Living in Lykins

Lykins is one of 7 Neighborhoods located in Kansas City's Historic Northeast. Located about a five minute drive to Downtown KC, we are a triangle shaped neighborhood of about 4000 people. Click here for a larger map of Lykins!

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Lykins is named after the first elected mayor of Kansas City,  Dr. Johnston Lykins. Read more about the history of Lykins here!

Click on map to go to Google Maps. 

In 2018, the Lykins Neighborhood, with the expertise of Neighborhood Legal Support, took on an ambitious project to address blight, safety, and quality of life in the neighborhood. Working with almost 20 rehabbers and development groups, the Neighborhood has become its own Master Developer with the goal of improving as many properties as possible, developing new ones, and establishing a diverse mix of family incomes that reflects the cultural diversity of the neighborhood. To date the Project includes over 120 properties in various phases of redevelopment.

Trust Neighborhoods created  Mixed-Income Neighborhood Trusts (MINTs), operated by and accountable to existing community organizations. MINTs harness the money coming into communities to keep rent affordable for existing residents. The Lykins Neighborhood Trust (LNT) launched in 2021 as a community-based ownership vehicle to develop, own, and manage its own quality rental housing. The vision and legal purpose of the LNT is to increase revitalization while reducing displacement and creating accountable ownership.

LNT now owns or controls 19 units in Lykins with plans for development.

Whittier Elementary is located within the boundaries of Lykins and has a remarkably diverse and engaged population. Whittier tops the list for attendance rates and academic performance in the Kansas City Public School District.  Other public schools serving the neighborhood are Northeast and East High Schools and Northeast Middle School.

Scroll through this slideshow for a great preview of our schools!

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Information about schools can be found at Show Me KC Schools, office conveniently next door in Pendleton Heights. Charter, private & parochial schools are also available to Lykins residents.

There are so many great restaurants to explore in the Northeast, especially small, family owned ethnic restaurants that provide both adventure and delicious cuisine. Check out Mexican, Somali, Burmese, Vietnamese. And of course you can get hamburgers and pizzas. The City Market is  just a couple miles to the west (easy on the bus) with lots of interesting options and fresh produce. Check out some reviews.

Lykins is located 2 1/2 miles due east of Kansas City's busy downtown. Three east-west bus lines serve the Northeast into Downtown. For route and schedules, go to RideKC. 

The Historic Northeast is home to many arts organizations focusing on visual arts, theater, local culture and history, and children's art programs.

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Harmony Project KC

Multi-year mentoring program that uses music as a means of positive development and social inclusion. Students play orchestral & band instruments.

Northeast Arts KC

Organization Supporting Performing, Visual and Liberal Arts in Northeast Kansas City

Sala de Arte

Art gallery/Studio located in the Historic Northeast Kansas City, Mo.

Mattie Rhodes

Arts programs for children

Stone Lion Puppets

A professional not-for-profit theater company specializing in the art of puppetry

Street Style Academy

A street dance school that offers and trains student's of all ages in the proper and correct art forms of street dance styles