It began eighteen years ago. That is when the Downtown Council (DTC) teamed up with human service providers to address the issue of homelessness in Downtown Kansas City.  The goal was to provide all of the basic services a person would need to create a healthy lifestyle and obtain permanent housing. In 2008, the DTC established the Downtown Kansas City Civic Ventures (DKCCV), a 501c3 corporation focused on assisting those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The goal was to purchase a building and provide services in close proximity to existing overnight shelters. And that is when The Beehive was created!

10th and Main, located in the heart of Downtown Kansas City, has always been an important destination. As a matter of fact, it was at that very intersection in 1915 that a young Harry Houdini performed his very first straightjacket escape. To add to the excitement, Houdini was hanging upside down suspended in the air. Today, it is actually 10th and Main that is suspended. Previously, the roughly 22,000 square feet located on the Southwest corner of 10th and Main was the Metroplex for the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority. Hundreds of City buses would traverse the property, making connections to multiple routes. With changes in use patterns, it was decided to close the Metroplex and relocate the major connection hub.

The Downtown Community Improvement District rolled onto the streets of Downtown Kansas City in 2003 and in the River Market in 2006. The goals of these two districts are to create clean, safe and vibrant neighborhoods. Since the early 2000’s, these two distinct neighborhoods have seen remarkable changes.

The ratepayers and property owners of the River Market have spoken and have overwhelmingly approved an additional 10 year term for the River Market Community Improvement District (RMCID). The RMCID rolled out in 2005 with clean and safe services aimed at making the River Market the cleanest and safest neighborhood in Kansas City.

Since the formation of the River Market Community Improvement District (RMCID) in 2005, more than $680,000,000 has been reinvested in our district. The River Market District is on solid ground with strong office and retail occupancy as well as a growing residential base. Today, more than 3,000 residents call River Market home, with an additional 246 apartments under construction and 838 units planned.

Downtown Kansas City has seen an increase in new businesses and retail shops. Since 2020, 91 new retailers have opened their doors. New shops mean new customers and an increased emphasis on the walkability of Downtown. One such business is the new 20,000 square foot business, The Glam Room Salon + Spa + Beauty Bar (The Glam Room) which will open its doors at 804 West 8th Street later this summer.