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Grants Fund Recent Updates to MLK Blvd Grocery
Community Builders of Kansas City recently completed the first phase of its most recent updates to Kansas City Sun Fresh on the Boulevard. CBKC stepped in as owner/operator of the full-service grocery store at 4209 E 50th Terrace in June 2020 following the retirement of the store’s previous owner.
“This is a big commitment for the organization,“ Emmet Pierson, Jr., president and CEO of CBKC said at the time. “It is what needs to be done to keep our community’s money in the community and to give them a full-service grocery store.”
This latest investment was made possible by a $500,000 grant from Urban Action Partners with its allocation guided by recommendations from consultant Sharon Hoffman, a 30-year grocery industry veteran, who performed a detailed analysis of the store operations and prepared a roadmap that touched on all aspects of the business.
With this latest investment, CBKC prioritized modernizing the grocery store’s technology and services as well as improving the flow of the store. CBKC’s wholly owned subsidiary CB Constructs led the improvements which included:
- Move and update the checkout lanes, install new checkout terminals and add two self-checkout stations.
- Redesign the customer service counter and relocate it to the front of the store directly across from the checkout lanes.
- Begin the front interior renovation to accommodate relocation of the store’s fresh produce section, making it the first area visible to customers entering the grocery store.
- Complete construction of the online grocery storage and service area.
- Refresh the flooring in the entry.
There are more renovations ahead including completing the relocation of produce to the front of the store consistent with most newer store layouts; modernizing freezers, lighting and other equipment; operations (i.e., inventory, key staff hiring and training, technology upgrades); as well as customer attraction and retention initiatives.
CBKC is appreciative of this UAP grant as well as of earlier funding received – $500,000 CDBG grant from the city of Kansas City, Missouri, that brought online grocery to the community, and $500,000 grant from Urban Action Partners that helped fund replacement of some HVAC equipment and the consultant study.
CBKC’s Transformational SW19 at the Stadium Pickleball Destination Open for Play!
Grab your paddles, Kansas City – it’s official! Community Builders of Kansas City’s (CBKC) much anticipated pickleball venue, SW19 at the Stadium, has opened at the former CoCo Key Resort, located at 9119 E 39th St., Kansas City, Missouri, 64133. A friends and family soft opening took place on Wednesday, June 4, with about 75 in attendance. The official grand opening event was held a week later on June 11. About 400 people attended the invitation-only event.
Emmet Pierson Jr., president and CEO of Community Builders KC, spoke about the transformation.
“The change is night and day; you’d never know this was once a waterpark,” he said. “It’s really cool to see what began as a vision to expand access to pickleball in Jackson County transform into this best-in-class destination. It was quite the undertaking – we gutted it, tore out the waterpark slides, poured courts and built it up into a unique experience that can’t be matched in Jackson County.”
The $6.5 million overhaul of the water park in the former Adams Mark Hotel that made way for SW19 at the Stadium includes eight indoor pickleball courts, a bar and restaurant helmed by local chef Keeyoung Kim, celebrated for his Korean-inspired bar cuisine. A lobby lounge, flexible event space and two VIP suites are available by reservation, and the site serves as the home of Kansas City’s first professional pickleball team, the KC Stingers.
Vibrant modern décor fills the space, with the Stingers’ signature purple and green lighting up the courts. Throughout the lobby, restaurant, bar and private suites, pickleball–inspired accents, like ball-shaped pillows and signature light fixtures, are seamlessly woven into a sleek contemporary design.
Pierson emphasizes that the main goal of the new space is inclusivity and expanding access to under-resourced markets, not surprising given that health and wellness is one of the CBKCs strategic pillars.
“With no pickleball venues in Eastern Jackson County, we wanted to cultivate the community and introduce the sport to new audiences – especially underserved youth, as collegiate pickleball scholarships emerge,” Pierson said. “Our aim is to welcome everyone, from casual beginners to competitive pros.”
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America for the third consecutive year with an estimated 50 million Americans partaking. However, nearly 70 percent of casual players and over 80 percent of core players are white and only 7.3 percent are Black according to the Sports Fitness Industry Association report.
SW19 at the Stadium offers programs for inner city youth, clinics for beginners, classes with professional players, casual drop-in play and competitive leagues and tournaments.
It was built not just to serve athletes but to fuel a broader mission of reshaping the physical landscape and increasing the opportunities available to local residents. Thirty-four new jobs were created with employees hired through a federal grant, approximately 28 for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Staff are being trained to work in pickleball management, hospitality management and restaurant management.
SW19 is about more than just playing pickleball. It’s about introducing pickleball to new generations and under-resourced communities, sparking economic growth and creating a space where everyone can belong, grow, and thrive.
Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson Leads Renewed Fight Against Crime in Midtown
Since assuming office as Jackson County Prosecutor on Jan. 3, 2025, Melesa Johnson has taken a bold, multi-pronged approach to curb rising crime – putting a particular focus on Kansas City’s hot spots, including Midtown. As the county’s first Black prosecutor, Johnson carries both historical significance and a fresh vision.
