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
New Bookstore Cafe Promises a Bit of Paris on Delaware Street
By Kevin Collison Two attorneys are hoping to bring a little bit of Paris to Delaware Street this summer with a new bookstore, cafe and bar called Our Daily Nada. Amy Covitz and Andrea Baca are anticipating a June 15 opening for their establishment at 304 Delaware in the River Market, next door to The…
Proposal Uses Existing Garage at Ninth and Wyandotte as Foundation for New Development
By Kevin Collison A redevelopment proposal that would allow construction of a five-story apartment or hotel project above an existing garage at Ninth and Wyandotte has been filed with the city as part of a plan to sell the property. Rick Powell wants to sell the former John’s Garage at 913 Wyandotte and adjoining vacant…
New Year’s Eve Reflection: First Six Months of CityScene KC
By Kevin Collison It’s been six months since I launched CityScene KC and I hope you’ve enjoyed it so far. The plan has been to produce a regular, reliable news source for downtown residents, employees and everyone interested in our city’s heart, a small-town newspaper for a unique, growing urban community. My greatest satisfaction so…
New Made in Kansas City Cafe Serves Culture and Collaboration with Coffee
By Kevin Collison If the founders of the new Made in Kansas City Cafe at 1114 Baltimore achieve their goals, it will brew some revolutionary ideas and fresh culture along with its coffee. “It’s important to think of the function of coffee shops throughout history in the Western world,” said Ozzie Mendoza Diaz, beverage director….
World War I Museum Celebrates 1914 Christmas Truce with Soccer Tournament, Watch Party
The National World War I Museum and Memorial is hosting its fifth annual commemoration of the moment in 1914 when soldiers from both sides paused from their killing to celebrate Christmas together this Tuesday, Dec. 26. Activities include a free English Premier League Watch Party with optional all-you-can-eat and drink beer and bloody marys buffet…
Papa Keno’s New Crossroads Pizzeria Savors Backdoor Success
By Kevin Collison The Crossroads newest pizzeria is a new spin on a 20 year-old franchise that started in old Overland Park. Papa Keno’s opened in October in the former Snow & Co. space at 1815 Wyandotte, and aside from causing nearby Pizzabella some billboard indigestion, it’s been great fun so far for its owner,…
Kemper Arena Developer Picks Up Pieces After Mosaic Naming Rights Deal Falls Apart
By Kevin Collison The developer transforming the former Kemper Arena into a massive amateur sports complex shrugged of the loss of his naming rights partner Wednesday, saying it won’t interfere with completing the $39 million endeavor. “We knew ahead of time that Mosaic (Life Care) was going to make an announcement, but we couldn’t say…
Plexpod Acquires Think Big Coworking’s Downtown Office Space
By Kevin Collison Plexpod has acquired the Think Big Coworking operation at 1712 Main St., the latest development in the fast-growing downtown shared-office space market. Think Big Partners opened its co-working space in the historic Globe Storage and Transfer Co. Building at 1712 Main in 2015. The concept was to provide entrepreneurs, contractors and start-ups…
Proposed Streetcar Extension Lures New Main Street Investments in Midtown
By Kevin Collison The 11-story former Netherlands Hotel is slated to be redeveloped into 110 apartments, part of a Main Street development surge linked to the planned streetcar extension. The decrepit Netherlands at 3835 Main and its neighbor, the former Monarch Storage building at 3829 Main, are part of a more than $30 million redevelopment…
Kemper Contemporary Museum Closes Crossroads Gallery After Nine-Year Run
By Kevin Collison The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art has closed its gallery in the Crossroads Arts District after a nine-year run, saying it wants to focus its resources on its main operation at 4420 Warwick. The Kemper at the Crossroads opened in 2008 at the high-profile corner of 19th and Baltimore in space formerly…