News & Issues
Stories from around the Kansas City Metro area on a variety of topics.
ULI Panel Offers Bold Concepts to Energize Barney Allis Plaza
By Kevin Collison Barney Allis Plaza, a dreary downtown centerpiece, could be lowered to street level and transformed into a large event lawn flanked by garden and “adventure” playground areas, all atop a new garage, in a $63 million redevelopment concept suggested last week. The proposal endorsed by an local Urban Land Institute panel assembled…
Where Are Those 20-Somethings Living?
Where do young Kansas Citians live? The traditional Midtown haunts? High-end urban apartments? The large rental complexes in suburbia? CuriousKC delved into the topic after receiving this inquiry: “Who ARE all these people who can afford to live in all this new development? Where are young, 20-somethings finding places to live?” We couldn’t reach the…
Anything Concrete? We Check In A Year After Our Infrastructure Project
Last spring, we dug into the state of metro roads, highways, sewers and public transportation in a project called Public Works? The Cost of Our Aging Infrastructure. Now, we’re issuing a report card, of sorts, to see if anything has changed in a year’s time. We track the progress on our weekly public affairs shows, Week in…
Waffles, Not Pancakes: Local Farmer’s Invention Could Improve Crop Yields
As vice president of Shatto Milk Company, Matt Shatto also wears another hat, that of CEO of TerraManus Technologies. Shatto has come up with a simple way that he says can increase crop yields. It’s a plastic disk that, when used with regular tilling, can help soil retain water and consolidate it instead of compact it. He says…
Kobi Q, ‘Blade Runner Meets Asia’ in the Crossroads
By Kevin Collison Kobi Q, a new Korean street food place with added flavors from Vietnam and Thailand, is expected to open in the former Czar Bar space at 1531 Grand next month. “The drive behind it was ‘Blade Runner’ meets Asia,” said the designer working with chef and owner Hyu Ku Kwon, adding “it…
Downtown CVS Store Closed Temporarily for Remodeling
The CVS store at 921 Main, downtown’s only full-service pharmacy, has closed for a major remodeling project and expects to reopen about mid-June. The overhaul is part of the $139 million redevelopment of the historic Commerce Tower at 911 Main. The 30-story former office tower was converted into 355 apartments last year. The CVS is…
Restored Historic Savoy Hotel and Restaurant Debuts This August
By Kevin Collison The historic Savoy Hotel, a downtown landmark since 1888, is scheduled to reopen in early August following an extensive renovation by Louisville-based 21c Museum Hotels. The $47.5 million redevelopment project, more than five years in the making, is scheduled to begin accepting guests in its 120 rooms on Aug. 5. The famed…
Data Tells Real Downtown Housing Story
GUEST COMMENTARY By Bill Dietrich Maintaining existing affordable housing stock and increasing that inventory are critical for the sustainability and continued growth of greater Downtown Kansas City. We’ve come a long way from the blight of the late 1990’s, but have much work still to do. In greater Downtown Kansas City today – 31st Street…
City Club Apartment Project Still on Track, But Fires Plague Vacant Hotel
Editor’s note. The developer of the City Club Apartment project released this letter today (April 17) following another fire at the vacant hotel property this morning: “This property has a history of blight. Since taking control of the property, we have developed a great working relationship with the Mayor, local community, building department and police…
Arizona Postcard: Riding the Rails in Metro Phoenix and Tucson
By Dave Scott During a spring break to visit family and the Kansas City Royals in Arizona, I got a good sense of how urban Arizonans get around–mainly by barreling down seven-lane arterial roads at 45 mph. This practice killed 10 people in Phoenix during the week we were there, helping Arizona retain its status…