Today's Forecast

89º Partly cloudy | 24% chance of rain | Sunrise 5:55 a.m. | Sunset 8:37 p.m.

Reshaping the neighborhood top to Bottoms

Photo of Firehouse No. 1 next to The Ship in the West Bottoms

SomeraRoad’s KC office in Firehouse No. 1, next to The Ship. | Photo by KCtoday

The West Bottoms is an eclectic neighborhood of artists, antique stores, food, drink, and entertainment. While many buildings sit empty and abandoned, several plans are seeking to pump up the area as a place to live, work, and play.

22-acre micro-village

Real estate investment firm SomeraRoad wants to redevelop a large swath of the neighborhood north of 12th Street. City Council approved the $500 million preliminary plan, which includes building ~1,250 new apartments, retail, and public spaces over the next decade.

Photo of the 12th street viaduct in the West Bottoms — The plan will mostly affect the area north of the 12th Street viaduct.
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Photo by KCtoday

The first phase begins with razing the Weld Wheel Building (933 Mulberry St.), which could start this summer. KCMO leaders pledged $2 million to the demolition, which will prepare the site for a five-story apartment building.

Additionally, the Moline Plow Company Building (1015 Mulberry St.) and others along Union Avenue will become mixed-use apartments. The Avery “Poe” Building (1100 Santa Fe St.) will become a 50-room hotel, and a public square will replace a nearby parking lot.

Phase 1 covers the most land as shown in this map. Phases 2-5 will follow in the years to come.

Graphic of West Bottoms Redevelopment vicinity map — Here’s the area of the micro-village.
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Photo via public records (SomeraRoad and HOK).

Other apartment projects

The second phase of the West Bottom Flats (1501 W. 9th St.) is scheduled to deliver 94 apartments come August — that’s in addition to the 265 already available. The same developer also just won tax incentives on redeveloping the Midwest Building (911 Wyoming St.) into 77 reduced-price apartments + retail.

More housing is underway in the Stockyards District. The Yards II will be a four-story, 224-unit complex along the Kansas River (northwest of the Hy-Vee Arena on the Kansas side).

Rock Island Bridge

Oh, and next to The Yards? That’s where the Rock Island Bridge project just kicked off construction. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced a $4 million state grant — the largest source of public funding for the project to date. Leaders hope to open next year.

Events

Wednesday, May 24

Chats for Change KC | Wednesday, May 24 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Casual Animal Brewing Co., 1725 McGee St., Kansas City, MO | Free | Join other environmentally active citizens to spur conversations and address questions with the Missouri Coalition for the Environment — with your first drink included.
Wine Down Wednesday | Wednesday, May 24 | 6-9 p.m. | PNC Plaza, 56 E. 14th St., Kansas City, MO | Free entry | Expect live music, wine, cocktails, and beer in the heart of downtown Kansas City.

Thursday, May 25

KC Parks & Recreation Master Plan 2032 Open House | Thursday, May 25 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Virtual | Free | KC needs your help shaping our public greenspaces for years to come.
Cirque Du Soleil Corteo | Thursday, May 25-Sunday, May 28 | Times vary | T-Mobile Center | $49-$159 | Join this joyous and over-the-top festival parade as imagined by a circus performer.

Friday, May 26

Mutts & Merlot | Friday, May 26-Sunday, May 28 | Times vary | KC Wine Co., 13875 S. Gardner Rd., Olathe, KS | Free entry | Take a stroll on the farm + explore the vineyards with your four-legged friend.
Fourth Fridays Art Walk | Friday, May 26 | 5-8 p.m. | Downtown Lee’s Summit, MO | Free | Check out artist pop-ups and showcases inside Downtown Lee’s Summit businesses.

Saturday, May 27

The Flavors of Central Tour | Saturday, May 27 | 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Bethany Park, 1120 Central Ave., Kansas City, KS | $35-$45 | Volunteers will help you explore culinary creations along the Central Avenue corridor’s many restaurants.

