Civic Affairs
In Memoriam: Erin Langhofer
Three young men, one with a loaded 9 mm handgun shoved in his sweatpants pocket, came to First Friday to “meet friends and hang out”, according to police. A young woman from Overland Park, a therapist working with victims of domestic violence at the Rose Brooks Center, visited First Friday to enjoy an event that…
Mayor Quinton Lucas Lays Out Goals
Editor’s note: This guest commentary appeared originally in The Kansas City Star, it is reposted with the permission of the author. By Mayor Quinton Lucas Kansas City has a lot about which to be proud. We have resurgent downtown and Crossroads districts, unimaginable a decade ago. Despite early hiccups, construction on the new Kansas City…
City’s Development Agency Relocates to River Market
By Kevin Collison The New York-based owner of the 3Y building in the River Market has landed an influential tenant, the Economic Development Corp. of Kansas City, a deal that means the building at 300 Wyandotte is now fully leased. “We’re excited to welcome the EDC to the 3Y Building,” Basel Bataineh, vice president of…
Des Moines Postcard: An East Village Model for Downtown KC
By Kevin Collison Downtown Kansas City has certainly come a long way since its ‘haunted house’ days of the early 2000s, but other smaller, regional cities have been pushing hard reviving their downtowns too. Omaha has been redeveloping its downtown riverfront, Oklahoma City recently opened a downtown streetcar line and Des Moines has been busy…
Westport Gets New Master Plan and Denver Biscuits, Too
By Kevin Collison The Westport District Master Plan was approved by the Kansas City Council Thursday and its sponsor plans to quickly add teeth to what’s now an advisory policy by enacting an overlay district that would restrict building heights along its core streets. Councilwoman Kathryn Shields, who’s district includes Westport, intends to introduce legislation…