Penn Valley Redevelopment Project  The Penn Valley Redevelopment Project was a 1971 plan to demolish homes in Kansas City’s Valentine Neighborhood and to replace them with a multimillion-dollar office and residential complex. The project plan used Missouri’s Chapter 353 Urban Redevelopment Corporations Law. The law allows “the right to acquire by the exercise of the power of eminent domain any real property in the redevelopment area” (Section 353.130) and the property “shall not be subject to assessment or payment of general ad valorem (property) taxes imposed by the cities affected by this law, or by the state or any political subdivision thereof, for a period not in excess of ten years” (Section 353.110). The case was presented to the Kansas City City Plan Commission on April 1, 1971 and was unanimously defeated despite approval by the city staff. However, the plan continued to affect the Valentine Neighborhood. The application was submitted by the Penn Valley Redevelopment Corporation. This corporation was organized by the Kansas City Life Insurance Company and other members of the Broadway Area (Business) Association. The president was Donald L. Thompson who was also Financial Vice-president at Kansas City Life. The plan included seven stages or phases:   Opposition to the plan led to the creation of the Valentine Neighborhood Association (VNA) in early 1971. VNA’s first president, Joe Cigas, led the effort by residents to oppose the plan. He was supported by City Councilman Joseph Shaughnessy, Jr. and mayor-elect Dr. Charles B. Wheeler, Jr. In a May 16, 1972 speech to employees of Kansas City Life, Administrative Vice President Walter E. Bixby, Jr. reflected on why they pursued the plan:   Bixby also mentioned that he believed the creation of Penn Valley Community College in 1969 foreshadowed that the area would become more commercial. He compared 1951, 1961, and 1971. “In 1961, the picture shows more commercial properties in the neighborhood – Panhandle Eastern, Interstate Securities, the Broadway-Valentine Shopping Center.” He then said, “Now in 1971, we see the layout for the Penn Valley Junior College which is going to cause a large environmental change in the neighborhood.” After the plan was defeated, Kansas City Life continued to buy properties in the area. Some were rented, others demolished. On September 7, 1972, a lawsuit was filed by Cigas and six others alleging that Kansas City Life perpetrated a scheme of buying property and allowing them to deteriorate and then demolishing them leaving vacant spaces throughout the area.