CitySceneKC
Work Begins on 163-Unit Apartment Project at 31st and Gillham
By Kevin Collison The old Velvet Freeze building at 31st and Gillham Road is expected to demolished within the next few weeks to make way for a long-planned 163-unit apartment project, part of several big investments in the area. Developer Gary Hassenflu said asbestos removal has begun in the long vacant structure, which originally opened…
Proposed 14th and Wyandotte Tower Attracts Unique Hotel Interest
By Kevin Collison Lux Living’s 27-story proposal at 14th and Wyandotte began solely as an apartment project but shifted into adding 200 hotel rooms when the plan attracted strong interest from hoteliers not in the local market, according to its developer. “When we started the process, we were first looking at an apartment building,” said…
Sushi Kodawari to Bring Omakase Dining to Crossroads
By Kevin Collison Karson Thompson is opening what may be Kansas City’s smallest restaurant later this year in the Crossroads. His Sushi Kodawari planned for 2100 Central St. will feature a counter with eight seats and and offer just two, reserved seatings per night. Those 16 diners will enjoy eating sushi served in what’s called…
Annual 816 Day Features Music, Circus Acts and Ice Cream
This year’s 816 Day downtown celebration includes live music, circus acts, specials on food and drinks and a fun way to check out new destinations, the annual Scavenger Hunt Bingo game. The event will be held Wednesday, Aug. 16, and starts with breakfast specials from 8- to 9:30 a.m. at the Strang Chef Collective in…
City Manager: Several More Cordish Towers in Works, Rail to Airport Too?
By Kevin Collison When it comes to ‘Lighting’ up downtown, Cordish and the city are far from over partnering on residential towers with four additional high-rise projects potentially in the works, according to City Manager Brian Platt. In a continuation of his recent interview with CityScene, Platt also said he’s pushing for a rail transit…
City Manager on Ballpark: East Village or NKC, Downtown Wins Either Way
By Kevin Collison City Manager Brian Platt has been on the job almost three years, enough time to get to know the city while still tapping into an outsider’s perspective from his government experience in Jersey City, outside New York. That’s why getting together with him over coffee last weekend was a good opportunity to…
Donutology Rolling Into River Market 1940s Streetcar
By Kevin Collison Donutolgy is rolling into the River Market, replacing the Made in KC outlet inside a historic Kansas City streetcar permanently parked at Fifth and Main. “That location was appealing to us,” said Andrew Cameron, Donutology founder. “When we first opened in Westport (2016), we were attracted by the uniqueness and history behind…
New Midtown KC Resident Survey Reveals Split Identity
By Kevin Collison Midtown Kansas City residents are experiencing a split identity about their neighborhoods these days, according to a new survey by Midtown KC Now. On the one hand, survey respondents overwhelming believe (82 percent) that Midtown, the wide corridor of neighborhoods between Union Station and the Plaza flanking Main and Broadway, is improving….
Jackson County Balks at Starting Royals Downtown Ballpark Talks
By Kevin Collison Last month, Royals owner John Sherman expressed frustration about “waiting on a few people” who didn’t share the team’s urgency about negotiating a downtown ballpark deal. Turns out, that negotiating ball has literally been in Jackson County’s court since at least mid-June, according to senior-level sources close to the concept with the…
Columbus Park Townhome Project to Test Demand for Upscale Housing
By Kevin Collison Work has begun on a residential project in the Columbus Park neighborhood that is expected to fetch sales prices in the mid-$600,000 range for three-bedroom townhomes. The project by DAK Pacific LLC is being built on a small triangular site at 1015 Pacific St. near a freeway ramp that’s been vacant at…