Downtown Living
Riverfront Affordable Housing Plan Denied Tax Credits, Lack of Mayoral Support Cited
By Kevin Collison A $15 million affordable apartment development proposed for the riverfront is floundering after being rejected for federal low-income tax credits, partly because it lacked the mayor’s support, according to Port KC officials. The 75-unit Bridgeside Lofts project proposed by Prairie Fire Development is planned for a site near Berkley Riverfront Park controlled…
High-Rise Apartment and Hotel Development Proposed Near Kauffman Center
By Kevin Collison An ambitious $100 million redevelopment plan that calls for three high-rise apartment and hotel buildings to be built across Broadway from the Kauffman Center is being pursued by Mashburn Development. The proposal calls for two residential buildings, one seven stories, the other 12 stories, totaling 220 units, and a 12-story hotel with…
MAC Submits Armour Crossing Design, Plan Commission Next Up
By Kevin Collison The empty intersection of Troost and Armour would be transformed into a hub of mid-rise apartment buildings with hundreds residents, according to design plans recently filed by the developer of Armour Crossing. It’s been more than 15 months since the Kansas City Council approved the general Armour Crossing redevelopment plan being pursued…
New Development Proposal Surfaces for Third and Grand in River Market
By Kevin Collison A mixed-use project that includes 145 apartments has been selected by the development arm of the KCATA as its first choice for redeveloping a parking lot it controls at Third and Grand. The RideKC Development Corp. board chose a plan submitted by CBC Real Estate Group and EPC Real Estate Group for…
Big Affordable Housing Project Planned Near Downtown on Paseo
By Kevin Collison An ambitious plan to redevelop 11 deteriorated apartment buildings along The Paseo between Ninth and 14th streets into 197 affordable apartments was approved by a city development agency Thursday. The $18.5 million Jazz Hill Apartments project is intended to provide affordable housing and a social service network to support its residents, particularly…
Downtown Library District Gets New Dog Pad
By Kevin Collison Downtown dogs have a new pad to hang out by the Central Library garage, an artificial approach to better accommodate nature’s call. The library in partnership with the Downtown Council Community Improvement District recently installed 6,000 square feet of synthetic lawn in front of the library’s iconic bookend mural. It replaces a…
Downtown Council Steps Up Outreach to Homeless
By Kevin Collison The Downtown Council is continuing its outreach to the homeless population with plans to hire a social worker and find a new social services agency for its community center at Seventh and Paseo. Sean O’Byrne, vice president of the business and property owner group, reported recently the staff of the Downtown Community…
ArtsBlock Creating a Cultural Haven on Independence Avenue
By Kevin Collison ArtsBlock, a new project near downtown on Independence Avenue, more than lives up to its name by offering places for artists to live and work, as well as an exhibition gallery and art class space for kids. The 38-unit apartment building is part of what’s called The Paseo Gateway redevelopment area on…
Netherland Nearing Completion in Midtown, Rooftop Bar to Offer Wide City View
By Kevin Collison From what will be the rooftop bar and café at the historic Netherland Hotel project near 39th and Main, you’ll enjoy a panoramic view of Kansas City’s River-Crown-Plaza urban nexus. Right now, there’s scaffolding and the beginnings of a canopy on the roof, but by the end of the year, developer Caleb…
Madison Flitch Brings ‘Tree to Table’ Style to Crossroads
By Kevin Collison John Pryor has returned to his native Kansas City from Boston to contribute to downtown’s revival, crafting and selling unique furniture harvested from local trees in a new shop in the East Crossroads. “It’s a tree to table model,” he said, riffing off the ‘farm to table’ restaurant trend. “We work with tree…