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
Friction Beer Getting Hoppy in East Crossroads This Spring
By Kevin Collison The East Crossroads “neigh-brew-hood” will be even hoppier late next spring with the opening of Friction Beer Co. at 1701 McGee. Partners Brent Anderson and Nathan Ryerson hatched their microbrewery plan two years ago while watching soccer in Ryerson’s basement and sharing one of their favorite beers, a hazy IPA from The Brew…
Hyatt House Hotel Wins Incentive Approval, Work to Begin This Spring
By Kevin Collison Construction of a 13-story Hyatt House hotel on a parking lot at Ninth and Broadway is expected to begin this spring after its Colorado developer was approved for incentives last week–but not before a two-hour debate by the development agency involved. Boulder-based Pedersen Development won approval for a 15-year property tax break,…
Fox and Pearl Expanding ‘Midwestern Bistro’ Quarters on West Side
By Kevin Collison A 110 year-old building on downtown’s west side that’s seen its share of culinary reincarnations since starting life as a Swedish social hall is slated to become the new home of the Fox and Pearl “Midwestern bistro” this spring. Owners Vaughn Good and his wife Kristine, with the help of the inimitable…
One of Downtown’s Last Big, Empty Historic Buildings Slated for Apartments
By Kevin Collison One of downtown’s last prominent, dormant historic buildings, the 23-story Mark Twain Tower, is slated to be redeveloped as a 202-unit apartment project following approval of incentives Wednesday. The soaring structure at the northwest corner of 11th and Baltimore, which opened in 1923 as the Kansas City Athletic Club, is expected to…
CoCreate KC Caters Co-Working Space to Creative Professionals
By Kevin Collison A new co-working space that’s geared toward independent professionals in the advertising, public relations, web design and social media world has opened at 3238 Gillham Rd. CoCreate KC is the creation of advertising veterans Jan Creidenberg, Brad Lang and Matt Anthony, the former CEO of VML. It’s intended to be a place…
East Crossroads Mainstay ‘Thou Mayest’ Seeking New ‘Flagship’ Location
(Editor’s note, update on Thou Mayest from El Honcho Bo Nelson) Thou Mayest is at the beginning of a really exciting era. We are still weighing options on various properties for landing our location for our new and larger flagship store. The first project now under way is within Family Tree Nursery in Shawnee (7036…
Developer Passes ‘Squint Test’ on New Armour Apartment Project
By Kevin Collison The design of the first apartment building in MAC Properties planned $78 million Armour Corners redevelopment won support from the City Plan Commission Wednesday after its developer noted it had passed the “squint test.” Peter Cassel of Chicago-based MAC said a consultant who assisted in the design of the seven-story building planned…
Uptown Lofts a Transformational ‘Valentine’ to Midtown
Editor’s Note: Sunflower Development Group announced today (July 30) it has closed on its private financing and plans to begin construction next week on the Uptown Lofts mixed-use project with an expected completion in summer 2021. Mutual of Omaha Bank with participation from Capital Federal Savings has provided the financing for the project, according to Sunflower….
New Downtown Y Called Boost to Growing, Diverse Community
By Kevin Collison For perhaps the first time ever, downtown will be home to a high school swim team, one of many community-building opportunities cited last week at the kickoff event for the new YMCA at the Lyric Theater. The beginning of a civic endeavor that began in 2011 when YMCA executive David Byrd, fresh…
Michael Smith’s Italian Restaurant ‘Farina’ Opening Late January
Celebrated chef Michael Smith’s new restaurant concept “Farina” is scheduled to open in late January at 19th and Baltimore in the Crossroads Arts District. The restaurant, which took over the former Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art space, originally was expected to open by Thanksgiving, but renovation delays have pushed that date back about two months….