New Year Brings New Leadership to the Downtown Council
By Bill Dietrich, President & CEO at Downtown Council of Kansas City
The Downtown Council is pleased to announce its 2024-2025 officers:
- Chairman: Gib Kerr, Cushman Wakefield
- 1st Vice Chair: Jason Parson, Parson +Associates
- 2nd Vice Chair: Paul Neidlein, JE Dunn
- 3rd Vice Chair: Elizabeth Danforth, Evergy
- Secretary: Pat Contreras, McCownGordon Construction
- Treasurer: Christopher Briggs, PW
- Immediate Past Chair: Dr. Kimberly Beatty, Metropolitan Community Colleges
At the Downtown Council, we envision an equitable, inclusive, and vibrant Downtown Kansas City, Missouri. A Downtown that will thrive in the coming years and decades. As we move forward with the implementation of the Imagine Downtown 2030 Strategic Plan we are blessed to continue to have strong leadership.
It has been a milestone year for Downtown Kansas City. With the progress being made on a wide range of catalytic and aspiration projects Downtown continues its transformation. Although there remains much work to be done the opportunities are inspiring. Downtown has enjoyed unprecedented numbers of people who are choosing to live, work, play and shop Downtown.
Recent milestones in the revitalization of Downtown Kansas City include:
- Progress on all fronts (financial, design, construction, and operations) for the 5.5-block South Loop Project which will span I-670, reconnecting neighborhoods.
- A Downtown Baseball District
- The Greenline, a 10-mile pedestrian and bicycle path connecting Downtown neighborhoods and amenities
- Promoting arts and culture
- Managing Community Improvement Districts to ensure a clean, green and safe Downtown
- Maintaining affordability and the housing ecosystem
- Attracting innovative businesses and creative employees
- Enhancing human service delivery
- Advocating for Downtown initiatives
Learn more about our strategic plan here. Keep in touch by signing up for our bi-weekly eblasts here.
