Faces of Northeast – Jason Nickles

Jason Nickles is interning this summer with the Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce to gain experience in his field of urban planning and design.

After making a career switch, Nickles, a 2016 graduate of the University of Missouri, is now pursuing a second degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City.

“I was working in a bio-technical lab, because I just wanted a job,” Nickles said. “I had an internship in the middle of nowhere and I realized I don’t want to work in the middle of nowhere. Life happened and five years later, I was like, ‘I don’t want to do this.’”

Nickles, a resident of Pendleton Heights since 2017, chose his neighborhood because of its proximity to Kessler Park, and his family’s roots here.

“I had one dog at the time, and I didn’t think I could afford the neighborhood at all,” Nickles said. “I got priced out of Midtown, obviously, even back then I was priced out… So then I found this one on Urbancoolkc.com, and it was on the market for a day. I looked at it the next day and put an offer on it.”

He’s made basic repairs to his house since he moved in – fixing a hole in the roof and updating the bathroom – but doesn’t plan on changing the floor plan. A self-described maximalist, he likes the walls and separate rooms in his old home.

“I’m really able to walk to work, which has been like a dream,” Nickles said. “I was commuting to Johnson County for five years for a job and it’s so nice to be able to just walk to work, I guess.”

His grandmother attended Holy Cross and lived in Sheffield, and often shared stories of Budd Park. Now, walking to work the same way she probably did, he feels connected to his family who once lived in Northeast.

“She never got a driver’s license, never needed it,” Nickles said. “I don’t know how she continued on without it, but she never needed it when she was a teenager so it’s crazy how times have changed.”

A fan of the Northeast’s diverse food scene, his favorites are Yasmeen Cafe at Independence and The Paseo and Vietnamese food in Columbus Park. 

“Luckily, my partner’s mom lives at St. John and Kensington, and she’s from Mexico, so we get really good homemade Mexican food,” Nickles said.

As he works toward his chosen career, Nickles is gaining an appreciation for urban planners in his own neighborhood. This summer he’s working with Lonnie Clark and Mike Spady at the CID and hoping to be involved as a neighbor as the Hoxie Collective begins work on the Kessler Park Master Plan.

“I feel really lucky,” Nickles said. “Doing something that I care about, and being so close and working in the neighborhood that I care about.”

If you see Jason out and about, be sure to introduce yourself!

Want Northeast News articles sent straight to your inbox each week? Subscribe below!
Enter your email address and click on the Get Instant Access button.
We respect your privacy

Comments are closed.

  • Annnnnnd They’re Off!

    March 24th, 2023
    by

    Eight students from Alta Vista High School loaded up this morning for the Spring Break Youth Experience weekend in Chicago. […]


    The Northeast News is seeking qualified summer interns

    March 24th, 2023
    by

    Qualifications The candidate should have at least two years of university-level news reporting experience on a variety of platforms including […]


    Murder charges filed in Elizabeth Stivers homicide case

    March 22nd, 2023
    by

    Charges have been filed against Elizabeth Stivers’ neighbor, 24-year-old Darion Hall, for her murder last week. On Wednesday, the Jackson […]


    Let there be STEM!

    March 22nd, 2023
    by

    Over 300 students, ranging from kindergarteners to seniors in high school, packed into Union Station’s north waiting room on a […]


    ¡Que haya STEM!

    March 22nd, 2023
    by

    Más de trescientos estudiantes, desde niños de preescolar hasta estudiantes de último año de secundaria, abarrotaron la sala de espera […]


    Childcare owner marks 43 years of caring

    March 22nd, 2023
    by

    The classroom is dark, and toddlers are stretched out on small cots for their afternoon nap. But Vonnie Occhipinto’s phone […]


    Pearl’s Beauty Salon closes as longtime owner retires

    March 22nd, 2023
    by

    With nimble fingers, Pearl Battaglia wraps short, silver hair around perm rods for one of her regular customers at Pearl’s […]


    Kansas City Museum’s Derby Party fundraiser celebrates Worlds of Fun 

    March 22nd, 2023
    by

    Tickets are on sale now for the 8th Annual Derby Party. The Kansas City Museum’s annual fundraiser is back on […]


    Loved ones gather to mourn homicide victim Elizabeth Stivers

    March 22nd, 2023
    by

    Family and friends of Elizabeth Stivers gathered in front of her home on 7th Street Sunday evening to mourn, lighting […]


  • Jazz Draft takes over 18th and Vine!

    March 22nd, 2023
    by

    UNESCO Creative City of Music – USA, in collaboration with the American Jazz Museum, will present a 12-hour jam session […]


    Suspect cites voodoo for Independence and Olive Homicide

    March 17th, 2023
    by

    Ibrahim A. Sharif Ahmed, 38 of Kansas City North cited voodoo as the partial cause for the killing of Abdullahi […]


    Family mourns homicide victim, plans vigil

    March 17th, 2023
    by

    The family of Elizabeth Stivers is mourning after she was killed Tuesday evening in Lykins. They plan to hold a […]


    One dead in Independence and Olive homicide

    March 16th, 2023
    by

    Wednesday evening just before 9 p.m., Kansas City, MO Police officers (KCPD) were called to the area of Independence Boulevard […]


    Disturbance ends in homicide near 7th and Spruce

    March 15th, 2023
    by

    One woman is dead following a disturbance in Lykins. Tuesday evening just after 9:15 PM, Kansas City, MO Police officers […]


    Lead To Read increases literacy rates in Northeast elementary schools

    March 15th, 2023
    by

    Abby HooverManaging Editor In a James Elementary first grade classroom, students are paired off with adults, quietly reading or working […]


    Community outreach programs brought to you by Jerusalem Farm

    March 15th, 2023
    by

    “WHAT CAN WE DO TODAY, SO THAT TOMORROW WE CAN DO WHAT WE CANNOT DO TODAY?” KC Tenants is organizing […]


    RevEd Hosts Parent Power, an Event Celebrating the Power of Northeast Families

    March 15th, 2023
    by

    Daisy Garcia-MontoyaEducation Reporter Community members filled the RevEd space last Wednesday to celebrate parents who played an important role in […]


    North Lawn tenants demand safe, affordable housing

    March 10th, 2023
    by

    Tenants of the Gladstone Court Apartments are making demands for safe, affordable housing of the building’s new owner after the […]


  • Want articles sent directly to your inbox each week? Subscribe below!
    We respect your privacy and will not distribute your information.