River Market Community Improvement District: Renewed for an Additional 10 Years

By Sean O’Byrne, Vice President, Downtown Council; Executive Director, Community Improvement Districts

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 RMCID, 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 apartment units under construction and 838 units planned. In 2024, the River Market recovered 104% of all pedestrian traffic from 2019, fully rebounding and exceeding totals prior to the pandemic.

One of the major successes of the RMCID was the creation of a nighttime security program. Through the hard work and dedication of the River Market property owners, the RMCID Safety and Security Committee, the District now has three dedicated security officers exclusively patrolling within its boundaries. The officers (two in marked vehicles and one on foot) patrol the district seven nights a week from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM.

The RMCID also completed $825,000 in infrastructure improvements through our successful River Market Tax Increment Financing (TIF) plan. This plan delivered new streetscapes, treewells, repaired sidewalks, curbs and retrofitted over 100 decorative pedestrian lights with new LED lighting which provides better, safer illumination at a lower cost for our ratepayers.

Deborah Reiman, Chair of the RMCID and River Market resident stated, “I can’t imagine the River Market without the RMCID and our Ambassadors. They are friendly, outgoing and are the eyes and ears for our KCPD partners. By coordinating with our residents and visitors, we have created a wonderful neighborhood that is clean, safe and thriving. The Ambassadors are essential to our success. We look forward to an additional 10 years together!”