Ongoing clashes define Kansas City's development in 2025

Kansas City’s future is being shaped by fierce debates between residents and developers over zoning, highways, and major projects. The fight over rezoning for Urbavore Urban Farm highlights neighbors' resistance to change, while a large Shawnee apartment and townhome project moves forward after years of legal wrangling and local opposition.

The push to remove the North Loop highway downtown and reconnect neighborhoods such as Columbus Park reflects growing efforts to heal divisions created by past infrastructure. Ongoing discussions about the negative effects of Bruce R. Watkins Drive (71 Highway) and the city’s efforts to address them show how highways remain flashpoints. At the same time, new visions for the Country Club Plaza and rising housing costs keep these conflicts at the center of Kansas City’s development conversations.

Independence Towers at 729 N. Jennings Rd., seen on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Independence. By Emily Curiel

NO. 1: INDEPENDENCE CHANGES APARTMENT INSPECTION STANDARDS AFTER SCRUTINY OVER UNSAFE BUILDING

Independence expands Rental Ready Program to improve living conditions after tenant protests over poor housing standards. | Published January 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Noelle Alviz-Gransee

NO. 2: COUNCIL’S SHORT-SIGHTED DECISION ON URBAVORE FARM SENDS KANSAS CITY BACK TO THE PAST | OPINION

Compost is not trash, and the urban farm’s innovative master plan would have challenged the status quo. | Opinion | Published February 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Daniel Heryer

A rendering of the center of the Country Club Plaza, where a parking lot exists along with a former Starbucks, shows a “plaza on the Plaza,” that includes green space for pedestrians.

NO. 3: A ‘PLAZA ON THE PLAZA?’ NEW RENDERINGS REVEAL HOW KC DISTRICT COULD DRAMATICALLY CHANGE

“I can’t tell you that I’m going to start digging up the streets tomorrow. We believe that the Plaza is such a special place, that we’ve really got one opportunity to get this right,” said Dustin Bullard, urban strategist. | Published February 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Eric Adler

An exterior view of 400H Apartments in downtown Raleigh. By Travis Long

NO. 4: KANSAS CITY’S HOUSING COST RISES AS RESTRICTIVE ZONING, BUILDING REGULATIONS COST MORE | OPINION

The rules often go beyond necessary safety and public health standards. | Opinion | Published March 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Patrick Tuohey

The Shawnee City Council rejected plans for a $50 million project to build 14 triplex buildings and 384 apartments on 29 acres near Johnson Drive and Kansas 7 highway. Now the developer is suing.

NO. 5: CONTENTIOUS PROPOSAL TO BUILD APARTMENTS, TOWNHOMES IN JOCO REVIVED AFTER COURT RULING

The Kansas Supreme Court ruled in favor of Johnson County developer that proposed a controversial housing development in western Shawnee — bringing an almost six-year legal saga to an end | Published March 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Taylor O’Connor

A 1964 highway engineering study provided residents with a preview of what a modern highway through Southtown neighborhoods might look like.

NO. 6: KANSAS CITY CONSIDERED A HIGHWAY FROM DOWNTOWN TO THE PLAZA. THEN RESIDENTS FOUGHT BACK

Many of the fears raised by neighbors did come to fruition — but in neighborhoods a couple of miles to the east. | Published March 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michael Wells

The broad vision of North Loop Neighbors, a new advocacy group, of what downtown Kansas City could look like if the north section of the downtown highway loop is removed.

NO. 7: NEW GROUP TAKES UP THE TORCH, PUSHING TO REMOVE HIGHWAY LOOP NORTH OF DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY

Though it would be years away, removing the North Loop could reconnect downtown neighborhoods and open up acres of land for development, organizers say. | Published March 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chris Higgins

This aerial photo shows the north and southbound lanes of US 71 Highway at Gregory Boulevard in Kansas City. By Rich Sugg

NO. 8: THIS KANSAS CITY HIGHWAY IS A ‘BARRIER’ TO EAST SIDE, LOCALS SAY. WHAT COULD THE CITY DO?

Neighborhoods around 71 Highway have higher rates of asthma and fewer hours of sleep, according to Kansas City Health Department data. | Published March 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Eleanor Nash

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.