The good news is, the Kansas City downtown streetcar plan has lots of people excited.

And for the most part, that’s a wonderful thing because it’s an important boost to our hopes for joining other progressive U.S. cities embracing rail transit.

The concern remains, however, that streetcar backers are overstating its effect when it comes to stimulating development, setting people up for unrealistic expectations.

Tom McGee of VanTrust Real Estate discussed his firm’s plan for a mixed-use project at 51st and Oak that would be anchored by a Whole Foods supermarket with 140 luxury apartments above it. The University of Missouri-Kansas City also is planning a medical clinic there. Read more.