Westwood sells slice of public property in win-win deal for city, neighbor

This house will be torn down and the lot combined with one the city is selling to the homeowner.

A thin slice of land owned by the City of Westwood along State Line Road will be sold to an adjacent property owner who wants to build a new house in a transaction that apparently is a win for both sides.

The piece of land the city agreed to sell for $1,000 is too small to build on by itself. C. Bradley Baker has purchased the house next to the vacant lot, a 678 square foot bungalow constructed in the early 1900s that is in disrepair. Baker plans to tear the house down and build a larger house on the combined lots. The house is at 1902 W. 48th Street with park land across State Line.

The piece of land the city owns was given to Westwood by Water District No. 1. At one time, it contained a small building which provided an interconnection between the Johnson County utility and the Kansas City water department in Missouri. It has been appraised at $980.

City Clerk Fred Sherman told the council last week that the city will more than double its property tax income from the parcels if the new house is built. The deal also relieves the city of maintaining the lot.

This small lot will be combined with the lot next door for a new house.