Art in the Loop Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization to engage artists in Downtown Kansas City with public art commissions. The organization’s strength stems from its unique partnership with the Kansas City Art Institute, the Kansas City Municipal Art Commission and the Downtown Council. Common ground is found in a shared belief that the development of Downtown and enhancing the cultural life of our city are directly linked.

Block 4 Properties, a nonprofit affiliate of the Downtown Council, was set up to acquire property at 17th & Broadway for the future home of the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance. In addition to acquiring the land, the Downtown Council acts as the property manager and assists in fundraising for the new Downtown Arts Campus.

The 501(c)4 Community Improvement Districts (CIDs) was established to make the Central Business District and River Market cleaner, safer and more attractive. The CIDs are designed, through our safety, maintenance, and landscape ambassadors, to create an inviting environment for all who live, work, and visit Downtown Kansas City.

Downtown Kansas City Civic Ventures is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization created by the DTC in 2009 to improve Downtown through educational and services programs. The organization owns and manages the Downtown Community Services Center at 8th & Paseo, which houses reStart, Rapid Rehousing Center, and the Kansas City Community Kitchen. The organization also administers the LaunchKC startup grants competition.

The Downtown Political Action Committee (PAC) educates state and local candidates about the importance of challenges and opportunities in Downtown Kansas City and endorses candidates who support those issues. The PAC endorses initiatives important to advancing Downtown Kansas City’s progress. The DTC provides administrative services to the PAC.

DTC I Inc. was created by the Downtown Council (DTC) to facilitate the development of the First National Bank building at 10th & Baltimore. The DTC formed a Limited Liability Corporation (the DTC LLC) to purchase the building and renovate it into the Central Library for the Kansas City Public Library. The Library purchased the properties in 2009 from DTC LLC.

DTC Community Development Inc. (DTCC), a 501(c)3 nonprofit affiliate of the Downtown Council was set up to implement the redevelopment of the former Lyric Theater building at 11th & Central. The DTCC has entered into a long-term lease with the YMCA of Greater Kansas City and will convert the former theater building into a new flagship YMCA Community Center.

Power House Properties KC LLC was formed by the Downtown Council to facilitate the redevelopment of the historic Power House at Union Station into the Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity for the Kansas City Ballet. The Downtown Council was able to secure $14 million in historic tax credits for the $39 million project.

The DTC, in cooperation with the Kansas City Public Library and Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, formulated a creative private-public partnership, which made this project possible. The Library leased the building for several years and in 2009, purchased the properties from DTC LLC. The financing plan for the $49.5 million project included the following funding sources: State and Federal historic tax credits; Missouri Development Finance Board investment; City of Kansas City Missouri and private contributions.

In 1998, the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District was redeveloped to include the American Jazz Museum, Negro League Baseball Museum, new retail construction, and more than 800 apartments. In 2007, the Downtown Development Group (DDG) contracted with the Jazz District Redevelopment Corporation to provide development services to the District. In the first year of the partnership, the DDG secured a $1.8 million HUD grant, successfully negotiated the payment of TIF reimbursements and secured a $250,000 National Endowment for the Arts grant.

The DTC works with reStart and Episcopal Community Services at the Downtown Community Services Center to address homelessness in Downtown. The DTC purchased a building in close proximity to overnight emergency shelters and built out the site. The Center provides showers, counselors and housing referrals. reStart has served 538 households including 187 that were served through permanent housing programs and the Community Kitchen has served more than one million hot, nutritious meals.

One building that remained as a deterrent to development in Downtown was the Shoppers Parkade at 11th & Grand. The DDG was asked to create a redevelopment plan that included demolition, site preparation, and a long-term development strategy. This project resulted in the removal of a blighted structure and creation of a new development site. The temporary lot created 125 surface parking spaces and City of Kansas City upgraded sidewalks, lighting and landscaping.

The Business Attraction & Retention Committee works with the Economic Development Corporation, the City of Kansas City and other civic partners to recruit new businesses to Downtown as well as to retain existing businesses. The committee is proactive in mining leasing data, meeting with CEO team members, influencing policy and conducting quarterly business recognition events.

The Human Services Committee is comprised of the top human service providers in the region, as well as DTC members and others who are interested in addressing homelessness issues. The goal of the committee is to ensure that human service needs are being met using best practices to ensure quality of care and effectiveness of operation.

The Infrastructure Committee works closely with public agencies and stakeholders to develop infrastructure investment policy and continually improve the quality of the built environment. Current initiatives include: prioritizing capital improvements; developing annual recommendations to the GDAP for the City’s PIAC process; and interfacing with MoDOT on transportation developments.

The Membership Committee guides the Downtown Council’s membership recruitment and retention efforts with the goal of building an organization whose members represent the diversity of Downtown. The committee produces networking opportunities for our members including an annual Membership Orientation and Strategy Review event and the Annual Luncheon.

The Downtown Council’s Open Space Committee is dedicated to enhancing and activating Downtown parks and developing new greenspace opportunities. Currently, the committee is focusing on providing a leadership role in developing and implementing the Greater Downtown Area Plan agenda and developing annual recommendations for the City’s PIAC process.