Civic Affairs
City’s Development Agency Relocates to River Market
By Kevin Collison The New York-based owner of the 3Y building in the River Market has landed an influential tenant, the Economic Development Corp. of Kansas City, a deal that means the building at 300 Wyandotte is now fully leased. “We’re excited to welcome the EDC to the 3Y Building,” Basel Bataineh, vice president of…
Des Moines Postcard: An East Village Model for Downtown KC
By Kevin Collison Downtown Kansas City has certainly come a long way since its ‘haunted house’ days of the early 2000s, but other smaller, regional cities have been pushing hard reviving their downtowns too. Omaha has been redeveloping its downtown riverfront, Oklahoma City recently opened a downtown streetcar line and Des Moines has been busy…
Westport Gets New Master Plan and Denver Biscuits, Too
By Kevin Collison The Westport District Master Plan was approved by the Kansas City Council Thursday and its sponsor plans to quickly add teeth to what’s now an advisory policy by enacting an overlay district that would restrict building heights along its core streets. Councilwoman Kathryn Shields, who’s district includes Westport, intends to introduce legislation…
Mayoral Candidate Jolie Justus Discusses Her Downtown Vision
(Editor’s note. Both mayoral candidates were invited by CityScene KC to write about their vision for greater downtown. Election Day is Tuesday, June 18) By Kansas City Councilwoman Jolie Justus, candidate for Mayor of Kansas City I am campaigning on a Neighborhoods First Agenda, and I see our downtown as a neighborhood. Downtown Kansas City…
State Historic Tax Credit Program Threatened, Major Downtown Redevelopment Tool
GUEST COMMENTARY By Elizabeth Rosin In 1998, Missouri enacted a state historic tax credit (HTC) to help property owners rehabilitate historic buildings. The impact of that legislation is evident when you look around downtown Kansas City. Today’s vibrant city owes much to the HTC. Since 2001, historic tax credits secured over $2 billion of private…