Civic Affairs
Omaha Postcard: Big Downtown Park Overhaul Shows How to Attract People
By Kevin Collison We have one restless, striving neighbor to our north. In July, Omaha finished the first phase of a $325 million overhaul of its downtown and riverfront parks, and what’s occurring 200 miles upriver offers an important lesson for Kansas City. First a little contemporary history lesson, one that I witnessed while attending…
Developer Pitches Plan to Replace Oldest Building on Main with High-Rise
(UPDATED Sept. 20: The City Plan Commission voted 5-1 to endorse landmark status for the 31st and Main properties. The proposed designation now goes to the full City Council for final review.) By Kevin Collison The owner of the historic Jeserich Building at 31st and Main, which the city wants declared a landmark, launched a…
Delays Grow City Harvest Apartment Tower Cost to $95.6M
By Kevin Collison A 13-story apartment project planned next to the City Market has become significantly more expensive because of inflation after several months of delays caused in part by a hassle with the FAA over its proposed height. The new cost estimate for what’s called City Harvest is $95.6 million, 27.5 percent more than…
LuxLiving Scraps Riverfront Incentive Request, More Tax Revs, No Affordable Housing
By Kevin Collison LuxLiving has dropped its request for tax incentives to help build a proposed riverfront apartment project, a move that could yield about $18 million in fresh tax revenues, but set back efforts to providing affordable housing in the booming area. Port KC President and CEO Jon Stephens said the St. Louis-based developer…
Port KC Takes New Role Steering $160M South Loop Link Park Plan
By Kevin Collison Planning for the proposed South Loop Link, an ambitious proposal to deck four blocks of the disruptive downtown freeway with a park, is taking a big step forward with Port KC assuming a lead role in implementing the project. The public agency has issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) to hire a…