Crossroads needs greenspace

[grovester]

You're over-reacting a bit. Just pointing out one reason why KC doesn't have many/any of these. It only recently began experimenting with road diets and traffic calming measures with much more needed.

[earthling]

Ah, so Chuck literally calling them 'stupid' wasn't over-reacting, but supporting them with a tone of humor is. Got it.

There are many streets downtown this can work, certain blocks. But yes, there are some streets that shouldn't have them.

[KCPowercat]

Nobody is suggesting to take land from anybody.

"just an empty parking lot" is an owners empty parking lot.

it's implying their rights to use the lot as they will is unimportant enough that we should be talking about alternatives.

Please stop trying to derail conversation with this type of minutia. Please.

[flyingember]

Let's look at this thread in sequence of implementation

There are more than enough empty surface lots....need some pocket parks or even one bigger park with an artistic fountain as a gathering space.

You think there's enough empty surface lots, true.
You think we need park space. A fair point.

The two clauses together implies you think we should take some surface lot space and turn it into parks.

And with that as the first post it's not minutia to be against eminent domain to add park space when there's other alternatives available.

[grovester]

You're doing it again.

[earthling]

So back on topic, it would be nice to see more sitdown green spaces in Xroads and other downtown districts - such as pocket parks and sidewalk parklets where it makes sense (and appropriate protection). The streetcar platform at Union Station also lacking seating for such a large platform (especially for the huge Saturday crowds). Hopefully something more robust planned for that.

[TheBigChuckbowski]

Ah, so Chuck literally calling them 'stupid' wasn't over-reacting, but supporting them with a tone of humor is. Got it.

There are many streets downtown this can work, certain blocks. But yes, there are some streets that shouldn't have them.

Dude, they're all right next to a car sewer in every picture you put in there from your post after I said they're stupid. Those all looked like terrible places to spend any time.

Now, if they're parking or bike lane protected, great. If they're on a 15 mph residential street with little traffic, great. That's what we should be building. But, next to a car sewer? Come on, that's just stupid.

[wahoowa]

new game you guys let's nominate specific places that would work and just assume unless expressly stated otherwise that no nomination inherently entails a wanton desire to disrupt property rights and/or exercise eminent domain and/or construct a monolithic glass wall

i'll start — SW corner of 18th and grand — could do a little more with this space, there's plenty of room to do something better: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0915866 ... 312!8i6656

[earthling]

Dude, they're all right next to a car sewer in every picture you put in there from your post after I said they're stupid. Those all looked like terrible places to spend any time.

Now, if they're parking or bike lane protected, great. If they're on a 15 mph residential street with little traffic, great. That's what we should be building. But, next to a car sewer? Come on, that's just stupid.

Got it, you don't like them and wouldn't use them. That shouldn't prevent from others to use them. There aren't enough places to have a seat around downtown and these are great options for those who like them. I've used them in other cities, like them alot. They are big hits in other cities, more urban neighborhoods want them.

I've shown examples of what could be, some won't like them. Let Xroads and each district decide what they want in their own neighborhood.


Boston...


Brooklyn...


Chicago (2)..



Downtown LA..


Milwaukee...

[KCPowercat]

19th and grand parking swamp is begging for a large park and gathering space and fountain.

Then...program bowtie park better (the triangle park by Manny's), add a couple parklets, then one more small green/hardscape space in east crossroads and I think I'd be happy.

[flyingember]

new game you guys let's nominate specific places that would work and just assume unless expressly stated otherwise that no nomination inherently entails a wanton desire to disrupt property rights and/or exercise eminent domain and/or construct a monolithic glass wall

i'll start — SW corner of 18th and grand — could do a little more with this space, there's plenty of room to do something better: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0915866 ... 312!8i6656

converting that small plaza into more green space seems like the perfect location to do so. At a minimum a few tables with awnings would be affordable and make the space usable.

[TheBigChuckbowski]

Got it, you don't like them and wouldn't use them. That shouldn't prevent from others to use them... Let Xroads and each district decide what they want in their own neighborhood.

Dude, calm down. I didn't say they should be banned and neighborhoods can't build what they want.

[earthling]

Huh, am quite calm, presenting ideas and simply supporting them. Am hopeful others who live downtown will desire them and am supporting the case for those who disagree. They're desirable in other cities, including parklets directly along street. You said 'who wants to sit a couple feet from traffic that's whizzing by', that they're 'stupid' and that superlative generally came across as a desire to prevent them, thanks for the clarification. The answer apparently is that many do desire these as they are growing in other cities directly along streets, not shrinking.

It's not like parklets are controversial or even pioneering at this point. It's a legitimate option for adding pedestrian vitality to urban neighborhoods.

[pash]

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[chingon]

What about building one on the old Main to Walnut triangle thing?

[WSPanic]

Didn't they paint the crosswalk at 20th and the Blvd green?

https://twitter.com/KCCrossroads/status ... 0439614466

Not sure what else can be done.

[earthling]

Does anybody know how much one of these things costs to build? This is definitely the sort of project I'd contribute time or money to if we had some assurance Public Works wouldn't come along and bulldoze it.

Looks to me like some of these parklets could be done for about $5K, or more depending on how fancy/complex. Looked up funding/maintaining these and in many cases it's by a sponsor of a nearby biz, which is maybe best way to get KC started with these. Would be nice to see a progressive biz in Xroads sponsor one of these but the City of course needs to be involved with the logistics of street impact/readiness and allow parking spots to be removed for these.

Perhaps Xroads Association could facilitate this with City and seek biz for sponsors.

[wahoowa]

well screw it i'm gonna keep playing my game. how about this spot near lulu's:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0883528 ... 312!8i6656

[earthling]

^Looks good to me! But a street with more foot traffic, like E/W street just off Main might get more use.

[pash]

.