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
Crown Center Holiday Celebration Ringing
Crown Center’s holiday season starts in earnest today with the lighting of the Mayor’s Christmas Tree and Santa’s arrival, although his sojourn at the Shops will be a uniquely 2020 experience. This year, it’s Claus vs. Covid and to protect both the jolly fat man and his young fans, Santa will be wearing a mask,…
Downtown Council Drops Homeless Camp Idea, Welcomes Donations to Community Center
By Kevin Collison The Downtown Council’s efforts to help the homeless population got some good news this Thanksgiving week, tempering the collapse of its proposal to establish a temporary camp for emergency shelter this winter. A fundraiser led by engineering firm Burns & McDonnell raised $105,000 in cash and in-kind contributions to build a new…
Union Station Completes Family Scrapbook with Holiday Reflections
By Kevin Collison Faced with the prospect of the Covid Grinch stealing its most popular season, Union Station has improvised a holiday experience it hopes will provide families with festive memories after a tumultuous year. “We didn’t want to cancel the holidays,” said George Guastello, president and CEO of Union Station. “We don’t want kids…
Border Brewing Relocating to Bigger Crossroads Digs This Spring
By Kevin Collison Border Brewing, the pioneering brewer that launched the East Crossroads craft beer scene in 2015, is relocating to a new space this spring more than double the size of its current digs at 406 E. 18th St. Proprietor Eric Martens said his decision to lease a 3,200 square-foot building a block away…
Rival Plans to Develop Apartments by City Market Include 12-Story Tower
By Kevin Collison Two rival apartment plans are being pitched for a public parking lot next to the City Market, one a 12-story tower proposed by an Indianapolis developer, the other a five-story project submitted by a local group. The two developers, Flaherty & Collins of Indy and locally-based RM Housing Partners LLC, responded to…
Mercury Room Lifts Downtown Cocktail Scene to New Level
By Kevin Collison The Mercury Room cocktail lounge has opened its glamorous perch atop the new 14-story REVERB apartment building in the Crossroads with sky-high views of downtown and lofty drink prices to match. The latest creation from the team that brought The Monarch at the Plaza and Verdigris in Leawood’s Park Place is a…
Affordable Apartment Proposal Would Bring More Bark to Berkley
By Kevin Collison The organization behind The Grooming Project, a non-profit that provides career training in dog grooming for impoverished single parents, wants to open another school on the riverfront as part of an affordable apartment project. EPEC, which stands for Empowering the Parent to Empower Children, is applying for state low income housing tax…
Ambassador Hotel Opens 1930s Style Jazz and Supper Club
Kansas City jazz great Lonnie McFadden has opened a club beneath the Ambassador Hotel that includes an option for patrons to enjoy a three-course meal and listen to the show during the early evening sessions. The new Lonnie’s Reno Club opened earlier this month at the Ambassador at 1111 Grand. The name comes from the…
Indy Developer Teaming with Local Nonprofit on Riverfront Affordable Housing Proposal
By Kevin Collison Flaherty & Collins, the developer of the $72 million Union Berkley Riverfront apartment project, is teaming with a local nonprofit on a proposal to build a 124-unit affordable housing development next door. The Indianapolis-based developer is working with Twelfth Street Heritage Development Corp. on the proposed $22 million Heritage Lofts project at…
‘Wrapped with Heart’ Negro Leagues Celebration Rolling
By Kevin Collison It started as a million-dollar year for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum until Covid-19 hit in March. The pandemic forced the cancellation of several events planned this year to celebrate the centennial of the founding of the Negro Leagues and raise money for its museum in the 18th & Vine Historic District….