A Message of Thanks from the Downtown Council
With the Thanksgiving holiday upon us, the staff at the Downtown Council would like to use this week’s post to express thanks to the downtown community.
Entries by Jared Campbell
Little Caesars’ Love Kitchen Brings Joy and Resources to The Beehive
On a picture-perfect day last month as Kansas City was getting ready to cheer on the Chiefs at their home opener, another celebration was happening at 8th and Paseo. For the second year in a row, the NFL and the Kansas City Chiefs, in partnership with Little Caesars, brought the Love Kitchen to the Beehive to deliver a hot meal to those in need. This is the third year that Little Caesars has been the official pizza sponsor of the NFL. In conjunction with that partnership, they have been traveling across the country with their Love Kitchen, a mobile restaurant on wheels, stopping in key NFL cities to provide pizza to communities in need.
The Emerald City Sparkled for the IDA Conference
The fish are no longer being thrown at the famous Pike Place Market, but that did not dampen the enjoyment members of the Downtown Council staff experienced when they visited Seattle last month for the International Downtown Association’s 70th Annual Conference & Marketplace. The IDA’s conference brings together urban place management professionals from across the U.S. and Canada to learn, network, and discover new ideas for their hometowns. Acronyms like BIDs, and CIDs, and SSAs could be heard in meeting rooms as over 1400 people gathered at the convention hotel.
Post-Primary Election Day Downtown KC PAC Results
Have you ever stopped to think about the impact that happens when you take a pencil and fill in a small bubble with graphite on a paper ballot? That small action, combined with hundreds and thousands of other filled-in bubbles, impacts the future direction of our communities, states, and country. Voters in Missouri, and throughout the country, had the chance to make their voices heard this past August 6th when the national primary election date was on the calendar.
What’s next for economic development in KC?
What does the future of economic development look like in Kansas City? The mayor and city council hope to answer that question over the next four to six months with the help of a consultant team who will create a new strategic plan for equitable economic development.
Downtown and River Market are going to the Dogs!
It has been said that a dog is man’s best friend, but it turns out that dogs are the best friend of all of our residents and visitors to Downtown and the River Market. To keep up with this tail wagging situation, the Downtown and River Market Community Improvement Districts have created two off leash dog parks.
“That’s All Folks!” – Another MO Legislative Session is in the books
On May 17th, the Missouri State Legislature wrapped up their 2024 session. With as many ups and downs to rival any rollercoaster found at Worlds of Fun, the session was full of surprises, especially the last few weeks. Two record filibusters – 41 hours by the Freedom Caucus and 50 hours by the Democrats – played out during the end of the session while last minute amendments and bills were being worked on by state legislators.
Garment District Grooves is Back!
On Wednesday May 15th, Garment District Grooves will return for its sixth season bringing music and food to the Historic Garment District in Downtown Kansas City. The concert series is produced by the Downtown Community Improvement District (DCID), KC Parks & Recreation, Crossroads Charter Schools, and the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA). This year, there will be lunchtime concerts on the third Wednesday of each month from May through October from 11:30am to 1:00pm and two evening performances in the fall.
The Evolution Continues: 2024 DTC Annual Luncheon Recap
Over 1,000 Downtown KC residents, office workers, property owners, non-profits, and advocates gathered in the Kay Barnes Grand Ballroom at Bartle Hall to enjoy the 2024 Downtown KC Annual Luncheon. What has become one of the “can’t miss” civic non-profit events on the social calendar lived up to expectations again this year. The theme of the luncheon this year was, “The Evolution of Downtown, Celebrating Kansas City”. The theme was selected to allow the Downtown Council the ability to leverage the luncheon to celebrate the remarkable transformation of Downtown KC over the last 20-plus years while also highlighting the bright future that lies ahead.
2023-2024 River Market CID Annual Recap
On March 5, the River Market Community Improvement District (RMCID) Board assembled to celebrate another year of CID service in the River Market. 2023-2024 represents the 17th year of the River Market CID. While the RMCID Ambassadors continued with the mission of providing a high level of service focused on clean and safe, the board and staff developed new committees and programs to help make the River Market an even stronger community in Downtown Kansas City.
DTC Announces Urban Hero Award Honorees
In what has become a hallmark of the Downtown Council’s Annual Luncheon, a small group of individuals and businesses are recognized every year as Urban Heroes for their contributions to downtown. This year, the Awards Committee, under the leadership of Chair Lynn Carlton and Vice-Chair Jennifer Wampler, selected two individuals and two small businesses.
DTC Annual Luncheon Keynote Speaker: City Planner and Author Jeff Speck
The Downtown Council is pleased to announce city planner and best-selling author Jeff Speck will be the keynote speaker for the luncheon. Based on his experience in city planning, urban design, and the impact of walkability on downtowns, Jeff will share his knowledge about what makes downtowns unique and how cities can continue to make them vibrant and attractive destinations for all. The evening before the luncheon, we will be showing love to the latest group of Urban Heroes. Since 2005, the Downtown Council has annually recognized individuals who represent a small business or organization who are passionate about making Downtown Kansas City a more vibrant place to live, work and play. The award winners will be recognized at a reception in the lobby of the Grand Ballroom from 5pm to 7pm.