Civic Affairs
Better Block KC Tames Oak Street in Crossroads
By Kevin Collison A stretch of Oak Street in the Crossroads will be a lot chiller through Oct. 27 thanks to Better Block KC, a “tactical urbanism” design group. Last Sunday, about a dozen volunteers with the group transformed a two-block section of Oak between 17th and 19th streets from what sometimes can be a…
Ultra-Luxury $63 Million Hotel Proposed Near Kauffman Center
(Editor’s note: The Denver architect of the proposed Bravo! Hotel has merged his firm with CannonDesign. New renderings of the project have been added to the article.) By Kevin Collison A high-end $63 million boutique hotel that backers say would be the most luxurious in the metro is being proposed across Wyandotte Street from the…
UMKC Rejects Downtown Options for Conservatory
(Editor’s note: Updated with reaction from the Downtown Council and City Manager Troy Schulte) By Kevin Collison The seven-year quest by civic leaders to bring the UMKC Conservatory to downtown Kansas City ended abruptly Tuesday when university officials issued a statement that rejects any downtown location. Instead, Chancellor C. Mauli Agrawal said that UMKC will only…
Nation’s First Daycare for Kids with Immune Deficiencies Planned Near Union Hill
By Kevin Collison What’s being described as the nation’s first licensed day care center for children with weakened immune systems is planned for donated space near Union Hill. RJ Children’s Haven is expected to be a place where children diagnosed with diseases that damage their immune system including cancer, genetic disorders and transplants can share…
The Poop on Downtown Dog Owners
By Kim Mueller Combining dog poop and beer seemed like a great idea to Jena Newman who convinced a dozen volunteers to spend their Sunday morning picking up pet waste during downtown’s first “Poo to Brew” event earlier this month. “I’m not scared of any poop,” said Newman, a former Kansas City zookeeper, as she…