News & Issues
Stories from around the Kansas City Metro area on a variety of topics.
Downtown Council Celebrates with Urban Heroes and Slow Jam
By Kevin Collison The resurgence of downtown Kansas City, from its dark days 20 years ago to a vibrant place that was “Amazon’s loss,” was celebrated last week at events hosted by the Downtown Council. About 1,000 people attended the organization’s annual luncheon Friday at the Bartle Hall Grand Ballroom. Four Urban Heroes were honored…
UMKC Downtown Conservatory Plan Collapses After Losing Key Funding
By Kevin Collison In a major setback to downtown’s cultural ambitions, the planned UMKC Downtown Conservatory has suffered a fatal financial blow, losing a $20 million private pledge essential to building the project, according to sources familiar with the endeavor. The sources told CityScene KC that the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation has withdrawn its $20…
Folly Theater Fundraising for Ambitious Improvement Plan and Endowment
By Kevin Collison The historic Folly Theater, a downtown cultural jewel for 118 years, is in the middle of its most ambitious fundraising and improvement program since it was spared the wrecking ball in 1981. “We knew we needed to grow,” said Gale Tallis, executive director. “There was a beautiful renovation in 1981, but things…
Urban Youth Academy
Truman Rd and The Paseo | Four baseball fields, indoor baseball academy | Cost: $52.5 million | Opened Spring 2018
Messenger Coffee
1624 Grand Ave. | 16,000 square foot coffeeshop, roasting, bakery | Cost: unknown | Opened October 2017 [adsanity id=”4180″ align=”alignnone” /]
Habashi House
309 Main St. (City Market) | Middle Eastern | Tu-Sa 10:30-8pm; Su 10:30-5pm; Mo 10:30-2pm | 4.5/5 stars with 198 reviews on Yelp | <$10
Beignet
307 Main St. | Cajun and Creole cafe and bakery | Tu-Fri 10-8pm; Sa 8-8pm; Su 8-6pm; Closed Mon. | 4.7/5 stars with 368 reviews on Yelp
Vote! What Would You Like Us to Cover in Our Reporting?
As we dig into housing issues in our months-long Public Works? A Level Foundation reporting initiative, we want you to share your questions with us and weigh in on what you think we should tackle. Below is our first voting round with three questions from curious Kansas Citians. Tricia Bushnell asked what percentage new developments…
Major Residential Project Likely for Two-Block East Crossroads Site
By Kevin Collison The laid-back East Crossroads district is about to become much livelier with the pending purchase of two blocks by an Indianapolis developer whose expertise is building big residential projects. Milhaus, the developer of the 400-unit Gallerie residential project going up south of Crown Center, has a deal to buy a two-block parcel between…
520 Penn
520 W. Pennway | 50,000 square foot building renovation for company headquarters for Centric Projects, Superior Bowen and Inspired Homes | Cost: $8.5 million | Architect: KEM Studios | Opened August 2018