“Within just six months of taking office, my team has dramatically increased our case charging rate, from around 41 percent to about 74 percent, signaling a zero-tolerance stance on crime,” said Johnson.
She has emphasized that domestic violence, drug offenses and property crimes will no longer be treated lightly. Her office now pursues felony domestic-violence charges more aggressively, particularly in cases involving strangulation or violations of restraining orders, escalating jail time to match the severity of the offenses.
Midtown Kansas City has seen a surge in burglaries and break-ins targeting small businesses. Johnson responded by launching a dedicated Property Crimes Prosecution Unit, staffed with attorneys and analysts to review cases in real time and coordinate efforts with KCPD and municipal prosecutors.
“This initiative aims to quickly identify repeat offenders and disrupt criminal patterns hitting commerce corridors like Waldo, Brookside, and Midtown,” Johnson explained.
Leveraging SAVE KC, a focused deterrence pilot program Johnson helped develop while serving as Kansas City’s Public Safety Director, the office uses data-informed strategies to identify individuals most likely to commit violence, offering a combination of social support and firm legal consequences. Johnson also urges local businesses to help reduce crime through simple but effective measures like improved lighting, trimmed landscaping and secure parking practices.
Johnson marries empathy and enforcement. A Kansas City native from the Oak Park neighborhood, she emphasizes that compassion, especially toward youth and victims, does not equate to leniency for violent offenders. She regularly participates in Police Commission meetings, ensuring her office is seen as a proactive partner in public safety.
Why This Matters for Midtown
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Swift justice: Faster prosecution of break-ins and burglaries restores confidence in local law enforcement.
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Deterrence: Showcasing consequences for repeat offenders disrupts criminal cycles.
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Community health: Violent crime reduction, especially domestic violence, contributes directly to safer neighborhoods.
Through data-driven arrest strategies, a specialized prosecution unit and real-time coordination with KCPD and local businesses, Johnson is reshaping how Midtown and surrounding Kansas City neighborhoods approach crime.
We are optimistic about how this new leadership could transform Kansas City’s public safety landscape one case, one business and one neighborhood at a time.
CBKC Co-Hosts Fourth Annual Free Movie Night Under the Stars Featuring “Trolls Band Together”
Summer was in full swing at Family Movie Night, a collaboration between Starlight Theatre, Community Builders of Kansas City (CBKC), Greater KC LINC and Pat Clarke. On Friday June 13, Starlight transformed into an open-air cinema with a free screening of “Trolls Band Together.”
“Movie night is one of CBKC’s favorite events of the year,” said DaRon McGee, CBKC’s director of community relations. “It’s our chance to bring people together for an evening of fun that they might not otherwise get. It’s heartwarming to see families enjoying quality time together. Everyone leaves with a smile,” he added.
“Trolls Band Together,” released in 2023, is the sequel to “Trolls World Tour” and the third in the Trolls franchise.
Before the movie, Kansas City’s B Side Band entertained the audience with a mix of classic and contemporary hits from the vinyl era. A dynamic mix of R&B, funk, soul and dance music fueled its lively performance.
A number of local groups like KC Zoo and KC Pet Project were on hand with information and activities. Lakeside Nature Center, one of Missouri’s largest wildlife rehabilitation facilities, had exhibits and educational insights about animals, plants and habitats native to the state. Swope Park Resource Fair shared services available to help local families.
Around 1,000 people gathered for this year’s family-friendly night under the stars. If you missed it, don’t worry – we’ll be back with another free movie next summer!
KCPS Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Collier
For someone who absolutely did not want to go into education, Kansas City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Collier is way off track.
“I always knew I wanted to do something of consequence to make a difference, even as a child,” said Dr. Collier. “I am from a family of educators; my mom was a teacher and taught me first and second grade. Through sixth grade, once school was out, I spent many afternoons in her classroom down the hall. It was so much time in school; I ran from education for that reason.”
She didn’t get far. Passionate for the arts, and music in particular, she and her twin sister auditioned for and received music scholarships to KU. A classically trained singer, Dr. Collier’s plan was to go to New York and perform on Broadway or at the Metropolitan Opera. Her parents laid down some wisdom on that.
“They reminded me that it is costly to live in New York City, that I didn’t have savings or a guaranteed job so I might first work here, keep studying, save money and then move when I am more ready,” she said. “That sounded like a good plan.”
Dr. Collier’s mother, then a school principal in Kansas City Public Schools, told her there was a shortage of music teachers and she might apply. Armed with enough music courses to teach, Dr. Collier started what she thought was a temporary job.
“As soon as I started teaching, I knew this is what I am supposed to do,” she said. “My passion for music led me to my purpose – to do important work for the school district.”
