Country Club Plaza

Earlier this month, vandals defaced the William Volker Memorial Fountain by removing the leg of a large, male figure and the arm of a faun — a half-human, half-goat creature from Greek and Roman mythology.

The 14 lighted outdoor courts, owned by the city and located on the eastern edge of the Country Club Plaza, have long been the subject of speculation because it's viewed as prime real estate by developers. The tennis center is now under new management after a default by fitness giant Genesis Health Clubs.

About 500 people joined Al-Hadaf KC, a Palestinian-led group that helped plan the rally, in calls for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and an end to what they call Israeli occupation. The group has spent months rallying support for the Palestinian cause.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker has launched an effort to charge more cases of retail theft and illegal firearms on the Plaza.

Kansas City is already full-force into the holiday season. Enjoy light displays, small-town traditions, pop-up bars, performances and holiday markets through the rest of November and December 2024.

Businesses and shoppers express worries about personal safety and rising crime on the Plaza, but the numbers show that the largest issues revolve around cars. However, shopping district's enduring legacy of racism tends to heavily influence the discussion.

The Plaza has been losing tenants at about the same rate it signs new ones. Whoever purchases the shopping district may have to invest at least $100 million in infrastructure and building upgrades to bring the area back to its “jewel of Kansas City” reputation.

As the Plaza enters its second century, stakeholders have plenty of ideas for how to address concerns about the shopping district. Among them is increasing walkability in the area, which could provide a stronger sense of community.

The prospective new owners already own a similar luxury shopping district in Dallas and another in North Carolina. After the current owners of the Plaza defaulted on a nearly $300 million loan and demolished about three acres of the district to make way for a Nordstrom that never came, city officials are eager to work with new owners.

After two shootings at stores in the Plaza, some retailers have changed their business hours out of concerns for employee safety. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says the city is talking with the Plaza's owners about increasing law enforcement presence in the area.

Under the incentive deal, the developer would avoid paying about $28.9 million in taxes over the next two decades.

Kansas City has been trying to make Brush Creek somewhere people gather for almost 100 years. Now, the city is giving it another shot with a new master plan based on community feedback in the hopes that focusing on amenities instead of flood control will finally make the creek a destination.