Kevin Collison
Publisher
Flatland contributor Kevin Collison is the founder of CityScene KC, an online source for downtown news and issues.
Stories by Kevin Collison
‘Hypebeast’ Boutique Opening at Crown Center
Initial, a streetwear boutique that describes itself as specializing in “hypebeast fashion,” is opening a shop on the second floor of the Crown Center shopping center. The shop founded by Ivan Quiu, will feature high-end brands aimed toward the hypebeast fashion scene including Gucci, Nike, Comme des Garcons, Louis Vuitton, Vape Apparel and others, according…
Burnt End BBQ Opens at Crown Center
By Kevin Collison Burnt End BBQ has opened its third location at Crown Center, taking over the space once occupied by Milano’s and stirring in the savory smell of smoked meats. The new restaurant at 2450 Grand is operated by PB&J, and is the culmination of a culinary career that began in the early 1980s…
Monarch Coffee Migrates Downtown, Opens Second Location
By Kevin Collison Nothing like some good national buzz for a local coffee shop. Monarch coffee has opened its second location on the first floor of an office tower at 2345 Grand after the building’s new owners read its rave review in Food & Wine Magazine that said it had the best coffee in Missouri….
New Loews Key to Landing Events With Over 100K Attendees So Far
By Kevin Collison The new Loews Kansas City Convention Hotel scheduled to open April 2 already is beginning to pay off, playing a key role in landing conventions totaling more than 100,000 people over the next eight years. At its recent Annual Tourism Outlook event, Visit KC reported this year alone, the new 800-room Loews…
Billie’s Grocery Adds Healthy Aussie-Style Food to Restored Luzier Building
By Kevin Collison The historic Luzier Building at 31st and Gillham, a 1920s, terra cotta jewel box next to the big, concrete Costco, is about to be fully reborn with its anchor tenant an Australian-inspired café and bakery. The two-story building at 3216 Gillham Plaza is the latest and toughest restoration project by urban developer…
Mayor Wants Barney Allis Plaza to Be Downtown ‘Focal Point’
By Kevin Collison City officials want a solid proposal to revive the forlorn Barney Allis Plaza and its crumbling garage by this summer, saying the prominent public space should become the “coolest backyard ever.” At a public presentation at Bartle Hall last week where people were invited to offer ideas about the future of the…
Mayor Announces Panel to Study Local Police Control, Gun Violence
(Editor’s note, updated May 13. Mayor Quinton Lucas has announced his appointments to the study group on police local control and gun violence established by the City Council in February. “Two more Kansas Citians lost their lives to gun violence last night, surpassing the horrific number of murders by this point in 2019,” Lucas said…
Streetcar Leader Praises New Fed Funding Report, Optimistic About Extension Plan
By Kevin Collison A new federal transit funding report released Tuesday has streetcar officials optimistic the planned Main Street extension from downtown to UMKC should be ready to roll financially by early next year. “All the important stakeholders say we’re on the right track and the odds are really good,” said Tom Gerend, executive director…
New Federal Analysis Spurs Hope for Kansas City Streetcar Extension
A new federal transit report is supportive of plans to finance a Main Street streetcar extension from downtown to the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Gallerie Near Completion, New Neighborhood on Old Parking Lot
By Kevin Collison The new Gallerie apartment development at 27th and McGee has created a neighborhood on a former parking lot, and is proving popular with students and employees at nearby Hospital Hill and Crown Center. The 361-unit apartment development built by Indianapolis-based developer Milhaus begin accepting residents about 10 months ago and its final…