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
City Spending $3M for NFL Draft, Big Economic Payoff Expected
(UPDATED Feb. 10 with more details from an NFL press release:) “In partnership with the Kansas City Sports Commission and the Kansas City Chiefs, the NFL today released the first renderings of the 2023 NFL Draft presented by Bud Light that will come to life in Kansas City, April 27-29. The league previously announced that…
Rail Delivered for Final Stretch of Streetcar Extension on Main
One year after the arrival of its initial rails near Crown Center, the final delivery is underway near UMKC for the steel required to complete the 3.5-mile long streetcar extension on Main Street. Trucks will be delivering the 429 rails necessary to build the southern half of the streetcar route during the next couple weeks,…
Wolfepack BBQ Sets Up Smoker in Columbus Park
By Kevin Collison A well-known Columbus Park landmark is reopening this spring as Wolfepack BBQ and its owners first order of business is soothing the neighborhood indigestion caused by its previous operator. “We want to have a neighborhood welcoming day to start things off on the right foot,” said co-owner Sam Parker. He and his…
Plaza Area Council Now Official, Plans to Boost District’s Next Century
By Kevin Collison A new civic effort to shepherd the Country Club Plaza and environs into its second 100 years has organized as a nonprofit, and plans to hire staff and begin pursuing its goals by the end of the year. What’s called the Plaza Area Council intends to be an umbrella organization for looking…
New Support Group for Country Club Plaza Takes Shape
A new support group for the Country Club Plaza and its environs has been organized as a nonprofit, and plans to hire staff by the end of the year.
Historic Scarritt Apartment Renovation Plan Advances
By Kevin Collison A $47.5 million plan to renovate the historic Scarritt office tower on Grand Boulevard and its adjoining Arcade into 126 apartments was endorsed for tax incentives Monday by a Port KC committee. The 11-story tower at 818 Grand and its four-story arcade at 819 Walnut are considered among the most attractive historic…
North Kansas City Streetcar Plan Hits $222M Roadblock
By Kevin Collison A proposal to extend the streetcar to North Kansas City has hit a hard fiscal reality; it’s far too expensive to build utilizing the local funding method that has developed the system so far on Main Street and to the riverfront. It would cost up to $222 million to extend the streetcar…
North Kansas City Streetcar Extension Sidetracked by Financial Concerns
A proposal to extend the streetcar to North Kansas City has hit a hard fiscal reality -- it's far too expensive to build utilizing the local funding methods that have developed the system so far.
Kata Nori Hand Roll Bar Coming to East Crossroads
(Editor’s note: This article was published originally March 1, 2022. The owner now hopes to open by early March 2023.) By Kevin Collison A new sushi place is in the works for the East Crossroads, this one specializing in hand rolls, a newer trend for serving the popular cuisine. Nam Phan and his partners plan…
River Bluff Expands River Market Craft Beer Scene
(Editor’s note: This article originally was published Feb. 2, 2022) By Kevin Collison River Bluff Brewing, the latest addition to the greater downtown microbrewery scene, expects to open in mid-February on a cozy street near the Town of Kansas Bridge at the foot of Main. “We feel like with Second Street, we’re in the heart…