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
Police Seeking More Eyes for WatchKC Crime Program
By Kim Mueller Kansas City police are asking downtown businesses and residences with surveillance systems to participate in a voluntary, crime-fighting initiative called WatchKC. “If your camera works, we want to get a hold of you, “ said KCPD Sgt. Jacob Becchina who developed WatchKC, a KCPD program that registers surveillance cameras in the city….
Drury Wants to Raze Historic Board of Ed Building, Replace with $50M Hotel
(Editor’s note: Updated with image of a proposed 21-story Drury Hotel in downtown Nashville) By Kevin Collison Drury Hotels wants to demolish the vacant Board of Education building at 1211 McGee and replace it with a 242-room hotel and parking garage. The St. Louis-based hotel chain has submitted a proposal to the Kansas City Tax…
Advocates for South Loop Deck to Seek MoDOT Support
By Kevin Collison The South Loop decking proposal continues to evolve as a working committee prepares to discuss the ambitious concept with state transportation officials and a decision already made to drop one block from the plan. The proposal, first reported in CityScene KC last March, calls for reconnecting downtown with the Crossroads by decking…
Crossroads Apologizes for Heartburn Over New First Friday Food Truck Fee
By Kevin Collison The Crossroads Community Association is apologizing for the heartburn it has caused food truck operators by surprising them with a $200 permit fee to operate within the 18th Street corridor at this week’s First Friday. Food truck operators originally were told the new fee would be $125, but the association changed its…
City Voters Consider ‘Healthy Homes’ Apartment Inspection Proposal Next Week
(Editor note: City voters approved the Healthy Homes initiative Aug. 7 with 56 percent supporting the measure.) By Kim Mueller At first glance, the “Healthy Homes” initiative on the August 7 city special election ballot appears straightforward: Are voters in favor of creating a residential rental inspection program. But Question One surprised Ann Mackey when…
Kismet on 18th Street, YJ’s Reopening Soon
By Kevin Collison If anybody embraces the concept of Kismet, it’s David Ford and Adam Jones, two of Kansas City’s most free-spirited originals. They have combined to find a new home for YJ’s Snack Bar in the former Sylvia’s Deli space at 1746 Washington, just a few blocks west of the old YJ’s location at…
Sponsored Post: Easy Ways to Cut Down on Expenses
The following article was produced and paid for by Commerce Bank: Do you ever get to the end of the month and wonder where your hard-earned money went? A good portion of it probably goes to rent, utilities and groceries, but what about the rest? There are a number of ways we accidentally “leak” money…
New Streetcar Shelters Planned for North Loop Stop
By Kevin Collison The Streetcar Authority and the city are planning to upgrade the North Loop stop at Seventh and Main, installing full shelters on both sides of the street in response to higher than anticipated demand. The North Loop stop is near several residential buildings and parking lots that have become popular park-and-ride locations on…