For immediate release: Friday, August 8, 2025

The Historic 18th & Vine District is entering a new era, with multiple infrastructure projects underway and new business opportunities being offered. This week's edition of the Revive the Vine features details related to construction updates, upcoming events and deadlines for several "Requests for Proposals."

Updates on Construction and Progress

Construction has started on several Revive the Vine projects, including the 18th Street Pedestrian Mall, 18th and Lydia Parking Garage, The Parker Apartments and the Boone Theater reconstruction. This work is causing several closures in the 18th and Vine District. Despite active construction and street closures, businesses are still open. Pedestrian walkways are maintained as much as possible, with safety precautions in place.

New sidewalk is now open to pedestrians on the north side of 18th Street between The Paseo and Vine Street. Crews must wait to pour concrete for the sidewalks on the south side of that stretch of 18th Street because they have to wait for water line connection work for The Parker to be complete. That water line work is expected to start and be completed by the end of next week. This work will not have any additional public-facing impacts.

Sidewalk also needs to be replaced on the portion of Vine Street that leads up to The Blue Room on the north side and the Historic Lincoln Building on the south side. Progress on this work is currently delayed because crews have hit an unforseen Evergy vault underground. Constructors are exploring several different solutions to be able to move forward. In the interim, constructors are maintaining the grading on these routes to ensure pedestrians are able to access the front side of these buildings.

Residents can also access The Blue Room, The American Jazz Museum and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum through the back entrances off E 17th Terrace. 18th Street businesses can also be accessed through ADA compliant pedestrian outlets at 18th Street and Highland Avenue. There is also a ramp to the back entrance of the American Jazz Museum, which connects to The Blue Room through the atrium.

Streetlighting crews are aware of ongoing issues with streetlights around the construction zone. Crews are expected to have the lights reenergized by the end of next week.

18th Street from Paseo to Vine Street is currently closed to traffic. This configuration is expected to be in place at least through September.

Water line work related to the 18th Street Pedestrian Mall has started on Vine Street. As a result, the intersection of 18th and Vine will remain closed until this work is complete. Work has now concluded on the north side of 18th Street and Vine Street and has shifted to the south side. Because of this, parking is restricted on Vine between 18th Street and 19th Street. Businesses in that area are still open and operating as normal.

Water line work is expected to start soon near 18th Street and Lydia Avenue, which is not expected to impact through traffic on 18th Street. This is related to the 18th Street Parking Garage Project, which has a construction zone in the surface lot on 18th Street between Grove Street and Lydia Avenue.

Spire has identified an unexpected gas leak on 18th Street between Woodland Avenue and Highland Avenue. In order to address that leak, crews are expected to close that stretch of 18th Street to through traffic starting as early as Monday, August 11. It's unclear at this point how long that work will take to address.

Spire is continuing gas line work on 18th Street from The Paseo to Troost Avenue. This work will involve a large excavation at Troost Avenue, which will lead to a one-lane closure in the eastbound lane of 18th Street from Troost Avenue to Forest Avenue. Flaggers will be in place to facilitate the flow of traffic. This work could start as early as Monday, August 11, depending on the permitting process. The gas line work is expected to be complete by August 15, 2025.

Starting next week, constructors will be making holes for utility locations on 18th Street between Highland Avenue and Vine Street. Because of this, vehicles are not allowed in that portion of street. There is an opening in place on the Highland Avenue side of 18th Street, which is to accommodate for deliveries and drop-offs only.

Storm sewer work in The Paseo is now complete. Separate sanitary sewer work related to renovations on the Boone Theater is expected to start by next week. This will result in a closure on Highland Avenue from 19th Street to 18th Street, with one-way through traffic for residents. This work is only expected to take about two days.

Despite multiple delays and disruptions to current phases of construction on the 18th Street Pedestrian Mall project, constructors are still working towards hitting their goal of completing construction by the beginning of June 2026. The 18th and Lydia Parking Garage project is currently on track to also be completed by June 2026. As for the Boone Theater and The Parker, both private owners have indicated that they intend to release information about completion at a later date.

