Kansas City, Mo. --
The KC Streetcar is on pace to extend from downtown to the Plaza. With that in mind, Midtown businesses are bracing for more construction and change.
Phyllis Manley has owned a barber shop in Midtown for the last 25 years. She's seen a lot of change in the area and could see even more driving past her business in the near future.
In August voters approved making Midtown a new transportation district. The plan is to extend the streetcar from downtown to the Plaza and UMKC.
“I like progress, I don’t mind progress," said Manley. "I like consideration and if the construction companies have consideration for the businesses its great.”
Vintage market Urban Mining recently got new building owners and their rent was increased, forcing them to move to another location at the end of the year.
41 Action News spoke to the co-owner Heather London on the phone.
“I do think there is an overhaul and renewed interest in Downtown and in Kansas City," said London. "I think with the streetcar going on , there is some interest and excitement that wasn’t there before."
There is no direct connection to the streetcar being the reason why rent was increased, but Christina Decker says rent has gone up in the area for multiple reasons.
Decker owns Midwest Cyclery on 39th and Main St.
"I don’t think it's the streetcar," Decker says. "That may be a little nag on it, but I have seen it, in general, going up because there has been so much activity in Midtown."
Decker sees the streetcar as a benefit to the area.
"I think it will help, once it continues to grow," Decker said.
Urban Mining will move to 31st and Guillam in February. London hopes people continue to shop locally.
“I hope that Kansas City will continue to be an environment where those businesses can thrive,” said London.
The streetcar is not a done deal. Next year voters will decide to raise property tax or sales tax to fund the streetcar expansion.
