Civic Affairs
CID Renewed, ‘Bumble Bees’ Remain Downtown’s Ambassadors Through 2034
By Kevin Collison Those downtown “bumble bees” you see daily cleaning, tending landscaping and helping you feel safe will be buzzing for another 15 years thanks to the recent renewal of the Downtown Council Community Improvement District. The 60 men and women wearing the distinctive black and yellow CID uniforms, referred to as Ambassadors, may…
UMKC Seeks Conservatory Proposals, Potential Downtown Site Survives Close Call
By Kevin Collison UMKC officially has restarted its pursuit of a new combined Conservatory of Music and Dance and Theater Department facility, and has set a July 24 deadline for responses to what’s now described as a $100 million project. The university released what’s called a request for interest (RFI) this week, and in an…
Resurrection Opens First New Downtown Church Built in Over a Century
By Kevin Collison If you’re looking for a symbol of how downtown Kansas City has revived in recent years, search no further than the new Church of the Resurrection which opens this weekend at 1601 Grand. “When I moved here from Detroit in 2009, the Downtown Council’s slogan was ‘live, work and play,’” observed the…
Newly-Renamed Hy-Vee Arena on Track for September Completion
By Kevin Collison It’s naming time–again–for the former Kemper Arena, and this time Hy-Vee supermarkets is stamping its brand on the $39 million redevelopment project. The Iowa-based chain, which operates 20 stores in metro Kansas City, is replacing Mosaic Life Care, which had to drop its naming rights agreement for the arena last December after…
Downtown UMKC Arts Campus Idea Revived, Barney Allis Plaza in the Mix
By Kevin Collison The possibility of a UMKC arts campus in downtown Kansas City is being floated again and this time Barney Allis Plaza is the apparent preferred candidate. University of Missouri-Kansas City officials announced Thursday they will seek proposals, described as a “request for interest (RFI),” for a new arts facility that would house…