Civic Affairs
New City Manager Talks About Police, Streetcar Development and Ballpark
Brian Platt, the new city manager, took questions from Midtown KC Now members last week via Zoom. The organization, formerly MainCor, runs a community improvement district along Main and Broadway, and promotes the overall interests of the area. Some context, Platt, 35, came here in early December after serving as city manager of Jersey City,…
Children’s Opens Research Tower, Continuing Hospital Hill Economic Boom
By Kevin Collison Today’s opening of the nine-story building housing the Children’s Mercy Research Institute is the latest in a series of recent major investments galvanizing both the Hospital Hill district and nearby environs, particularly Troost Avenue. The tower will provide space for cutting edge research in diagnosing and treating complex childhood diseases, and joins…
Bartle Hall Warming Shelter Seeks Volunteers, Donations
The city’s temporary overnight homeless shelter at Bartle Hall, which has hosted up to 400 people escaping the subzero cold this week, has established a web page to make it easier for those wanting to volunteer and/or make a donation. The Scott Eicke Warming Center, named after a homeless man who died from exposure at…
Airline History Museum Hits Turbulence with Landlord
By Kevin Collison The Airline History Museum, an attraction at the Wheeler Downtown Airport for 35 years, is fighting to prevent its collection of classic airplanes from being evicted by the private operator of the city-owned facility. The non-profit’s dispute is with Signature Flight Support, which holds the master lease with the city on several…
‘Bumblebees’ En Route to Riverfront
By Kevin Collison The familiar “bumblebees” who provide downtown security and maintenance are expanding their range to the riverfront in response to the area’s growing number of residents and visitors. Port KC and the Downtown Community Improvement District announced a contract last week to enlist the CID’s Ambassadors to help patrol and maintain the Town…