The recent landslide passage of the $474 million bond measure is a big part of that important work. The funds will go to address long deferred maintenance and repairs and is a stunning success story, a testimony to the years-in-the-making re-engagement by the community and its trust in the district.
Dr. Collier said the turnaround is rooted in the beginnings of stability in district leadership. Dr. R. Stephen Green, who served four years, was the first to provide consistency and continuity at the superintendent level, she said. “Then Dr. Mark T. Bedell, for the next six years, brought his focus on the educational product and regaining accreditation. He did a lot to open the district up to reconnect with our community, bringing them into this good work, and to develop partnerships.”
Dr. Collier was part of Dr. Bedell’s team for the full six years and had a front row view of where KCPS was as a district. Upon his departure, she was named interim superintendent in August 2022 and named superintendent by a unanimous vote of the KCPS school board in February 2023. “I want to honor where we have come from as a district and work to continue our evolution to educational excellence,” she said.
In her interim year, enrollment increased for the first time in years and has continued to do so since. Last year for the first time, the district saw growth in reading MAP scores. “The scores are still not great, but we are working to have incremental growth every year until we get to where we need to be,” she said.
Dr. Collier is leading a laser focus on several areas, including literacy and the arts. KCPS now requires all Kindergarten through second grade teachers to go through LETRS® (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading Spelling) offered through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, to better equip them to help struggling readers.
The district also provides in all its schools reading interventionists who design tailored lesson plans and work directly with students in need. For those really falling behind, the district provides tutors who work with students one-on-one, three days a week for a half hour each time.
“Our literacy investment is a big part of our instructional budget, but reading is so foundational to all other learning,” said Dr. Collier. “Students build their future success on literacy.”
Another key initiative is reintroducing the arts into the district’s elementary schools.
“Children need access to the arts regardless of their socioeconomic status,” she added. “We have band and orchestra in every elementary school across the district, as well as dance, theater and the visual arts. The arts give our students another pathway where they can thrive.”
Transformational change starts with a vision and the undeterred belief it will come to be, Dr. Collier said. “The children in our community are amazing, brilliant. All they need is opportunity and people who believe and invest in them, calling out their greatness. Our students are showing us that KCPS will be a destination school district with families clamoring to get in.”
We believe it.
CBKC Adds Financial Provider and Construction Company as Tenants
Community Builders of Kansas City (CBKC) recently added two new tenants to its portfolio. Commerce Bank is moving into 4401 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd. and the Clarkson-Radmacher Joint Venture has taken a suite at 4001 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd. Peak Realty Partner Ross Simpson brokered both deals.
“Working with a developer like CBKC, who puts the community first, is very rewarding,” said Simpson. “The team is laser focused on providing opportunities for Kansas City’s East Side, continually striving to grow its businesses, relationships, and services. We are fortunate to be a part of it.”
Commerce Bank will be in one of the outparcel buildings at the front of The Shops on Blue Parkway. The 3,965-square-foot space that is undergoing a complete build-out will offer consumer and commercial banking services as well as a full-service ATM. Construction is underway and expected to be completed in fall of this year. Locally owned and operated, Commerce will be a great partner within the shopping center.
”The Shops on Blue Parkway help anchor an economic hub for Kansas City’s East Side,” said Kelly Collins, executive vice president, retail banking, Commerce Bank. “With access to public transportation and several other nearby businesses, this is a destination for many of our customers. We look forward to meeting our neighbors and making it home.”
Down the road at 4001 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd., the Clarkson-Radmacher Joint Venture has taken over the former Catholic Charities space in Suite 250. The company made cosmetic upgrades to the10,714-square-foot space, including new paint, and plans to staff 30 at the location.
“This location provides an ideal workspace for the Improve I-70 Kansas City team, keeping us close to the project footprint while offering ample room for collaboration with Missouri Department of Transportation, our design partners and other key stakeholders,” said Jonathan Baker, Clarkson-Radmacher’s project manager. “Having a dedicated space for our collective team will be essential to fostering collaboration throughout the project’s lifespan.”
Clarkson-Radmacher’s move brings the 4001 property back to 100 percent occupancy.
“With this successful lease-up, we’re ready to continue the momentum on the upcoming leasing for CBKC’s Offices at Overlook,” said Simpson. “Health Forward Foundation is the anchor/owner, taking 20,000 square feet, which leaves 40,000 square feet spread equally across two floors. Office space ranging from 2,500 to 40,000 square feet will be move-in ready by mid-2026.”
Simpson noted that The Offices at Overlook, which is going vertical now, is another landscape-changing physical manifestation of CBKC’s mission to transform the opportunities for office, retail and multi-family spaces for the neighborhood.
“Offices at Overlook is the only spec office building being built in the city right now and it’s Class-A space on Kansas City’s East Side, which makes it unique,” said Simpson.
Simpson said the first-of-its-kind development is just another day at the office for CBKC.