News & Issues
Stories from around the Kansas City Metro area on a variety of topics.
Nick’s Picks | Here’s Your Kansas City News Forecast
This week’s Kansas City news forecast calls for changes in the unseasonably warm weather and a slew of local elections in early November.
Big West Bottoms Redevelopment Project Wins Key Tax Incentives
By Kevin Collison A $526 million plan that would revitalize a big section of the West Bottoms by restoring dozens of historic buildings and repairing its crumbling infrastructure won vital tax incentive support from a city development agency Thursday. The sweeping proposal by New York-based SomeraRoad, which already has backing for its plan at City…
East Side Development Sales Tax
In 2017, voters approved a 1/8 cent sales tax with the goal of spurring economic development in disadvantaged neighborhoods of the city. So far, the Central City Economic Development (CCED) sales tax has awarded over $53 million and funded 39 projects. This month, Flatland in Focus investigates these projects and gages their effectiveness in addressing…
Crown Center Lands Office Tenants, Credits Vibrant Environment
By Kevin Collison Crown Center is bucking the sluggish national and local office market trend, adding or renewing leases this year totaling 167,000 square feet with the biggest catch the Kutak Rock law firm. Stacey Paine, president at Crown Center Redevelopment, credits the mixed-use formula that was the foundation of the development more than 50…
Sales Tax for East Side Projects Grapples with Growing Pains
Kansas City’s Central City Economic Development (CCED) sales tax program has produced mixed results and faces political headwinds as the time for renewal looms.
KC Current Gets Saucy with Joe’s KC
Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que will storm the pitch as the first restaurant at the new KC Current professional women’s soccer stadium scheduled to open on the downtown riverfront in March. “Telling our local food story to the world, we are thrilled to feature Joe’s Kansas City BBQ at the KC Current stadium,” Colby and Megan…
Rural Rebirth: ‘There’s Always Something Going On’ in Baldwin City
Baldwin City went from “sleepy” 20 years ago to a vibrant community thanks to some dedicated locals. Its Maple Leaf Festival will draw thousands this weekend.
As Ogallala Aquifer Declines in the Great Plains, States Weigh Metering Irrigation Wells
Water levels are dropping in the Ogallala Aquifer, and states in the Great Plains are considering whether to monitor groundwater irrigators are pumping out.
Design Revealed for UMKC Healthcare Building, Work Start Next Year
By Kevin Collison UMKC officials revealed the design of the $120 million Healthcare Innovation building planned for Hospital Hill today, and announced more government funding for the project has been secured. Former Sen. Roy Blunt helped obtain $10 million in federal support for the project, and the state of Missouri has increased its commitment from…
Columbus Park Townhome Project to Test Demand for Upscale Housing
(Editor’s note: This article originally was published July 26) By Kevin Collison Work has begun on a residential project in the Columbus Park neighborhood that is expected to fetch sales prices in the mid-$600,000 range for three-bedroom townhomes. The project by DAK Pacific LLC is being built on a small triangular site at 1015 Pacific…