👀 This Week Around KC

• 📢 INDEPENDENCE NEIGHBORS PUSH BACK ON PROPOSED DATA CENTER​​
  Residents near the proposed Independence data center are raising alarms about noise, water use, and how close the massive development would sit to their homes. The project promises major investment for the city, but neighbors say they were blindsided and want clearer answers before anything moves forward.​
• 🏘️ PLATTE COUNTY LEADERS BACK PLAN TO CUT HOUSING COSTS​​
  Platte County officials signed on to a statewide push to lower housing costs by reworking zoning rules, speeding up permits, and reducing bureaucratic red tape. Supporters argue that streamlining development would make homes more affordable. Critics worry it hands too much control to developers and could weaken neighborhood oversight.
• 🐴 AMERICAN ROYAL GETS KEY BOOST FOR NEW COMPLEX CONSTRUCTION​​
  The American Royal and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County voted to extend their STAR bond partnership, clearing the path for construction on the long awaited agribusiness campus. This keeps the multi hundred million dollar project alive and marks one of the final steps before full site work begins.
• 🛡️ KANSAS CITY LAUNCHES 2 MILLION DOLLAR VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM​​
  KC is rolling out a 2 million dollar initiative focused on five neighborhoods with the highest rates of violent crime. The program will fund outreach workers, youth programs, mental health resources, and community support teams. City leaders say the goal is long term prevention, not short term enforcement.
• 🟢 SLIME TAKES OVER UNION STATION IN 2026​​
  Union Station confirmed a new family experience that leans fully into Nickelodeon nostalgia with hands on slime labs, interactive exhibits, and a big green splash moment that KC parents will never hear the end of. The attraction opens next year and is expected to be one of the biggest kid focused draws of the season.
• 🥒 PICKLECON 2026 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN​​
  PickleCon returns to the KC Convention Center next July with three days of tournaments, celebrity matches, glow in the dark courts, and a vendor village packed with new gear. It has become one of the country’s largest pickleball events and is expected to bring thousands of players and fans to downtown Kansas City.

What you might have missed last week

• Developers behind the Country Club Plaza overhaul released updated plans this week, including a new “Plaza on the Plaza” greenspace concept.
• Kansas City approved a short-term rental ordinance that will make it easier for locals to host guests during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
• The Chiefs are celebrating the holidays with a Kingdom Elf photo contest. Fans are invited to submit their most creative Elf on the Shelf setups, ideally with a Chiefs twist.

🏢 DEVELOPMENT SCENE

Boutique Hotel Breathing New Life into 1880s River Market Landmark

A historic 1880 building in Kansas City’s River Market is undergoing a $31 million transformation into a 45-room boutique hotel, marking the neighborhood’s first hotel in years and aiming to open ahead of the World Cup. The project launched with a groundbreaking along the KC Streetcar route, where developers outlined plans to pair restored architectural character with a mix of local cultural elements and Italian mid-century design.

Renovations include new structural foundations, windows, full mechanical systems and refreshed interiors, alongside amenities such as a restaurant, lounge, coffee bar, garden courtyard, terrace and fitness center. The redevelopment team includes Populous, Cerris Builders, BNIM and Clockwork, continuing the building’s evolution after its former tenant, Confluence, relocated nearby.

​Let me know what you think of this redevelopment ➡️

🏐 SPORTS SCENE

Chiefs’ Slim Playoff Hopes Depend on Perfect Finish and Key Losses

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The Kansas City Chiefs, sitting at 6–7, face a steep climb to reach the NFL playoffs, with the league’s playoff predictor giving them just an 11% chance. To make the postseason, the Chiefs must win all four remaining games, including home matchups against the Chargers and Broncos and road games against struggling Titans and Raiders squads.
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Their fate also hinges on other results: the Colts need to lose at least two of their final four contests, and the Chargers must drop multiple games to create a favorable tiebreaker scenario. Even if the Dolphins and Ravens, both also 6–7, manage strong finishes, Kansas City could still claim the AFC’s 7th seed, provided certain outcomes fall their way. The decisive stretch begins Sunday when the Chiefs host the Chargers at Arrowhead.

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🌆 This Weekend in Kansas City!