Events calendar here

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Finance

7 secrets comfortable retirees know about hiring a financial advisor

Smart retirees know a thing or two — and you should, too. | Photo by SmartAsset

Research suggests people who work with a financial advisor could end up with about 15% more money to spend in retirement.¹Read: A lot of margaritas.

That’s because they know the seven secrets to hiring a financial advisor, like never hiring the first advisor you meet. (Rookie mistake.)

The ultimate tip? Answer a few questions in this free, five-minute quiz to match with vetted financial advisors serving your area who can help optimize a retirement plan for you.*

5 more must-know secrets

1“Journal of Retirement Study Winter” (2020)”. The projections or other information regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results, and are not guarantees of your future results. Please follow the link to see the methodologies employed in the Journal of Retirement study.

News Notes

Open

Lulu’s Thai Noodle Shop officially opens its new Overland Park location today at 11 a.m. — at 7921 Santa Fe Dr. The restaurant will offer its traditional menu with a boosted cocktail list, like its Thai Tini with ginger + lemongrass. It’s the company’s third restaurant location.

Civic

When KCMO voters said yes to $175 million in bonds last November, one of the big improvement plans was for the KC Convention Center. Now, work is underway. As crews replace flooring and make other upgrades, the city confirmed to us that this project is funded by voter approval.

Community

Port KC is asking for your input in a new Riverfront Connectivity Study. With all the development along the banks, leaders want to remove barriers and increase neighborhood connections. How do you get around Berkley, Columbus Park, and the surrounding area? Let them know.

Development

One North, a mixed-use plan southeast of I-29 + Armour Road in North Kansas City, plans to add an aerial park entertainment venue and a grocery store. State funding was approved for the aerial park, and the store awaits federal financing. (Kansas City Business Journal)

Family

Local children’s musician Jim Cosgrove — aka Mr. Stinky Feet — just dropped a new album commemorating 25 years. In celebration of “Scoops of Love,” Jim will host a free concert + CD release on Thursday, May 25 at Leawood City Hall Amphitheater. (Shawnee Mission Post)

Health

Did you know you can schedule an emergency room appointment online? InQuickER allows Kansas Citians to reserve an appointment time and wait from the comfort of their homes before getting treated for non-life-threatening emergencies. See how it works.^

The Buy

Turn misplaced keys into a thing of the past with the Apple AirTag. The button-sized tracking device can give you step-by-step directions to your lost keys (or phone…or wallet…) and has a battery life of one year. Pro tip: Put one in your checked luggage and never worry about lost baggage again.*

Fun Fact

🦘 Disney’s mar(super)al drawing

Three illustrations of KC Roo over the years

Disney’s 1938 roo (left), the first official Kasey (1963), and 2019’s Fighting Roo (right). Did you realize it’s a girl? | Illustrations via UMKC

How did the University of Missouri-Kansas City land on a kangaroo for its mascot? Let’s hop back in time to find out.

The University of Kansas City (UKC) was founded in 1933. Three years later, the debate team was getting ready to compete, and they wanted a mascot — and we know how persuasive they can be.

The students picked a kangaroo after Jigger the kangaroo, who had just arrived at the Kansas City Zoo. The mascot rhymed with KCU and even made the cover of the year book.

In 1937, students formed the Kangaroo Party to push for official mascot adoption. That fall, Kasey Kangaroo (later renamed KC Roo) was born.

Then in 1938, Walt Disney responded to a student request to illustrate the mascot for a magazine. Students began replicating it, and university historians ultimately credit this drawing with the mascot’s lasting effect.

Since then, the symbol has changed a lot. Today, you can see the 2019 Fighting Roo version used for athletic branding.

Photo of Disney's kangaroo at the KC Zoo — Oh, look *roo’s* at the KC Zoo.
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Photo via UMKC

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Travis

From the editor

A while back, City Editor Bella wrote about her favorite espresso martinis in KC, and you told her you wanted to hear about old fashioneds next. I have a few favorites of my own, but I want to know: Where’s your favorite spot to sip this timeless whiskey cocktail? Let me know for a chance to get featured in Friday’s newsletter.

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