News & Issues
Stories from around the Kansas City Metro area on a variety of topics.
What’s the Oldest House in the Kansas City Area?
Retired teacher Del Candler can trace her ancestors’ arrival in Jackson County to the 1840s, and wondered what structures remain from that period and Kansas City’s origins. She asked curiousKC, “What is the oldest house still standing in the Kansas City area?” With help from the Missouri Valley Room at the Kansas City Public Library…
East Crossroads Proposal Grows to Include 350 Residences, Large Commercial Building
By Kevin Collison More details of a planned big East Crossroads development were disclosed Thursday at a development agency meeting during which the current property owner, Hallmark, was scolded for its stewardship. The proposed project on a two-block site now used mostly for parking is expected to include 350 apartments and possibly townhomes; 15,000 square…
River Market Streets Closed for Fire Department Anniversary Celebration
By Kim Mueller With fanfare and several street barricades, the Kansas City Fire Department paused River Market traffic Wednesday to celebrate its 150th anniversary as a professional operation and announce a new fire chief. Gary Reese became the city’s 25th fire chief, replacing former Chief Paul Berardi who retired last November. The announcement was made…
Bottoms’ Stockyards District Takes Off With New Apartment Project
By Kevin Collison The West Bottoms area coined as the Stockyards District was called the potential “next big booming area of Kansas City” by Mayor Sly James at a groundbreaking event for a $41 million apartment project Tuesday. “This place has been transformed,” James told a small audience on hand for the chilly kickoff of…
‘Beyond the Loop’ Seeks to Relieve Downtown Freeway Damage
By Kevin Collison Beyond the Loop, a downtown planning strategy for the future of the North Loop freeway, Buck O’Neil Bridge and Independence Avenue, is holding two public meetings this month to refine potential alternatives. City and state officials have come up with a $200 million, long-term plan to build a new O’Neil (formerly Broadway)…
Repair Project to Liberty Memorial Hillside Closing Part of Main Street
By Kim Mueller The crumbling Liberty Memorial hillside along Main Street and across from Crown Center will be neatly tucked behind a new wall as workers begin a $2.5 million construction project today to solve the erosion problem. During construction, which is expected to last six- to eight months, Main Street’s two west lanes will…
Crossroads’ Favorite Mildred’s Moving Across Street, Quadrupling Size
By Kevin Collison Mildred’s, a cozy Crossroads culinary spot since 2004, is moving up in the world, relocating across the street to 1901 Wyandotte and quadrupling its space. Co-owner Evan Ashby said the family-run operation outgrew its current location at 1821 Wyandotte a couple years ago with lines often stretching out the door for its…
KC Live’s Theater-Size Video Screen Debuts for Big 12 Tournament
It’s become harder to leave the pre-game partying in the Kansas City Live! courtyard to walk over to the actual event at Sprint Center. The Power & Light District has replaced its previous low-def screen with a theater-size panel that offers a much sharper image. If Thursday was any indication, the fans downtown for the…
Novel Restaurant Opening New Chapter in East Crossroads
By Kevin Collison Novel KC restaurant will be packing up the house soon–literally–and moving from the Westside neighborhood to the East Crossroads. After operating five years in a cozy house at 815 W. 17t St., the fine-dining restaurant, it’s actually about “Novel American cuisine” not books, is relocating to 1927 McGee St. and plans to…
Police to ‘Educate’ Downtown Motorists Before Parking Crackdown
Updated with message from City Manager: Starting Monday, April 9, @kcpolice will increase downtown parking enforcement. Warning tickets will be issued for a short period, however, if the parking violation is a safety concern, or impedes the natural flow of traffic, a citation could be issued. More details here. Downtown motorists will have an “education”…