Upcoming Events

Tomorrow is the 2025 Heart of America Hot Dog Festival hosted by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. This event is being moved to the National WWI Museum and Memorial due to construction on 18th Street. Gates open on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at 3:00 PM. Get your tickets and join in the festivities, such as live entertainment, food, drinks and more.

Impact of Closures & Permitting

Events traditionally held on 18th Street will be impacted by active construction zones. For the safety of event participants, event organizers must relocate festivities to The Paseo between Truman Road and 18th Street or consider an alternate location (outside of 18th Street) within the Jazz District during this period. Kansas City is committed to supporting these events and looks forward to welcoming them back to an improved and revitalized 18th Street in the future. For questions about event permitting or location changes, please contact David Warren with the Kansas City Permit Division.

Business Resources

Tonight is the deadline for prospective business owners and entrepreneurs to submit their proposals to fill vacant storefronts in the Jazz District. This "Request for Proposals" is for the following open spaces:

• 1512 E. 18th Street (currently the GSD Community Hub building)
• 1704 E. 18th Street
• 1708 E. 18th Street
• 1710-1712 E. 18th Street

Proposals must be submitted through Bonfire, Kansas City's online procurement platform. Applicants have until 11:30 PM tonight, August 8, to submit their proposal. It will take around 90 days for applicants to be notified if their proposals are approved or denied. This RFP is separate from Kansas City's Vacant Land Activation Initiative.

There are also additional resources for both active and potential businesses owners through Kansas City BizCare. The program acts as a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs, providing guidance on navigating the city's licensing, permitting, and approval processes, as well as connecting them with relevant resources and support organizations. Kansas City BizCare also helps businesses access capital programs and promotes economic mobility.

Call for Artists

Kansas City's One Percent for Art program is looking for a professional visual artist or artist team to design, fabricate, and install permanent wall-based public art for the new parking garage coming to 18th Street and Lydia Avenue.

Two to five semifinalist artists will be asked to advance to the Request for Proposal phase and propose designs. Semifinalists will be paid a design proposal stipend of $2,775. The maximum budget available for this project is $185,000, all inclusive.

All art must fit within a reserved space measuring 29 feet high by 20 feet wide on the north façade of the garage. The deadline to apply is September 1, 2025. Read more about the Call for Artists here.

MORE ABOUT REVIVE THE VINE

Revive the Vine is Kansas City's $400+ million reinvestment initiative in the historic 18th & Vine Jazz District. The program combines major public infrastructure projects with private development to restore cultural landmarks, expand housing, improve walkability, and support neighborhood vitality.

As part of the initiative, the City is also working to activate vacant storefronts by bringing in small businesses, artists, and entrepreneurs-ensuring 18th & Vine remains a vibrant cultural and commercial destination for generations to come.

Project #1 - 18th St Pedestrian Plaza

• Pedestrian mall on 18th Street between The Paseo and Woodland Avenue
• Curbs, gutters, and parking in project area will be removed to create a seamless corridor for pedestrian activity
• Medallions for the American Jazz Walk of Fame to be refurbished and reinstalled along 18th Street
• Major construction is officially underway, with completion expected in June 2026
• Total cost: $8 Million +
• When the first phase of work is complete, there will be a ceremony to celebrate. Keep an eye on the City event calendar for more information.

