Economic Opportunity
Paris Postcard: Rue Cler Shows the Way to a Better Plaza
By Kevin Collison Rue Cler is one of the many bustling market streets in Paris. Flower stalls spill out onto the sidewalk, cafés offer front row seats for people watching and merchants busy themselves arranging their shop window displays to catch the eyes of passersby. And the busy cobblestone street is shared by pedestrians and…
Country Club Plaza Diners Seek More Local Flavors
The prospect of new owners for the Country Club Plaza has sparked hope the iconic shopping district may soon offer more local flavor in its mix of restaurants.
Cascade Luxury Hotel and Strang Chef Collective Open at Plaza
By Kevin Collison The Cascade luxury boutique hotel opened Wednesday at the Country Club Plaza, and along with the new Strang Chef Collective inside, it’s considered a $115 million vote of confidence in the district’s future. “We’re excited about the investments being made,” said developer Joe Morrison, president of Capital Management. “This is the most…
Nichols’ Folly: A Century of the Country Club Plaza
The Country Club Plaza, as it marks its centennial, is at a crossroads. J.C. Nichols’ iconic district is seen both as private property and public trust.
Plan for 12th and Broadway Calls for Apartments, HQ Expansion
(Editor’s note: This article originally was published April 13, 2023) By Kevin Collison The developer of city-owned property at 12th and Broadway wants to build a 13-story apartment building and ultimately expand the former Kansas City Southern headquarters, but the timing relies on the proposed reconstruction of Barney Allis Plaza. The proposal by what’s now…
UMKC Seeks 5,000-Seat Arena, Retail By Streetcar Stop
(Editor’s note: This article originally was published May 16, 2023) By Kevin Collison UMKC is pitching a development proposal that would anchor the south end of the new streetcar extension with a 4,000- 5,000 seat arena for sports and cultural events, according to a request for proposals issued Monday. UMKC is asking developers to submit…
Opinion: Downtown Ballpark Talks Get Foul
Mayor Quinton Lucas was right last week when he said whoever leaked the misleading Jackson County internal memo to The Star about the long-term (40 years) financial implications of the proposed downtown Royals ballpark is trying to sabotage negotiations: “Yesterday, there was a leak which said county estimated new stadium is between $4B and $6B….
Main Street Buildings at Center of Landmark Controversy for Sale
By Kevin Collison A group of buildings at 31st and Main that were declared historic over the owner’s objection last year are back in play, and preservation advocates are hopeful about their prospects to be saved from destruction. “This is the opportunity provided by listing them as a local landmark,” said Lisa Briscoe of Historic…
KC Named ‘Tech Hub,’ Opening Door to Massive Federal Grants
The Kansas City region — stretching from Manhattan, Kansas, to Columbia, Missouri — is now a federally designated tech hub, offering access to grants.
East Side Development Sales Tax
In 2017, voters approved a 1/8 cent sales tax with the goal of spurring economic development in disadvantaged neighborhoods of the city. So far, the Central City Economic Development (CCED) sales tax has awarded over $53 million and funded 39 projects. This month, Flatland in Focus investigates these projects and gages their effectiveness in addressing…