RECOGNIZING THE ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BROOKSIDE SHOPPING DISTRICT; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 139
(Extensions of Remarks - August 27, 2019)
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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1076-E1077]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BROOKSIDE SHOPPING
DISTRICT
______
HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER
of missouri
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate
one hundred years of Brookside, Kansas City's first suburban shopping
area. It brings me great joy to
[[Page E1077]]
have such a historically significant establishment in Missouri's Fifth
Congressional District.
Located in the Brookside neighborhood of Kansas City at 63rd Street
and Brookside Boulevard, the historic shopping district was founded on
September 1, 1919. Headlining the Country Club District Bulletin as
``the first group of neighborhood shops'', it brought a sense of
utility and practicality. Construction for the Brookside Shopping
District began before World War I and would be completed over the next
decade. An innovative undertaking that proudly followed the model of
other developments taking place across the United States, particularly
Yorkship Village, New Jersey. Like the historic Yorkship Village of
1918, the Brookside Shopping District emerged steadfast in its goal to
meet the needs of the community it served. In its founding, the
district consisted of grocery and drugstores, medical offices, a
community center, as well as the first southside police and fire
stations, providing all the necessary resources for the community in a
neighborhood-focused model. In the same spirit, one hundred years
later, this welcoming and vital collection of businesses serves as a
hub of a community and exemplifies a model neighborhood center.
To this day, the Brookside Shopping District continues to add to
Kansas City's rich historical fabric by providing community members
with a charming, diverse place to shop and experience the city's
history. Brookside is home to over eighty shops, restaurants, and
offices; all unique while keeping with the original neighborhood allure
and design. Moreover, in an effort to further promote the interests of
individuals and property owners alike, the Brookside Business
Association, originally the 63rd and Brookside Business Association,
was founded in 1939. The association's efforts have ensured the
continued improvement of the district, making it a better place to live
and work.
Today, the Brookside Business Association is a voluntary organization
that preserves the history of the Brookside Shopping District and
neighborhood, maintains an aesthetically beautiful area for all to
enjoy, and ensures that the historic community center withstands the
test of time for future generations to visit and appreciate.
Madam Speaker, please join me in celebrating the Brookside Shopping
District's tremendous milestone of one hundred years of service to the
people of Kansas City and recognizing the district as a model for what
good urban planning and stewardship can provide to its citizens.
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