Summer 2000. 39th and Prospect Avenue, Kansas City. One of the most crime-ridden corners in America. While other politicians held press conferences and commissioned reports, newly-elected City Councilman Troy Nash did something nobody expected.
He set up camp. For six days and nights, Nash held "office hours" on the corner — meeting with residents, business owners, drug dealers, prostitutes, church leaders, and anyone else who wanted to talk. He witnessed the crisis firsthand: the abandoned buildings, the open-air drug markets, the families trapped in a food desert with no grocery stores for miles.
The Result: A Citizen-Driven Corridor Plan
Nash's unconventional approach produced what no consultant study could: a community-driven economic development plan that attracted private investment, brought two new grocery stores to a food desert, and began the transformation of the entire Prospect Corridor.
But Nash didn't stop there. When residents of one of the city's most dangerous housing complexes cried out about horrific living conditions — open-air drug sales, violence, neglected facilities — Nash moved in. He lived in the complex for over a month, documenting conditions and advocating for change. The result? New management, paved streets, cut weeds, and restored dignity.
When firefighters complained about decrepit stations, Nash didn't just write a memo. He slept overnight in six fire stations — one in each council district — experiencing firsthand what these heroes endured daily. The resulting public outrage led to passage of a $276 million sales tax for public safety facility improvements.
Read The Coverage
→ "Nash Targets Ground Zero of Blight" → "Community Leaders Take Stand at 39th and Prospect" → "Council Members Clash Over Prospect Corridor" → "Group Hopes Presence Spurs Change in Complex" → "Decrepit Fire Stations Draw Council's Attention" → View the 39th Street / Prospect Corridor TIF Plan