Civic Affairs
Committee Shelves Barney Allis Plaza Rebuild Plan, Endorses Short-Term Fix
(Updated July 9, 2020. An effort to revive the planning process for redeveloping Barney Allis Plaza failed Wednesday when the Finance Committee split 3-3 on a motion by Councilwoman Heather Hall to have the matter brought back to the Council. Committee members Hall, Katheryn Shields and Melissa Robins voted in favor of reviving the issue….
Pioneering Daycare for Kids with Weakened Immunity Close to Start
By Kevin Collison Construction is expected to begin this September on what’s being described as the nation’s first licensed day care center for children with weakened immune systems in a rent-free building near Hospital Hill. The RJ Children’s Haven project at 2924 Cherry St. has been in the works for two years, and developers and…
Downtown Food Drive Launched to Help During Covid Crisis
The Downtown Council Community Improvement District is collecting food donations throughout May to help replenish smaller food pantries serving families and individuals affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The FEED KC program allows donors, either downtown businesses or residents, to text the Ambassadors of the Downtown CID who’ll then come to their location and pick up…
Crumbling Barney Allis Plaza Now ‘Hotspot’ for Downtown Problems
By Kevin Collison Less than a month after a consultant urged its immediate closure, the problems at Barney Allis Plaza and its garage continue to worsen as city officials find themselves at loggerheads over its future. At a City Council Finance Committee meeting Wednesday, members were told the former downtown civic centerpiece has gone dark…
Don Bosco Center Reopening in June Following $3.7M Renovation
By Kevin Collison The Don Bosco Center, a social and cultural anchor for the Columbus Park neighborhood of greater downtown since 1940, is nearing completion of a $3.7 million renovation. The 13,00 square-foot facility at 526 Campbell has evolved with its neighborhood, once the home of Kansas City’s Italian-American community. It, along with the other…