Civic Affairs
Kemper Arena, Traders Among Projects Honored by Historic KC
By Kevin Collison The redevelopment of two mid-20th Century buildings in greater downtown you wouldn’t automatically consider historic plus more traditional landmarks such as the old Savoy Hotel were honored recently by Historic Kansas City, the city’s premier preservation organization. The $65 million renovation of the Traders on Grand, a 1962 office building, into the…
Union Station Adding Soaring Sculpture to Downtown Skyline
Editor’s Update: Union Station announced over the weekend the “Reflecting Motion” sculpture experienced significant damage during a freak thunderstorm with high winds last Wednesday and is being removed as of today (July 15). The dramatic floating sculpture had been scheduled to be displayed through Labor Day Weekend. Since its opening May 18, it had attracted…
Restoring Residential Density by Embracing the ‘City’ in Kansas City
GUEST COMMENTARY By Kevin Klinkenberg An expert is someone that lives more than 30 miles away, so it’s said. Since I’ve spent about nine years living much more than 30 miles away from Kansas City, I suppose that’s made me a bona fide expert. In my last piece, I wrote about the excitement and positive…
Next Kansas City Mayor Needs to Keep the Line Moving Downtown
COMMENTARY After decades of neglect, downtown is relevant again to the metro and that’s vital not only for the well-being of our city as it competes nationally for talent and investment, but for its nearby neighborhoods as well, particularly the East Side. Back in 2002, when The Kansas City Star, did an important series on downtown…
City Seeks Proposals for Big Overhaul of Barney Allis Plaza and Garage
By Kevin Collison The city is seeking proposals for a major overhaul of Barney Allis Plaza and its garage, following up on a study that described the square in the heart of downtown as a “forlorn stretch of grass and asphalt.” A request for proposals has been released by the City Manager’s Office with responses…