CitySceneKC
FBI Downtown HQ in Play, Northland Site Pitched
By Kevin Collison The Kansas City regional FBI office, a downtown fixture since at least 1920, is investigating a new home and is being pitched on a Northland site, although other location offers are expected including the downtown riverfront. The agency, which is currently housed in a fortress-like setting at 1300 Summit, is seeking what…
From Spanish Flu to Covid-19, Michael’s Finds Cure to Carry On
By Kevin Collison It’s fairly safe to say, Michael’s Fine Clothes for Men is the only downtown retailer to have survived two pandemics, the Spanish Flu outbreak of 1918 and the current coronavirus crisis. “My grandfather went through it and I guarantee you, he didn’t close,” said Keith Novorr, the third generation of his family…
Yards Developer Bullish on Bottoms, Anticipates Second Phase Soon
By Kevin Collison Downtown’s latest apartment development, The Yards, will begin accepting residents this Friday and in addition to its pioneering location in the West Bottoms it offers some other new twists as well. Try a kayak storage bay for tenants wanting to paddle on the nearby Kansas River and a mini-vineyard tilled by next…
Nimble Brewing Joins the East Crossroads ‘Neigh-Brew-Hood’
By Kevin Collison For Kevin and Jodie Gittemeier, it’s been a great love story since they met at the University of Kansas in the early 1990s, whether it was his passion for brewing beer or for each other. Now, after full lives as professionals and raising six children, the couple are embarking on a new…
Shriners, Baptists Cancel Big KC Conventions Because of Covid
By Kevin Collison Two major conventions scheduled to come to downtown Kansas City this summer, the Shriners International and National Baptists, have cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic, an estimated $30 million blow to the local economy. During a sobering briefing to the Downtown Council board Thursday, Jason Fulvi, president and CEO of Visit KC,…
Committee Shelves Barney Allis Plaza Rebuild Plan, Endorses Short-Term Fix
(Updated July 9, 2020. An effort to revive the planning process for redeveloping Barney Allis Plaza failed Wednesday when the Finance Committee split 3-3 on a motion by Councilwoman Heather Hall to have the matter brought back to the Council. Committee members Hall, Katheryn Shields and Melissa Robins voted in favor of reviving the issue….
Pioneering Daycare for Kids with Weakened Immunity Close to Start
By Kevin Collison Construction is expected to begin this September on what’s being described as the nation’s first licensed day care center for children with weakened immune systems in a rent-free building near Hospital Hill. The RJ Children’s Haven project at 2924 Cherry St. has been in the works for two years, and developers and…
Downtown Food Drive Launched to Help During Covid Crisis
The Downtown Council Community Improvement District is collecting food donations throughout May to help replenish smaller food pantries serving families and individuals affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The FEED KC program allows donors, either downtown businesses or residents, to text the Ambassadors of the Downtown CID who’ll then come to their location and pick up…
Downtown Microbrew Scene Stays Healthy Despite Covid Clampdown
By Kevin Collison The downtown microbrewery scene is growling, crowling and canning its way through the current covid-19 restrictions and appears ready to emerge intact once the public health crisis is behind us. “Kansas City has such a strong commitment to local,” said Greg Bland, owner of Stockyards Brewery. “People are doing great giving us…
Crumbling Barney Allis Plaza Now ‘Hotspot’ for Downtown Problems
By Kevin Collison Less than a month after a consultant urged its immediate closure, the problems at Barney Allis Plaza and its garage continue to worsen as city officials find themselves at loggerheads over its future. At a City Council Finance Committee meeting Wednesday, members were told the former downtown civic centerpiece has gone dark…