_Here is the latest on the Streetcar...

The initial paperwork to form the streetcar's Transportation Development District was filed in Jackson County Circuit Court. This is the first of many steps towards funding our downtown streetcar's construction and operations. A draft map of the boundaries are attached in PDF format. Please note the boundaries now include the entire Loop.

Federal funding has been identified and the lead consultant (HDR, Inc.) is already at work on the grant application. The program is called TIGER and it has been very friendly to streetcar projects in the three previous cycles. Kansas City is seeking only $25 million of the $100 million construction cost, which makes us very competitive (the minimum local match is 20% and the program typically sees billions more in applications than there are funds to disperse). The application deadline is March 19. Winners will be announced sometime this summer or fall. The City will be seeking letters of support for the application from neighborhood groups and home owners associations, so stay tuned for information on how to help!

The TDD election has been targeted for Tuesday, June 5 and will be a traditional format. You will not need to request a ballot by mail, as was previously reported. Downtown turnout for municipal elections has been terrible (15% in last year's mayoral election), so we will need to be vigilant about encouraging our neighbors to register and participate. Check now to make sure your registration matches your downtown address: http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/voterlookup/

Great public meeting for the “Making Grand Grand” project last night! There was unanimous support from those in attendance to reduce Grand Blvd down to 3 lanes (2 traffic lanes and a turning lane). There were 3 preliminary schemes presented by the design team for consideration. The 2 schemes that received the most support incorporated generous pedestrian friendly sidewalks, protected bike lanes, on street parking and various methods to incorporate trees and landscaping.  Stay up to date with the project at http://grandblvdkc.com.

Check out the "Big 5" @ the link below...

"Big 5"

If you missed the 2nd Open House see the informational handout below. The two alignment alternatives have been identified as Main Street and Grand Blvd. If you have not done so already provide feedback on these alignments at www.kcsmartmoves.org.

Also below is information on the modern streetcar.  

The City has unveiled a new website for public engagement:  www.kcmomentum.com

This site is online town hall where anyone can submit their ideas to improve the City in a variety of different categories.  Users can comment on submitted ideas and support the good ideas of others.  This is a great opportunity for everyone to share their ideas for downtown with the City.

The Downtown Neighborhood Association has been working with the City's Greater Downtown Area Plan (GDAP) Implementation Committee.  The DNA was closely involved with the creation of the GDAP,  the City's long range plan for the downtown area, and continues this important input as the City works to implement the plan.  For the first time, through representation on a number of City and Downtown Council committees, neighborhood groups including DNA have worked with the Downtown Council, City staff, and other downtown representatives to develop consensus around a single list of priority projects in the downtown area for PIAC funding (the City's funds infrastructure and capital improvement projects).  This work has resulted in a long catalog of good projects to support downtown, which has been refined to a list of 8 projects that will be prepared as part of this year's PIAC requests:

1.  Streetcar Alternative Analysis - $1 Million - Citywide Funds - Funding for complete engineering

2.  20th Street Streetscape - $500,000 - 4th In-District - Funding for completion of construction documents

3.  20th Street / I-35 Access - $100,000 - 4th In-District - Funding for improvements related to pedestrian needs.

4.  18th Street Connector - $150,000 - 3rd and 4th District - Funding for planning

5.  17th Street, Broadway to Summit - $150,000 - 4th In-District - Funding for planning

6.  Columbus Square Park - $154,000 - 4th In-District - Street calming, tree planting, planning

7.  Triangle Park (SW Blvd & 23rd St) - $177,000 - 4th In-District - Funding for completion of construction documents

8.  West Terrace / Case Park - 4th In District - $55,000 - 4th In-District - Funding for planning and design

Check out the details by downloading the file below.

Kansas City, MO – JULY 12, 2011 – Today, the Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City,
in partnership with the Downtown Council of Kansas City, Missouri, announced they will
receive an Our Town grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), one of only 51
grants awarded nationwide. The Arts Council and Downtown Council will receive $200,000 to
contribute to the restoration of the Boone Theater in the Historic Jazz District at 18th & Vine.

Our Town is the NEA’s latest investment in creative placemaking, through which partners from
both public and private sectors come together to strategically shape the social, physical, and
economic character of a neighborhood, town, city, or region around arts and cultural activities.

The NEA grant will support the predevelopment, design and community planning phases of
the restoration of the 89-year-old Boone Theater, which is listed on both the Kansas City and
National Registers of Historic Places. The long-abandoned building has been boarded up since
the 1950s.

The restoration and redevelopment of the historic Boone Theater – a $2.5 million project – is
being undertaken with the goal of creating a new home for Folk Alliance International, a non-
profit cultural organization presently based in Memphis, Tennessee, that fosters and promotes
traditional, contemporary, and multicultural folk music and dance and related performing arts.