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North Loop Pedestrian Accident ‘Robs’ Downtown of Huge Advocate
By Kevin Collison Downtown Kansas City lost one of its most enthusiastic champions when Jared Miller was struck and killed by a semi-truck late Saturday morning while crossing the North Loop freeway from the River Market. The eastbound trucker didn’t see the pedestrian until it was too late to avoid striking him, according to Kansas…
Keystone Innovation District Seeks to Transform East 18th Street Corridor
(Editor’s note: Updated March 11. The Keystone Innovation District initiative has announced its Governing Board: Doug Girod, Chancellor, University of Kansas; Mauli Agrawal, Chancellor, University of Missouri – Kansas City; Kimberly Beatty, Chancellor, Metropolitan Community College; Elizabeth MacLeod Walls, President, William Jewell College; Denise St. Omer, VP of Grantmaking and Inclusion, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation;…
Union Station Adding Soaring Sculpture to Downtown Skyline
Editor’s Update: Union Station announced over the weekend the “Reflecting Motion” sculpture experienced significant damage during a freak thunderstorm with high winds last Wednesday and is being removed as of today (July 15). The dramatic floating sculpture had been scheduled to be displayed through Labor Day Weekend. Since its opening May 18, it had attracted…
Thirsty? Your Hoppy Guide to the Downtown KC Craft Beer Scene
(Editor’s note: This post was last updated Jan. 28, 2022) By Brian McTavish Kansas City’s downtown craft beer scene traces its hoppy roots back to Nov. 17, 1989. That’s the date John McDonald, founder of Boulevard Brewing, delivered his first keg of Pale Ale to Ponak’s Mexican Kitchen just a few blocks down the road…
Streetcar Extension Plan Wins Key Support From Federal Agency
By Kevin Collison Federal transit officials have rated the Kansas City Streetcar Authority’s $151.6 million funding application “medium high,” a vital step toward building the planned extension from downtown to UMKC. While the Federal Transit Administration rating doesn’t guarantee funding in the pending federal budget, anything below a medium rating would have killed the project’s…
STRETCH Expands Into Former Thou Mayest Space
By Kevin Collison The space formerly occupied by Thou Mayest is about to be reincarnated by the pioneering prince of East Crossroads entrepreneurs, STRETCH. STRETCH, the sculptor who launched the revival of the area when he opened Grinders in 2000, has taken over the space at 419 E. 18th St. and plans to open what…
Embassy Suites Project Underway in Former Federal Reserve Building
By Kevin Collison The redevelopment of the historic Kansas City Federal Reserve building into a 301-room Embassy Suites by Hilton hotel is finally on after a decade of false starts with completion expected in May 2020. The project, which is restoring one of downtown’s last remaining landmark buildings, has a new entity coordinating its construction…
Keystone Innovation District Concept Taking Shape, Big Civic Endeavor at 18th and Troost
By Kevin Collison The Keystone Innovation District proposal took its first concrete step recently when backers signed a predevelopment agreement for the planned site of the $90 million-plus endeavor at 18th and Troost. A development entity established by J.E. Dunn Construction reached the agreement with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, which owns the block…
Local Pig & Pigwich Bring Home Bacon to City Market
By Kevin Collison The Local Pig and Pigwich have opened in the former Winslow’s space in the City Market, and owner Alex Pope is thrilled to be back where his life began in Kansas City. “I love the City Market,” he said. “We lived in the River Market when we first moved here in 2006….
Nordstrom Design Breaks Plaza Tradition, Wins Plan Commission Support
By Kevin Collison The Country Club Plaza could have a very contemporary, new west edge where Nichols Road meets Jefferson Street following the endorsement this week of the design proposed for the planned Nordstrom department store. The City Plan Commission unanimously backed the style of the 122,000 square-foot store which was described by the co-owner…