Housing
Flatland covers stories about affordable housing, evictions and tenant rights in the Kansas City metro and surrounding area.
Mending Our Broken Heart: With Region’s Health at Stake, Leaders Seek Downtown Rebirth
“Downtown KC: Mending Our Broken Heart,” was a groundbreaking series originally published by The Kansas City Star 20 years ago this month. It was written by former staffers Jeffrey Spivak, Kevin Collison and Steve Paul, with photographs by Rich Suggs. It was edited by former deputy national editor Keith Chrostowski. CityScene KC thanks The Kansas City…
Developer Pitches Plan to Replace Oldest Building on Main with High-Rise
(UPDATED Sept. 20: The City Plan Commission voted 5-1 to endorse landmark status for the 31st and Main properties. The proposed designation now goes to the full City Council for final review.) By Kevin Collison The owner of the historic Jeserich Building at 31st and Main, which the city wants declared a landmark, launched a…
Big Waldo Apartment Project Proposed, Revives Streetcar Extension Idea
By Kevin Collison A 300-unit apartment project that would transform the scale and nature of the Waldo entertainment area received preliminary support from a transit-oriented development agency Wednesday. EPC Real Estate Group is cooperating with the Lewellen family, the owner of The Well at 7421 Broadway, on the $90 million plan called Waldo74Broadway. The proposal…
Developer Goes to The Well for Big Waldo Apartment Project
A 300-unit apartment project that would replace The Well restaurant and transform the scale and nature of the Waldo entertainment area received preliminary support from a transit-oriented development agency Wednesday.
Delays Grow City Harvest Apartment Tower Cost to $95.6M
By Kevin Collison A 13-story apartment project planned next to the City Market has become significantly more expensive because of inflation after several months of delays caused in part by a hassle with the FAA over its proposed height. The new cost estimate for what’s called City Harvest is $95.6 million, 27.5 percent more than…
LuxLiving Scraps Riverfront Incentive Request, More Tax Revs, No Affordable Housing
By Kevin Collison LuxLiving has dropped its request for tax incentives to help build a proposed riverfront apartment project, a move that could yield about $18 million in fresh tax revenues, but set back efforts to providing affordable housing in the booming area. Port KC President and CEO Jon Stephens said the St. Louis-based developer…
To Attract More Developers, Kansas City Changes its Affordable Housing Ordinance — Again
According to KC’s new affordable housing ordinance, the median income for a four-person household is nearly six figures. Advocates say this is a problem.
curiousKC: What Did Union Hill Look Like Before Redevelopment?
If ever you were curious, here’s your chance to learn what Union Hill looked like before it was redeveloped beginning in the 1980s.
Barney Allis Plaza Rebuild Proposal Adds 226-Unit Apartment Project
By Kevin Collison The city’s plan for rebuilding a crumbling Barney Allis Plaza has grown into a larger proposal that adds a privately-developed 10-story apartment building that would include affordable housing. The new two-phase approach calls for the estimated $112.5 million reconstruction of the city-owned plaza and underground garage to be paid for publicly, and…
Barney Allis Plaza Rebuild Proposal Includes Apartment Tower
Kansas City’s plan for rebuilding a crumbling Barney Allis Plaza now includes a privately developed 10-story apartment building that would offer some affordable housing.