East Village

Declared a "redevelopment zone" in 2005, the East Village of downtown Kansas City has been the site of significant urban change in the past few decades. Surrounded by City Hall and several federal buildings, East Village has become the proposed area for the Kansas City Royals' new baseball stadium, joining the T-Mobile Center as one of the biggest entertainment draws for the neighborhood.

Bordering Kansas City's financial district and filled with soaring office buildings, East Village makes up a small portion of the urban epicenter of Kansas City. Residents are right near all the action, overhearing concerts from the T-Mobile Center, while city sidewalks are filled with people walking to work in the morning or heading to a bar with friends in the evening. Unsurprisingly, this is a world of condominiums and apartment buildings, and architectural periods are a mixed bag of renovated historical buildings and modern high-rises. Floor-to-ceiling windows from East Village condos give a scenic view of the city below, and if buying in the area, expect one-bedrooms to be around $135,000. Two-bedrooms spike up to $205,000, and luxury spots such as penthouses trend near $500,000.

East Village is served by the Kansas City Public School District, and it's surrounded by private and charter schools. Many children who attend public school will start their educational journey at Gladstone Elementary. Rated an overall C-minus on Niche and an A for equity, Gladstone is noted by GreatSchools to have a 10 out of 10 when it comes to student progress. Students move on to Northeast Middle, which takes home another overall C-minus and A in equity, maintaining a small student-teacher ratio of 12-to-1. Northeast Middle provides a "New Americans" class, specifically focusing on helping children who have just come to the country in early-stage English and adapt to a new school environment. The last step of primary education happens at Northeast High, graded with a C on Niche. With a highly diverse student population, Northeast High provides a wide range of extracurriculars and clubs that offer a well-rounded academic experience.

East Village is bordered by the main thoroughfares of Interstate 70 and 35, so if you need to commute or travel, you've got immediate access to an exit ramp. There are several bus stops in the area, and the East Village Transit Center acts as a central hub for bus lines across the city. As East Village is primarily a private business district, you won't find many essentials for daily life unless you head farther west into downtown. Banks, fitness centers, retail and restaurants can all be located within a ten-minute walk along downtown blocks. Locally owned Homesteader Café offers Southern-inspired dishes with ingredients sourced from Kansas City farmers, and you can pop into Revocup and order a latte to-go as your journey into the city.

Within the urban composition is Ilus Winfield Davis Park, originally constructed in 1994 with the vision to bring an attractive green space of relaxation to an area that lacked natural appeal. Locals constantly hang out on the manicured green lawn, stroll on the paved pathways and relax by the large reflecting pool. Nearby Kemp Playground is an excellent resource for getting the kids out of the house, and Walnut Street Dog Park serves as a playground for the four-legged children in your family.

The T-Mobile Center, a massive complex for music concerts and athletic games, engulfs the southwest corner of East Village. It's one of many reasons the area stays busy, something to keep in mind if moving into the neighborhood. It comes with the territory, between First Friday art crawls at the nearby Crossroads District and constant events at the Kansas City Convention Center. East Village is undoubtedly a neighborhood for those who want to connect to the buzz of city life.

Written By

Kaitie Lamb

Photography Contributed By

Eric Bowers

Video By

Tyler Belile