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
Six-Story River Market Apartment Project Wins City Council Approval
By Kevin Collison Plans for a six-story apartment project near Third and Grand in the River Market have been approved by the city, but no construction timetable has been decided, according to the developer. The City Council approved the 93-unit Ashland at River Market project planned by KC Commercial Realty Group last week. The development…
Pawn & Pint Finally Adds Beers to Bites and Boards
By Kevin Collison It took a move from the Crossroads, but downtown board game enthusiasts now have a relaxing space where they can have a drink and good food while escaping their screens and interacting with a live person. Pawn & Pint relocated from Southwest Boulevard last October to a former nightclub space at 613…
Streetcar Steps Up the Pace
The Kansas City Streetcar Authority has more than doubled the availability of 10-minute wait times by better synchronizing its operations with downtown traffic signals. Tom Gerend, streetcar executive director, said service changes will increase the amount of time 10-minute headways are used from 25 service hours to 61 hours with the new schedule, a 144…
Crossroads Academy Finds Downtown Home for 600-Student Prep School
By Kevin Collison The Crossroads Academy has found a permanent home for its long-awaited downtown high school, the historic Thayer Building at 816 Broadway. Acquiring the building marks the culmination of a educational journey that began in 2012 when the downtown charter school opened with 190 elementary students in a former office building at 1015…
Streetcar Extension to Isle of Capri Casino May Be in the Cards
By Kevin Collison The Kansas City Streetcar Authority may push its planned riverfront extension to the Isle of Capri, a strategic move that would connect the isolated casino to major downtown convention hotels. While the idea is still in the early stages, officials note the link to the gambling destination could bolster the city’s appeal…
Folly Theater Upgrade Receives Major Donation from Kemper Foundation
By Kevin Collison The Folly Theater has made a dramatic stride toward accomplishing a major interior renovation project with a $775,000 donation from the William T. Kemper Foundation. The historic theater wants to raise $1.55 million to upgrade its lobby and Shareholders Room as part of its Folly 2020 campaign. The gift from the Kemper…
Casual Animal Now Crowling the East Crossroads
By Kevin Collison It took a bit longer than anticipated, but Casual Animal has joined the microbrewery herd in the East Crossroads and proprietor Kyle Gray hopes to add some Fort Collins friendliness to the neighborhood. “My inspiration came from living in Fort Collins,” he said. “It’s a small town, but there’s about 20 breweries….
East Crossroads Project Will Likely Include Over 300 Apartments
By Kevin Collison A development in the works for a two-block site in the East Crossroads will likely include more than 300 apartments and significant commercial space, according to an attorney for the developer, Indianapolis-based Milhaus. Attorney Chris Kline told the Planned Industrial Expansion Authority Thursday that details are still being prepared by Milhaus but…
Formal Groundbreaking for Convention Hotel Set for March 1, April 2020 Completion
By Kevin Collison A ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Loews Kansas City Convention Center Hotel is scheduled for March 1, and if all goes well, the “four-star plus” hotel should be completed by late April 2020. Attorney Mike Burke, who began championing the current project in 2011, told a monthly luncheon of the Downtowners the…
Folk Alliance Conference Serenades Downtown Through Sunday
By Kevin Collison One of North America’s biggest music events takes the stage today when downtown welcomes 3,000 musicians and industry professionals attending the Folk Alliance International annual conference. The event at the Westin Crown Center is an international affair, it drew participants from 27 countries last year, and is a chance for musicians to…