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
Firebrand Collective Offers West Bottoms Work Space for Women
By Kevin Collison The old warehouses of the West Bottoms are home to a variety of unique, entrepreneurial ventures and the growing co-working trend is among them, this one geared toward women. Megan Adams launched Firebrand Collective on the second floor of a historic warehouse at 1101 Mulberry around the corner from Blade & Timber…
Fox and Pearl Opening New Bistro Soon in Old Westside Swedish Hall
By Kevin Collison The Fox and Pearl is about to open its new home in a former Swedish social hall at 2143 Summit and from the looks of it, there’s plenty of new socializing ahead for the old building. Owners Vaughn Good and his wife Kristine have created a new space that offers patrons lots…
Strata Office Tower Financing Plan Endorsed by Council Committee
By Kevin Collison A plan for 25-story downtown office tower that is seeking significant public incentive help, including a $27 million city investment, won unanimous backing from a Kansas City Council Committee Wednesday. The $132 million Strata development is proposed for the southwest corner of 13th and Main in the KC Power & Light District…
Denver Developer Proposing $25 Million River Market Office Project
Updated July 10: More details this week at Port KC committee meeting. Project would have two levels of parking with 86 spaces and developer Craig Slawson told members he’s in discussions with two potential office tenants, one from out-of-state that would employ 60- 100 people. Plans to request a 25-year property tax abatement, exact breakdown…
Kaldi’s Coffee Closes Downtown Location
By Kevin Collison Kaldi’s Coffee closed its location at 12th and Main in the KC Power & Light District Friday, taping a note on the door to patrons expressing its “pleasure serving downtown Kansas City the past six years.” The popular coffee shop hangout in the heart of the central business district, which also featured…
River Market Office Plan Fizzles, KCATA Seeking New Proposals
By Kevin Collison The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority has dropped the developer of a proposed River Market office project after four years without progress and will be seeking new proposals soon. Briarcliff Development, which has been pursuing a 200,000 square-foot office project at Third and Grand since 2015, did not have its development agreement renewed…
Uptown Hotel Project Moving Forward in Midtown KC
By Kevin Collison The developers of the Uptown Lofts project are moving ahead with a planned hotel at the corner of Valentine and Broadway at a faster pace than originally envisioned, winning approval for incentives from a city development agency last week. Construction on the 95- to 120-room hotel could begin by the end of…
Family-Friendly PNC Plaza Opens in Power & Light District
PNC Bank is partnering with the Power & Light District to rebrand an outdoor space in the downtown entertainment area “PNC Plaza” and plans to make it a hub for family-friendly activities. The plaza at the base of the H&R Block tower was formerly called Elements Courtyard because of its fountain and fire feature. It’s…
Rec Deck Adds New Level of Fun to Boulevard Beer Hall
By Kevin Collison As if you weren’t having enough fun already at the Boulevard Beer Hall. Starting soon, the historic building that began operations in 2016 is opening its fourth floor as a place where you can play cruise-deck size shuffleboard games and bar-size versions, or just relax and enjoy the downtown view with a…
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…