Downtown Living
Church of Scientology Expected to Begin Renovation of Historic Downtown Building for New Home in October
By Kevin Collison Ten years after purchasing the historic City Bank Building at 1801 Grand Blvd., the Church of Scientology is expected to begin renovation work on what will become its new metropolitan offices and worship center in early October. Church officials could not be reached for comment, but a source familiar with the project…
Former KC Chiefs Cheerleaders Opening Crossroads Dance and Fitness Boutique for Adults Next Month
By Kevin Collison Two former Kansas City Chiefs cheerleaders are opening a dance and fitness studio in the Crossroads Arts District next month designed to appeal to an adult clientele. “For a long period of time, Lauren and I have been in the health care technology industry,” said Kerri Pomerenke, co-founder with Lauren Boyd of…
Quality Hill Residents Tired of Being in the Dark
By Kevin Collison When the Quality Hill neighborhood first opened in the mid-1980s on the west side of downtown, among its charms were the old-fashioned black street lamps that complemented its quiet, leafy streets and brick residences. These days however, many of the original 120 street lamps have gone dark, leaving residents upset and confused…
Historic Kansas City Club Expected to Reopen in December as ‘Urban Resort’
By Kevin Collison The historic Kansas City Club at 918 Baltimore Ave. is being renovated to become an “urban resort” by the Denver investor who bought the property at a bankruptcy auction two years ago. Craig Slawson is spending about $500,000 to restore many of the interior spaces of the four-story building, which opened in…
Made Urban Apparel Wears Its Hometown Pride at Flagship Retail Space in Downtown x KC x
Kansas City has picked up some swagger since the Royals won the World Series two years ago and Made Urban Apparel is providing the look to go with it. Launched by several friends with a shared passion for style as an online retail outlet four years ago, it’s chill caps with the simple KC lettering…
ARTerra Apartment Project in Crossroads District Expected to Set New Bar for Downtown Rents
By Kevin Collison It was only a few years ago that apartment developers in downtown Kansas City dreamed of getting $1.50 per square foot in rent. Last week at the groundbreaking for the ARTerra project, developer Jon Copaken said its units will go for $2.30 per square foot, the same rate as Two Light, the…
Crossroads Crooks with Appetite for Apple Computers Nabbed by Kansas City Police
By Kevin Collison Kansas City police have arrested two men in connection with a series of smash-and-grab business burglaries in the Crossroads Arts District in recent months that mostly targeted Apple computers. Det. Tim Mountz said Tuesday the men were arrested Monday in connection with at least five of the more than dozen burglaries in…
Crossroads Arts District Celebrating the Eclipse with Solanoir Street-Art Festival
The Crossroads Arts District is living up to cosmic form with a five-day, street-art celebration of the upcoming total eclipse called Solanoir. Thirty street artists from around the country and the world have been invited to paint murals on two dozen buildings around the downtown district. The festival begins Wednesday and its celestial culmination occurs…
Crossroads First Friday to Include Kids Scavenger Hunt, Rooftop Party, Sporting KC Flip Cup and Yes, Art
By Kevin Collison Today’s First Friday in the downtown Kansas City Crossroads Arts District continues a growing trend of not just being a festive place for adults to congregate but families as well. From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., “C is for Crossroads,” an event promoting literacy for younger kids, will kickoff this month’s First…
Kemper Arena Developer Receives State Historic Tax Credits, Last Hurdle Before Beginning Mosaic Arena Project
By Kevin Collison The $39 million redevelopment of the former Kemper Arena into an amateur sports and fitness complex that’s expected to draw a half million out-of-town visitors yearly to the West Bottoms has cleared its last financial hurdle. Developer Steve Foutch of Foutch Brothers LLC expects to begin work within two weeks on his…