Civic Affairs
School of Economics Opens Downtown Program for City Kids
By Kevin Collison A program that’s been educating tens of thousands of suburban fifth and sixth graders about the business world for 25 years has opened a new downtown space to serve city kids. The School of Economics, a program launched in Blue Springs in 1994, is now open for class in a 4,000 square-foot…
Streetcar-Linked Affordable Housing Incentive Plan On Track for City Hall
By Kevin Collison A proactive approach to encourage making affordable housing part of the redevelopment boom anticipated along the planned streetcar extension route is on track for City Hall. The proposed Midtown Affordable Housing PIEA Plan was endorsed recently by the board of that development agency and is expected to be reviewed by the City…
Beloved City Market Flutist Marvin Hollinshed ‘Played Right Up Until the End’
He was the Saturday soundtrack for visitors to the City Market for many years. On hot mornings, Marvin Hollinshed was often the first person you’d encounter entering the Market from the west, staying cool in the shady passageway to the vendors’ stalls before he ventured outside. But you heard his flute sweetly piping tunes long…
Quality Hill Glowing Again Thanks to Public-Private Partnership
By Kevin Collison The Quality Hill neighborhood finally has its old-fashioned street lamps in action again thanks to a partnership between the city and a private fundraising effort led by the Downtown Council. The leafy neighborhood of brick homes and apartments on the west side of downtown had been increasingly in the dark as is…
Homeroom Health Adds Pediatric Care to Troost Revival
By Kevin Collison The historic Wonder building at 30th and Troost is rounding out its revival with a pediatric clinic aimed at providing comprehensive health care to families and young people with or without insurance. Homeroom Health will provide medical, dental and psychological care to clients ranging from infants to young adults in a 5,500…