The neighbors of a midtown Kansas City, Missouri development saw themselves move one step closer to justice last week when the developer of the Citadel Plaza admitted that he had committed countless asbestos-related violations while working on the retail project between 2001 and 2006.

According to a report in the Kansas City Star, developer William M. Threatt Jr. consistently failed to properly remove and dispose of large amounts of asbestos while overseeing the development of the project. Specifically, the former president of the Community Development Corporation of Kansas City, along with the corporation’s former real estate director, Anthony Compton, were changed with failing to inspect buildings that were to be demolished, failure to identify asbestos within those structures, and failure to remove those materials.

The Development Corporation had purchased the property from Research Hospital with the intent of building a 35-acre mixed use “plaza” that would include not only stores and restaurants but also homes. Locals were thrilled at the prospect of the $80 million retail center in their neighborhood but, instead, the property sat for years and the site became contaminated with asbestos-containing building materials as well as other toxins.

Prosecutors have alleged that any work that was performed at the site was in violation of state and federal environmental laws. As a matter of fact, Threatt and Compton all but ignored the rules, resulting in an eye-sore strewn with hazardous debris, creating a threat to neighbors who fear asbestos exposure and the potential of developing asbestos diseases like asbestosis and mesothelioma cancer.

The city recently purchased the property for $15 million and after clean-up they hope to take another stab at redeveloping the site. In the meantime, Threatt and Compton await sentencing, which could include up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

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