News & Issues
Stories from around the Kansas City Metro area on a variety of topics.
Crossroads Sculptor Offers Healing Idea for Former Confederate Memorial Site
By Kevin Collison Sculptor Spencer Schubert has his works prominently displayed across the region from Manhattan to Jefferson City, and now wants to do something closer to home as a healing gesture for his community. He’s proposing a soaring sculpture of two hands grasping a knotted rope as a sign of unity to replace a…
Kansas City Streetcar Project Wins Global Recognition, Passes 3 Million Rider Mark
By Kevin Collison The Kansas City streetcar project can add some international honors to the national recognition its received since opening in May 2016. During the same month the streetcar broke 3 million passengers, the streetcar was honored as Project of the Year in the over $50 million category at the 2017 Global Light Rail…
Transit Agency Pursuing Development in Big Way, Offering Strategic Block on 18th Street Near Crossroads, 18th & Vine
By Kevin Collison An entire city block along the strategic 18th Street corridor between the Crossroads and 18th & Vine Jazz District will be offered soon for development by the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority. The block on the north side of 18th between Troost and Forest is currently a greenfield and is expected to…
Brighter Lights in Bigger Cities?
In Kansas City, we’re told the economic impact of the arts totals a quarter of a billion dollars. This video series, Artconomy, evaluates what that number means: Where does that figure come from, and what’s counted in it? Sure, we’re told never to compare ourselves to others, but even cities do it. Follow us into the fourth…
The Abbott Promises Luxury Event Space in East Crossroads
By Kevin Collison The Abbott, the newest event space coming to the East Crossroads, is a family affair, thus the name. Matt Abbott of Abbott Properties and his wife Emily are behind the $3 million project, which is converting a former industrial building at 1901 Cherry St. into what’s being described as a large, luxury…
Downtown Council Names 2017 Urban Heroes, Elects New Chairman
The Downtown Council of Kansas City has elected attorney Nate Orr, a partner at the Spencer Fane law firm, to be its new chairman for the upcoming year. Orr also is co-chair along with outgoing chairwoman Cathy Smith, vice president of corporate planning at Faultless Starch/Bon Ami, of the organization’s upcoming annual luncheon . The…
Work Underway on $68 Million Gallerie Project Near Crown Center, First Apartments Ready Next Summer
By Kevin Collison A previous dead zone of parking lots south of Crown Center is fast being transformed into a new neighborhood that will feature more than 400 apartments and townhouses called Gallerie. Construction is well underway on the $68 million first phase of the primarily residential project being done by Milhaus, an Indianapolis developer…
Federal Prosecutors in KCK Under Fire For Power Plays in Pursuit of Justice
Two recent cases involving prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s office in Kansas City, Kansas, point to a problem that some criminal defense lawyers say has been building for a long time: For years, they say, a small group of federal prosecutors in KCK has run roughshod over the rights of criminal defendants. A joint investigation…
New Buck O’Neil Bridge Repair Plan Keeps Span Open to Northbound Traffic, Buys Time for Long-Term Solution
By Kevin Collison In a big breakthrough for downtown commuters, state highway and city officials have come up with an interim repair plan that avoids closing the Buck O’Neil Bridge entirely and buys time to come up with a hoped-for, permanent replacement. The proposal would address critical repair needs to the bridge between downtown and…
Hotel Indigo Plans to Offer Creative Stay at Crossroads Arts District Location
By Kevin Collison Work on the $13 million Hotel Indigo project at 2020 Grand Blvd. is well underway with the goal of it being a unique place to stay fitting with its Crossroads Arts District location. “I don’t want it to be in the Crossroads and just be a ‘Hampton Inn,’” said developer Matt Abbott….