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
Crossroads Academy Wants to Open Permanent High School in Historic Attucks School in 18th & Vine Jazz District
By Kevin Collison The Crossroads Academy hopefully has found a new permanent home for its downtown high school, the long-vacant, historic Attucks School in the 18th & Vine Jazz District. The charter school has submitted a bid to the city to buy the old building at 1815 Woodland Ave. If accepted, it could ultimately house…
Church of Scientology Expected to Begin Renovation of Historic Downtown Building for New Home in October
By Kevin Collison Ten years after purchasing the historic City Bank Building at 1801 Grand Blvd., the Church of Scientology is expected to begin renovation work on what will become its new metropolitan offices and worship center in early October. Church officials could not be reached for comment, but a source familiar with the project…
KC Soda Co. Brings Old-Time Flavor to River Market
By Kevin Collison Lucas Thompson enjoys the old-time flavor of both soda pop and serving customers in his new KC Soda Co. operation at the River Market. “I enjoy the nostalgia of soda, it’s been around a long time,” the 31-year-old entrepreneur said. “It’s non-alcoholic so it means all markets, kids love it, grandparents love…
Former St. Louis Mayor Tells Downtown Council New Coalition Forming to Defend Historic Tax Credit Program
By Kevin Collison Threats to the Missouri Historic Tax Credit program are prompting preservationists to forge a coalition between cities and towns to lobby legislators about its benefits, a former St. Louis mayor told the Downtown Council last week. Vincent Schoemehl, who served as mayor in St. Louis from 1981-1993, said proposed cuts to the…
Former KC Chiefs Cheerleaders Opening Crossroads Dance and Fitness Boutique for Adults Next Month
By Kevin Collison Two former Kansas City Chiefs cheerleaders are opening a dance and fitness studio in the Crossroads Arts District next month designed to appeal to an adult clientele. “For a long period of time, Lauren and I have been in the health care technology industry,” said Kerri Pomerenke, co-founder with Lauren Boyd of…
Art in the Loop Caps Season Today with Downtown Kansas City Art Crawl
Art in the Loop, a diverse assortment of public artworks in downtown Kansas City, is winding down the season with a special Downtown KC Art Crawl today. Actually, it’s more a streetcar art crawl because the works will be toured and discussed along the streetcar route. It begins at the Kansas City Artists Coalition office at…
Second Phase of Corrigan Station Development in Crossroads Expected to Break Ground Late This Year
By Kevin Collison The developers of Corrigan Station plan to break ground by December on an $11 million office building at 19th and Main streets along the streetcar route. Jon Copaken of Copaken Brooks, co-developer of Corrigan Station, said final plans for the 25,000 square-foot, three-story building have been submitted to the city. It would…
Historic Kansas City Streetcar Moved to its Permanent Stop as Future River Market Ice Cream Parlor
By Kevin Collison (Updated Sept. 11) After running routes from Kansas City to San Francisco with a long layover at Union Station, the old Country Club streetcar has found a new home in the River Market where it’s expected to become an ice cream parlor. On Monday morning, the 46-foot streetcar was at its new…
Techweek Kansas City Begins Today, an Annual Celebration of What’s Next
Techweek Kansas City is expected to draw more than 6,500 people downtown this week to expand their minds, show off their entrepreneurial chops and perhaps win one of nine major grants from the LaunchKC program. The annual event, one of several held around the country, brings together industry leaders and creative minds in a series…
Booming Spring Venture Group Plans to Add Over 650 Jobs in Downtown Kansas City and Gobble New Office Space
By Kevin Collison Spring Venture Group, a fast-growing senior health insurance brokerage firm, is moving its downtown headquarters this winter from Crown Center to 12 Wyandotte Plaza and expects to occupy almost half of the 18-story building by the end of 2019 At a time when downtown leaders are focused on attracting more private jobs,…