How a newly closed parking garage could signal transformation for a living Downtown KC [Video]

A series of transformative building projects are expected to help downtown Kansas City’s continued evolution as a resurgence in residents in the city’s core push new retail, offices and attractions, said Tommy Wilson.

“Downtown has actually been on an incredible growth trajectory since the beginning of 2003,” Wilson, director of business recruitment and research for the Downtown Council of Kansas City, told an audience Tuesday at Startland News LIVE. “During that time, we changed downtown from a single-use office district into a mixed use neighborhood for residents, visitors, and employees.”

Because that transformation happened over the past two decades, he continued, downtown Kansas City was better prepared than many other downtown regions across the country when the COVID-19 pandemic hit — decimated business districts anchored primarily by office buildings.

That resilience also set the stage for Kansas City to embark on ambitious projects like revamping Barney Allis Plazaand reconnecting downtown proper with …