Civic Affairs
Historic Knickerbocker Coming Down After 40-Year Neighborhood Fight
By Kevin Collison The demolition of the historic Knickerbocker apartments, a premier address a century ago, is underway, ending a 40-year preservation struggle between its Midtown neighborhood and owner Kansas City Life. Fencing is up around the three-story buildings at 501-535 Knickerbocker Place a block west of Broadway and a firm hired by KC Life…
‘Imagine Downtown KC’ Community Planning Initiative Kicks Off Tuesday
The Downtown Council is launching a new planning initiative that will be seeking citizen input to help guide priorities for the next 10 years beginning Tuesday with a Zoom community workshop. “Imagine Downtown KC” is being described as a collaborative process to develop a shared vision for development and economic inclusion, and will serve as…
Historic Board of Ed Building Coming Down, Home for Kraft Murals Sought
By Kevin Collison Demolition of the historic former Board of Education building at 1211 McGee is expected to begin soon, although its owner remains open to finding a new home for the colorful mosaic murals adorning it by the late Arthur Kraft. Developer Jon Copaken of Copaken Brooks, which purchased the property last September, said…
City Market Gains Bold Icon with Reconnected Walnut
By Kevin Collison Downtown has a great, new photo op, patrons have new places to relax and merchants have improved their visibility courtesy of the return of Walnut Street to the City Market after a 30-year absence. An informal dedication is expected this week for the city project which in addition to reconnecting Walnut between…
Downtown Dish Debuts, Weekly Zoom Event Promotes Food and Drink
By Kevin Collison What started as a way to promote the City Market during construction is expanding via Zoom to boost restaurants and bars throughout greater downtown struggling with Covid restrictions in what’s being billed as Downtown Dish. The 45-minute, weekly virtual conversation beginning today at noon is the creation of the KC Streetcar Authority,…