What You Need to Know about
Martin City 

The Martin City Community Improvement District (MC-CID) in South Kansas City is a 300 acre political subdivision of the City of Kansas City, Missouri. It was established in January of 2005. MC-CID is structured to operate in perpetuity – a forever CID. (Martin City was established in the mid-1850's as a major jumping off point for travelers going west).

Martin City is actually a part of the City of Kansas City, Missouri having been annexed in 1963.

MC-CID is governed by a Board of Directors made up of property owners representing local businesses serving 4-year terms: Jess & Jim's Steakhouse, Rosehill Gardens, Suburban Lawn & Garden, Reno's Power Sports, TapanAm Engineers, Volley Ball Beach and the Martin City Sports Complex. The Board meets the second Thursday monthly at Jess & Jim's Steakhouse. The meetings run from 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. and are open to the public.

MC-CID's mission is: To serve as an economic development tool that allows landowners in the District to coordinate efforts to improve the District and meet District purposes through master planning that implements public improvements: in infrastructure, transportation, and appearance; policies of safety and security; marketing campaigns to attract new business and tourism; and programs that foster recreational and cultural activity as well as special events.

MC-CID has a dedicated revenue stream that comes from an annual property tax of $150 per property totaling approximately $22,000 annually. A $.005 sales tax on all retail sales excluding automobile/real estate sales generates an annual income of approximately $225,000. This revenue is used for projects and services that benefit the entire district.

There are 75+ businesses within MC-CID which are primarily family-owned, locally grown businesses where the owners are often on site waiting on customers.

MC-CID current and future activities include:

• Completing a design study of improvements and right-of-way acquisition in 2012 for 135th St. through the Jackson County Road System (CURS) program.
• Eventual construction of a one-mile stretch along 135th St. from Holmes Road to Hwy. 150 which includes upgrading the road from a 2-lane street to 3 lanes, plus the addition of curbs, gutters, an enclosed drainage system, geometric improvements at major intersections, traffic signal modifications, traffic signal installation, new streetlights, sidewalks and 55 new parallel parking spaces. This is a $5,000,000 project.
• Hosting events such as the St. Patrick's Day Parade (25 years old in 2012) with over 20,000 parade attendees, a holiday Business after Hours, in-district business seminars, a refreshment stop for the Tour de Brew Bicycle Race and a new Martin City May Days to debut in 2013.
• Constructing and maintaining Martin City signature signage at primary entry points into the district.
• Decorating Martin City: Holiday Lighting from Nov. – Jan. along 135th St. /Washington St. as well as seasonal decorative light pole banners.
• Maintaining a district website, Facebook (www.facebook.com/martincitycommunityimprovementdistrict and LinkedIn pages (www.Linkedin.com)
• Actively seeking new businesses to fill the vacant locations such as the former Sutherland's Lumber and Commerce Bank Branch buildings as well as choice pieces of vacant properties on Holmes Road and 135th St. where new development can occur.

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