
DeSimone, who lives in Dallas, was grateful to his partners in this personal project. “Living in Dallas, this could have been a real challenge for me. But knowing that Bob and Vic were taking care of things for me in Kansas City was extremely reassuring. I really couldn’t have done this without them.”
Looking ahead, DeSimone and Cascio are hoping to soon add new tenants that will further fuel the growing resurgence on the Boulevard. “We need to create a level of optimism among the merchants on Independence Boulevard,” Cascio said.
Striving to bring his old neighborhood back to its former glory, Jack DeSimone added: “We want to be a part of the group of business people who did their share to revitalize the area. Hopefully, we’re inspiring others.”
