This week in studio, we regrouped after mid-reviews for each segment and progressed to the next phase in design working toward a comprehensive plan for each segment of the Greenline. By the end of the week, our work will be showcased at a happy hour and community meeting located in the 18th and Vine district.

On Monday segment roles were assigned related to site furnishings, neighborhood connectivity, gateways, and destinations. Our destinations team created site plans highlighting student design proposals and other attractors along their segment of the Greenline in preparations to present our work to students and staff at the Kansas City Art Institute. We received very helpful feedback that shifted our thinking toward wayfinding along the Greenline through signage, symbols,color, and how it connects to the overall segment identity.

During our seminar centering around housing and the housing crisis across Kansas City, we were able to hear from Trevor Acorn, a structural engineer at Walter P. Moore and a pivotal figure in passing single stair reform policy for multi-unit housing developments. He provided insight and optimism for safer, smaller, and more affordable housing options through changing building standards and zoning codes. Trevor got us to think critically in our approach to designing high density housing.

Our community meeting had a good turnout; It was valuable to engage directly with community members and hear their perspectives on the future of the Greenline. The feedback we received will play a key role in refining our designs to better reflect the needs and identity of the surrounding neighborhoods. We especially appreciated the thoughtful conversations around connectivity, development concerns, and opportunities for inclusive, community-driven spaces.

My tasks this week were reflecting over mid-review feedback for my West Bottoms Levee Greenhouse design proposal and using my research to create questions to ask the community for Friday’s event. These questions are centered around desired activity, concerns about new development, and neighborhood identity among other topics. I am eager to receive input from the community to better understand and address their needs. My approach to this site in the West Bottoms considers the industrial history that put Kansas City on the map by allowing the existing industry and the Greenline’s pedestrian scale to coexist peacefully. The intent is to address local food access concerns first at a commercial scale while also creating a platform to foster community closeness, expand educational opportunities for neighboring low access areas, and connect urban food systems across Kansas City.

Written by Cora Cole, Regional and Community Planning Student

Community Happy Hour