downtown

The city will fund entrepreneurs, artists and leasing support for landlords who open pop-up shops in vacant buildings for the thousands of people who come to Kansas City for the World Cup next year. $10,000 grants will be available through the newly announced Open Doors! Program.

Desmound Logan, a car enthusiast and salesman, was tired of hearing about the loud and dangerous sideshows on downtown streets. So, the entrepreneur established a legal, safer place for the extreme car community to gather.

More than a dozen bars that promise to air women's sports on TV have popped up across the country over the last few years. After more than a year of renovations and setup, The Dub is ready to bring the movement to downtown Kansas City.

The UTVs, or Utility Task Vehicles, will allow police to be nimbler and access areas hard for their patrol cars to reach. Equipped with sirens and police lights, officers will have the authority to pull people over and write tickets. The UTV's will be deployed in a variety of downtown areas including the Crossroads and River Market.

Two men were killed and another two people were shot over the weekend in a lot near the Power & Light District owned by Copaken Brooks, a commercial real estate firm. Mayor Quinton Lucas said Monday that private lot owners should be required to have $1 million insurance policies, security and surveillance cameras.

Kansas City hoped the downtown space would be one of the primary "focal points" during World Cup festivities next June, but the project won't be ready in time. Kansas City Manager Mario Vasquez joined KCUR's Up To Date to discuss how preparations are going, the new bus contract between the city and the KCATA, and more.

Phil "Sike Style" Shafer is known for his vibrant depictions of life in Kansas City. The artist was selected to create a mural for the newly completed Buck O'Neil Bridge downtown.

Some rural Missouri towns like Oak Grove don’t have control over their main streets because they happen to be state highways. When they attempt downtown revitalization projects like planting trees and improving walkability, the Missouri Department of Transportation can make things complicated.

The open-air venue in Kansas City's Power & Light District, originally built with millions in public funds, has been home to concerts and watch parties for major sporting events. Upgrades are slated for completion by next spring.

Union Station opened in 1914 as one of Kansas City's biggest architectural achievements. After being saved from disrepair, the building is now both a functional train depot and a key tourist destination, with restaurants, history exhibits and more.

Kansas City's new downtown parking policy during events is catching some drivers by surprise. Plus: Why did a master bootmaker from Italy choose small-town Kansas to continue his craft?

An event parking policy approved by the city this summer means increased prices to park in some areas downtown if there's an event nearby.