Civic Affairs
ULI Panel Offers Bold Concepts to Energize Barney Allis Plaza
By Kevin Collison Barney Allis Plaza, a dreary downtown centerpiece, could be lowered to street level and transformed into a large event lawn flanked by garden and “adventure” playground areas, all atop a new garage, in a $63 million redevelopment concept suggested last week. The proposal endorsed by an local Urban Land Institute panel assembled…
Data Tells Real Downtown Housing Story
GUEST COMMENTARY By Bill Dietrich Maintaining existing affordable housing stock and increasing that inventory are critical for the sustainability and continued growth of greater Downtown Kansas City. We’ve come a long way from the blight of the late 1990’s, but have much work still to do. In greater Downtown Kansas City today – 31st Street…
Historic Kansas City Honors Pickwick Redevelopment
By Kevin Collison The newly-renovated East 9 at Pickwick Plaza apartment project was honored with two top awards from Historic Kansas City Wednesday, the city’s premier preservation organization. The 260-unit apartment development at 933 McGee St. received the group’s excellence awards for Best Adaptive Re-Use and for Neighborhood Stabilization. The historic Pickwick complex covers almost…
River Market Streets Closed for Fire Department Anniversary Celebration
By Kim Mueller With fanfare and several street barricades, the Kansas City Fire Department paused River Market traffic Wednesday to celebrate its 150th anniversary as a professional operation and announce a new fire chief. Gary Reese became the city’s 25th fire chief, replacing former Chief Paul Berardi who retired last November. The announcement was made…
‘Beyond the Loop’ Seeks to Relieve Downtown Freeway Damage
By Kevin Collison Beyond the Loop, a downtown planning strategy for the future of the North Loop freeway, Buck O’Neil Bridge and Independence Avenue, is holding two public meetings this month to refine potential alternatives. City and state officials have come up with a $200 million, long-term plan to build a new O’Neil (formerly Broadway)…