Civic Affairs
Downtown Luncheon Features Timely Speaker, Renowned NY Critic with New Ballpark Book
This year’s Downtown Council Annual Luncheon features a timely keynote speaker, Paul Goldberger, a renowned New York architectural critic with a fresh book titled “BALLPARK: Baseball in the American City.” With the new owner of the Royals, John Sherman, open to the idea of bringing the team downtown, Goldberger’s book examines how ballparks have evolved to…
Dangerous Demo Site in Heart of Downtown Raises Concerns About City Indifference
By Kevin Collison A dangerous, unfenced demolition site in the heart of downtown across from Municipal Auditorium is again raising questions about how well City Hall protects pedestrians from hazardous conditions. The exposed property at 1319 Wyandotte adjoins the sidewalk with no barriers to prevent passersby from falling 10- to 15 feet onto concrete rubble…
Walnut Street Reopening in City Market After 30 Year Absence
Work is well underway on reconnecting Walnut Street through the City Market with completion expected in May. The city project will reopen Walnut as a two-way street from Third to Fifth streets on weekdays, and is intended to not only improve traffic flow, but make it a more pedestrian-friendly environment. The street will be closed…
New Royals Owner Talks About Downtown Baseball, East Village
By Kevin Collison While cautioning it’s early in the game, John Sherman, the new owner of the Royals, has no problem talking up the economic benefits of downtown baseball and says he’s already being lobbied on possible sites. “Baseball creates more economic opportunity in denser areas versus suburban areas or less dense areas,” Sherman said…
Greater Downtown Enters New Year Ready for Work(ers)
By Kevin Collison Greater downtown enters 2020 poised to tackle a key ingredient missing from an otherwise successful previous decade when thousands of residents, dozens of street-level businesses, and the streetcar line were added to the mix. That lagging factor has been jobs. If all goes according to already approved plans, by this summer there…




