Civic Affairs
Crossroads Community Association Celebrates 20 Years Creating a Neighborhood
By Kevin Collison When the Crossroads Community Association began 20 years ago, its sprawling 90-block turf of old, brick commercial buildings sandwiched between downtown and Crown Center was facing an identity crisis. The area was finishing its pioneering phase that began in 1985 when artist Jim Leedy found real estate cheap enough in the deserted…
High Aspirations Wants Pavilion to Help More Black Youths During Covid
By Kevin Collison High Aspirations, a mentoring program for Black youths, wants to build a $1.5 million open pavilion by its existing facility at 803 E. 27th St. to better serve its participants during the pandemic. “We’re building the pavilion to help our young men to be able to meet and be served at full…
Barney Allis Plaza Looks to Washington to Fund $70M Overhaul
By Kevin Collison A plan to revive Barney Allis Plaza from crumbling civic embarrassment to a showcase for the 2023 NFL Draft is moving ahead with anticipation that Washington will help finance the estimated $70 million undertaking. The City Council voted last week to approve funding a final design plan to have the project “shovel-ready”…
KC Symphony Moving to Webster House, New Movement for Old School
By Kevin Collison The historic Webster House at 17th and Wyandotte will be the new headquarters of the Kansas City Symphony, returning music and life to the building closed by philanthropist Shirley Helzberg last summer because of the Covid pandemic. “We are delighted that our Symphony will have a new home and will be able…
Waddell’s New Owner Makes it Official, No Downtown HQ
By Kevin Collison Waddell & Reed and 900 employees won’t be occupying the office tower designed for the firm at 14th and Baltimore after all, dashing downtown’s hopes for a corporate headquarters but opening the door to a long-sought speculative office project. The company’s new owner, Australia-based global financial firm Macquarie, made it official Tuesday…