CitySceneKC
The Roasterie Brews a 25th Anniversary Celebration
By Kevin Collison Getting together with The Roasterie founder Danny O’Neill to discuss the 25th anniversary of his business on Southwest Boulevard is, not surprisingly, a highly-caffeinated encounter. The lanky, charismatic owner frequently jumps up from his seat with excitement as he explains what he’s created since he began roasting beans in his home’s basement…
Historic Kansas City Honors Pickwick Redevelopment
By Kevin Collison The newly-renovated East 9 at Pickwick Plaza apartment project was honored with two top awards from Historic Kansas City Wednesday, the city’s premier preservation organization. The 260-unit apartment development at 933 McGee St. received the group’s excellence awards for Best Adaptive Re-Use and for Neighborhood Stabilization. The historic Pickwick complex covers almost…
East Crossroads Apartment Wins City Plan Commission Approval
(Updated July 19. The City Plan Commission approved rezoning for the East Crossroads project this week. It will next be considered by the Kansas City Council. Also included are new architectural renderings furnished by Milhaus) By Kevin Collision Construction of a planned East Crossroads project that would replace parking lots with four apartment buildings totaling 350…
McCownGordon Celebrates Start of Downtown Headquarters Project
By Kevin Collison McCownGordon Construction celebrated the start of a $10.5 million renovation project that will convert a three-story building at 850 Main St. into its new headquarters Wednesday. “We wanted a home right in the heart of downtown Kansas City that would position our firm for the next 20 years,” CEO Ramin Cherafat told…
EAST + WEST Men’s Clothing Adds to Retail Options in Crossroads
By Kevin Collison Cameron Niederhauser wants EAST + WEST, his new men’s clothing shop at 1828 Grand, to fuel the Crossroads evolution beyond being known for its art galleries and unique restaurants and bars. “When I was thinking about where to locate the shop, I felt a draw to the Crossroads,” he said. “There wasn’t…
Streetcar Extension ‘Buzz’ Sparks Big Apartment Project at 39th and Main
By Kevin Collison Construction is expected to begin by late spring on a $34 million residential redevelopment project at 39th and Main, the largest private investment to date prompted by the anticipated extension of the streetcar from downtown to UMKC. The redevelopment of the historic Netherland Hotel building and the neighboring Monarch Storage building into…
Parlor KC Introduces Food Hall Concept to East Crossroads
By Kevin Collison The East Crossroads, arguably downtown’s most intriguing emerging neighborhood, is getting another first, this one a national, shared-dining trend called the food hall. Parlor KC is planned for an two-story former industrial building at 1707 Locust. It’s the first rollout of the concept by Atlanta-based Meriwether Companies and it’s the restaurant equivalent…
East Crossroads Proposal Grows to Include 350 Residences, Large Commercial Building
By Kevin Collison More details of a planned big East Crossroads development were disclosed Thursday at a development agency meeting during which the current property owner, Hallmark, was scolded for its stewardship. The proposed project on a two-block site now used mostly for parking is expected to include 350 apartments and possibly townhomes; 15,000 square…
River Market Streets Closed for Fire Department Anniversary Celebration
By Kim Mueller With fanfare and several street barricades, the Kansas City Fire Department paused River Market traffic Wednesday to celebrate its 150th anniversary as a professional operation and announce a new fire chief. Gary Reese became the city’s 25th fire chief, replacing former Chief Paul Berardi who retired last November. The announcement was made…
Bottoms’ Stockyards District Takes Off With New Apartment Project
By Kevin Collison The West Bottoms area coined as the Stockyards District was called the potential “next big booming area of Kansas City” by Mayor Sly James at a groundbreaking event for a $41 million apartment project Tuesday. “This place has been transformed,” James told a small audience on hand for the chilly kickoff of…