Have thoughts on downtown McKinney Building? Task force to hold another public meeting

The mayor’s task force on the historic McKinney Building still is taking public input and plan another public input meeting this weekend.

The more than 100-year-old building at 411 E. Broadway has connections to the Jazz Age and public comments will help the task force determine its uses. A survey remains available on building uses through BeHeardCoMo .

The public meeting is 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday. Guests can tour the space, learn more about its history, enjoy music from Show Me Brass, provide feedback on potential uses for the building and speak with task force members about the project, the city said.

The building is part of the African-American Heritage Trail that highlights the city's Black history and impacts.

Task Force members hope to not lose the narratives of both historic figures and those who still are living.

"A place that honors, but not in a static way, but an educational way," S. David Mitchell said in May. "How many folks have passed this building on a daily basis, but have no idea of the history of this building. … You don't get the Sharp End, the McKinney Building without the positive piece of a foundation of Black excellence when they once were excluded."

Mitchell says it is a fallacy that it already is decided how the building is redeveloped.

"Everyone on the task force is committed to this being a full community input decision," he said in May, adding the task force is working to get buy-in from the community, noting ideas focus on wide range of uses, including building history, the arts, but also as a space for youth and adults alike.

More: McKinney Building preservation a 'legacy opportunity' for Columbia, task force leader says

Note: Portions of this story were previously published.

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on X, formerly Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Have thoughts on downtown McKinney Building? Task force to hold another public meeting