Two Years Before Opening, New Streetcar Already Driving Kansas City Development

"The sudden resurgence of interest in downtown apartment construction is a testament to the power of past and current investments in the heart of Kansas City," says an editorial in The Kansas City Star. Investment in a sports arena and the Power & Light District, among other elements, have helped to triple the number of downtown residents over the past decade.

Plans for 1,500 new and renovated apartment units announced by developers over the last few months demonstrate that growth is poised to continue, thanks in no small part to a new streetcar line. 

"The proposed apartment units also help prove that Mayor Sly James and many other streetcar backers made a wise decision to push a two-mile starter line from the River Market to Union Station. While The Star disagreed with how the city funded the permanent transit system — which is expected to begin operating in 2015 — we’re glad to see it is already delivering on its promise as a valuable economic development tool."