Project #2 - 18th and Lydia Parking Garage

• New city-owned parking garage located at 1819 Lydia Avenue.
• The goal for the parking garage is to accommodate for 470 spots
• Major construction is expected to start in June 2025 and be complete by June 2026
• Total cost: $20 Million

Project #3 - Paseo Streetscape improvements

• Aesthetic improvements from E 17th Terrace to KC Terminal Railway
• Modification of the 3 lane-configuration in either direction of the Paseo Boulevard to increase the width of the median by eliminating the inside lanes in both directions from E 17th Terrace to the bridge crossing the KC Terminal Railway
• Major construction expected to start August 2026 and be complete by May 2027
• Estimated total cost: $1 Million

Project #4 - Paseo Blvd. Shared Use Path

• Off-street shared use path on the East side of Paseo, between from Admiral Boulevard to 18th Street
• The "East Leg" of the Green Line Initiative
• Construction is expected to start May 2026 and be complete by Nov. 2026
• Total cost: $1.7 Million
• A public engagement meeting for this project was held August 5, 2025.

Project #5 - Archive Plaza Project

• Involves the installation of a fountain and statues at 18th and Paseo
• Plaza area to span from 18th Street to Truman Road
• Part of the overall plan for Paseo Streetscape Improvements
• Design phase, construction start date pending
• Total cost pending

Project #6 - I-70 Second Tier EIS/I-70 Paseo Blvd to I-435:

• Includes the design and reconstruction of the I-70 corridor from The Paseo to Manchester
• Full scope of project is dependent on the final amount of funding available to MoDOT
• Project is already in progress, with a highway shutdown anticipated for June 2026
• Work expected to continue through Spring 2028
• Total cost pending

Project #7 - Blues Park Improvements

• Involves constructing an outdoor roller skate rink and new restroom at Blues Park 
• Construction is delayed and is expected to start Fall of 2025
• Estimated Total Cost: $1.7 Million

Project #8 - Washington-Wheatley Neighborhood improvements

• Resurfacing and ADA improvements between 18th Street to 23rd Street between Prospect and Indiana (in Washington Wheatley Neighborhood)
• Installing sidewalks and curbs around 19th and Agnes
• Pre-design phase, construction start date pending
• Total Cost: $500,000

Private Developments: 

Project #9 - One Nine Vine Phase 2

• Mixed use facilities off 19th Street between The Paseo and Vine Street
• Phase 1 is complete and includes multi-family housing at 1901 Vine Street
• Major construction expected to start September 2025 and be complete by May 2027
• Total cost: $19.47 Million

Project #10 - The Parker

• 48 multi-family housing units above commercial-use facilities
• One 3-story building and one 4-story building
• Developer: 18th & Vine Developers LLC (made up of McCormack Baron Salazar, Avernir Group LLC and Taliferro and Browne)
• Construction expected to start June 2025
• Estimated Total Cost: $20 Million +
• A groundbreaking ceremony was held May 5, 2025. Click here to read about the groundbreaking of this project!

Project #11 - Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and Hotel

• Development of a new Negro Leagues Baseball Museum facility, including a multi-studio, 7 story hotel
• New museum and hotel will be integrated and connected to the revamped Buck O'Neil Research Center (the old Paseo YMCA building)
• Developer: Grayson Capital
• Major construction is expected to start Fall of 2025.
• Total Cost: $30 Million, seeking funding for completion

Project #12 - 18th and Lydia Housing

• Multi-family housing on top of and around the city-owned garage at 1819 Lydia Avenue
• Roughly 150 units with supporting amenity spaces and a small amount of commercial space facing 18th street on the ground level
• Developers: Grayson Capital
• Major construction expected to start after June 2026
• Total cost pending

Project #13 - Boone Theater

• Historic rehab of Boone Theater (1701 E. 18th Street) and construction of an outdoor event space
• Developers: Vine Street Collaborative LLC
• Construction already underway
• Sewer line utility coordination on Highland Ave. between 18th St. and 19th St. is currently stalled.
• Estimated Total Cost: $8.7 Million

Project #14 - Parade Park Neighborhood

• Involves the redevelopment of an existing 510-unit housing cooperative
• Project is already underway, with relocation efforts happening now
• The construction start date for the first phase of home-redevelopment is still pending
• All phases are expected to be completed in 7-10 years
• Total Cost: $300 Million +