This week something unusual happened in Columbus Park. For the first time in a very, very long time, the City paid attention to a sorry, empty, overgrown, four block chunk of the neighborhood that lies between 3rd and 5th Streets, and between Campbell and Gillis. This attention came in the form of a declaration from…
Over the past few years, a combination of infrastructure investments, new development, and entrepreneurial energy is revitalizing Rosedale and contributing to Kansas City’s urban renaissance. Since moving to the Rosedale over two years ago, I’ve witnessed a transformation that is quickly accelerating. This is the first post of a series highlighting the improvements as well as some…
The River Market is buzzing with activity these days, with new development and major infrastructure projects poised to dramatically transform the neighborhood in just a matter of months. Streetcar construction is in full swing, and its impact will be felt in the River Market in particular, where the streetcar route loops through the entire neighborhood…
In the past month, Kansas City’s Parking Advisory Board has begun circulating to Downtown neighborhoods and stakeholders a draft overview of a proposed ordinance that would enable Parking Benefit Districts. The basic idea of a Parking Benefit District is pretty simple. In the proposal’s own language, “a percentage of the funds collected from paid on-street…
Urban Angle’s Cheers and Jeers is an ongoing look at the best and worst of our urban environment, celebrating those who are making a difference, large or small, and kindly encouraging those who should do better. Do you have an amazing or terrible or amazingly terrible place to share? Let us know in the comments,…
Study after study and case after case have shown walkable communities improve the health of not only their people but also their environment. They also create a heightened sense of community, decrease crime, and encourage economic development. Despite this awareness, Kansas City is still failing to recognize the importance of walkability. It is true that…
West Terrace Park (also known as Case Park) is one of Kansas City’s most under-appreciated and underutilized green spaces, with a scenic landscape and stone ramparts framing stunning panoramic views of the West Bottoms, Missouri River, and beyond. While well-used and well-loved by some, the park is too often overlooked by Downtown residents, employees, and…
Washington Square Park has all the ingredients to be a great public space, but a host of challenges stand in the way of its potential. A new concept for the park seeks to tackle those challenges head on and recreate the success other cities have seen with urban destination public spaces. With the iconic Union…
Urban Angle’s Cheers and Jeers is an ongoing look at the best and worst of our urban environment, celebrating those who are making a difference, large or small, and kindly encouraging those who should do better. Do you have an amazing or terrible or amazingly terrible place to share? Let us know in the comments,…
In light of the City’s recent decision to vacate yet another Downtown alley, Urban Angle is examining some of Kansas City’s most interesting in-between spaces, and why they are worth preserving. Every day this week, we will visit a different alley, each with its own unique contributions to the experience of the City. This is…