The L.P Cookingham Institute works with local agency partners to conduct research related to Urban Affairs. Our staff have capabilities in a diverse array of urban-related fields including housing development, economic development, public policy, quantitative analysis, planning, and GIS methods. Below are some of our past projects.
Habitat for Humanity "Green" Housing
One of the MPA students working in the Cookingham Institute did an independent project on "Green" or Sustainable Building Techniques that are available and ongoing in Kansas City's affordable housing market. By making a house more energy efficient, the homeowner can save money each month on their utility bills and it is good for the environment. The paper details how the KCMO Habitat Offiice is getting "Green" and what incentives are available within Kansas City to incentivize this type of construction.
Click here to read the report
Social Compact Partnership
This spring, the Insitute is engaged in a partnership with Social Compact to bring a drill-down research methodology that uncovers persons missed by the US Census. This data will prove particularly useful to developers and community development corporations as they work in the urban core. Visit Social Compact's website >>
Kansas City Community Development CDBG Spending
We conducted a two year analysis of CDBG spending based upon submitted Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Reports (CAPER). View our findings: CDBG Spending Report and CDBG Maps and Data
Northland Workforce Housing Study
In the summer of 2006, the Cookingham Institute of Urban Affairs conducted a study of housing for the Northland Workforce. The final report provided recommendations on increasing the availability of quality housing. The report was commissioned by the Northland Community Foundation. Click here to access the report >>
Housing and Neighborhood Community Development Town Hall
In the spring of 2005, the Cookingham Institute of Urban Affairs hosted a town hall on housing and neighborhood community development sponsored by Neighborhoods Now. To view the proceedings, click here >>
Housing Task Force
In the summer of 2004, the Cookingham Institute of Urban Affairs joined the city manager, Wayne Cauthen, to address the need for a re-visioning of Kansas City’s housing and neighborhood processes. Cauthen set up a housing task force made up of local community leaders, developers, constituents and council members to make recommendations about the process through which funds are allocated for neighborhood development. He tapped Robyne Turner, PhD and the staff and students at the Cookingham Institute to facilitate the task force meetings, and provide content and research needs in order to create a master set of recommendations that would direct the overall allocation process. More information can be found here >>
Housing and Neighborhood Forum
On November 12, 2003, UMKC hosted a University & Community Forum on The Economic Value of Affordable Housing and Strong Neighborhoods. Anne Pasmanick, the Executive Director of the National Neighborhoods Coalition, was the featured keynote speaker.
In addition, four representatives from the Kansas City public and non-profit sectors provided comments and remarks about the issues facing neighborhoods today. Both a summary and a full transcript of each representative's comments can be found here >>
What We Know About Affordable Housing and Strong Neighborhoods In the Kansas City Core
In the fall of 2003, the Cookingham Institute prepared a report on the state of affordable housing in Kansas City. That report can be downloaded here >>
