OFFICIAL - Prairiefire

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joshmv
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Re: Prarielife at Lionsgate - large mixed use development an

Post by joshmv »

Phase 2 plans have been approved and construction is supposed to start this summer.

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mistervinix
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Re: Prarielife at Lionsgate - large mixed use development an

Post by mistervinix »

joshmv wrote:Phase 2 plans have been approved and construction is supposed to start this summer.
I assume what looks like glass-walled offices is actually another parking garage. They have badly needed more parking from the moment it opened.
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Re: Prariefire at Lionsgate - large mixed use development

Post by mistervinix »

Here it is almost August and no groundbreaking for Phase 2 yet. Plus one of their original tenants is closing (the chocolate/coffee place). Trouble in paradise?
flyingember
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Re: Prariefire at Lionsgate - large mixed use development

Post by flyingember »

I've been out there once, never had a reason to go back. nothing worth visiting that was unique enough to drive so far out.

I have a feeling they expected the museum to play a part in bringing a lot of people but it's not doing that. If you look at Yelp the cafe doesn't get enough business to do more than frozen microwaved pizza. and the reviewer went on a day featuring it as a place to eat! Ouch. think about how poorly they're doing to want to be part of a special event and go with frozen food. If you have ever watched a fix a restaurant show you know selling frozen food is a big sign a place has no foot traffic.
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Re: Prariefire at Lionsgate - large mixed use development

Post by longviewmo »

flyingember wrote:I have a feeling they expected the museum to play a part in bringing a lot of people but it's not doing that. If you look at Yelp the cafe doesn't get enough business to do more than frozen microwaved pizza. and the reviewer went on a day featuring it as a place to eat! Ouch. think about how poorly they're doing to want to be part of a special event and go with frozen food. If you have ever watched a fix a restaurant show you know selling frozen food is a big sign a place has no foot traffic.
Applebee's, et al. seem to be doing fine with the microwaved food thing.
joshmv
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Re: Prariefire at Lionsgate - large mixed use development

Post by joshmv »

My son loves the discovery room in the museum that he calls the "dinosaur house", but it's too small and overpriced in my book. You could probably say the same thing about PF overall at this point. They need the expansion to make it feel more complete.

They've built a lot of apartments in that area though so I wouldn't say that steady foot traffic is out the question if they do it right.
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Re: Prariefire at Lionsgate - large mixed use development

Post by mgsports »

Pizza place coming.
mistervinix
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Re: Prariefire at Lionsgate - large mixed use development

Post by mistervinix »

Well now it's mid-September and still no groundbreaking for Phase Two. I wonder if the troubles with the Cinetopia theater have affected the commercial prospects of the development? Supposedly the theater is only making about half the money they expected to, due to AMC having the clout to run some movies exclusively at the Leawood Town Center (the even closer ex-Dickinson Palazzo is apparently not much competition):

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/en ... story.html
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Re: Prariefire at Lionsgate - large mixed use development

Post by flyingember »

More likely it's because the whole area is over built on retail.

Overland Park approved too much for the density of homes.
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Re: Prariefire at Lionsgate - large mixed use development

Post by slimwhitman »

mistervinix wrote:Well now it's mid-September and still no groundbreaking for Phase Two. I wonder if the troubles with the Cinetopia theater have affected the commercial prospects of the development? Supposedly the theater is only making about half the money they expected to, due to AMC having the clout to run some movies exclusively at the Leawood Town Center
We went to the theater for the first time last weekend on a Friday night. It was a weird, solemn place (especially for a Friday night). The lobby and other gathering areas at the theater were void of activity. Our seats were not comfortable. The food was marginal. We have no plans to return.
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Re: Prariefire at Lionsgate - large mixed use development

Post by nomadcowatbk »

slimwhitman wrote:
mistervinix wrote:Well now it's mid-September and still no groundbreaking for Phase Two. I wonder if the troubles with the Cinetopia theater have affected the commercial prospects of the development? Supposedly the theater is only making about half the money they expected to, due to AMC having the clout to run some movies exclusively at the Leawood Town Center
We went to the theater for the first time last weekend on a Friday night. It was a weird, solemn place (especially for a Friday night). The lobby and other gathering areas at the theater were void of activity. Our seats were not comfortable. The food was marginal. We have no plans to return.
early September is usually a slow time for movies
mistervinix
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Re: Prariefire at Lionsgate - large mixed use development

Post by mistervinix »

Still on track they say:

http://metrowiremedia.com/fred-merrill- ... velopment/

Was at the theater Saturday night. Pretty slow it seemed.
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Re: Prariefire at Lionsgate - large mixed use development

Post by nomadcowatbk »

mistervinix wrote:Still on track they say:

http://metrowiremedia.com/fred-merrill- ... velopment/

Was at the theater Saturday night. Pretty slow it seemed.
isn't September a slow movie time to begin with?
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Re: Prariefire at Lionsgate - large mixed use development

Post by mistervinix »

September is a slow movie time, but I saw the #2 movie last weekend - "Black Mass" - and there were maybe 40-50 people in a theater that holds several hundred. Can't help but think the movie did much better at other locations. I have to wonder if anyone is patronizing the separate restaurant, Vinetopia, too. It seemed dead as well.

They also have changed their popcorn to a cheaper variety. It used to be very "gourmet" as far popcorn goes, now it's not.
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Re: Prariefire at Lionsgate - large mixed use development

Post by kboish »

A few more rumblings about Prairefire under performing...

http://www.pitch.com/kansascity/is-over ... id=6275686
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Re: Prariefire at Lionsgate - large mixed use development

Post by flyingember »

kboish wrote:A few more rumblings about Prairefire under performing...

http://www.pitch.com/kansascity/is-over ... id=6275686
The museum itself is fighting to attain financial stability, too. It has obtained a $2.5 million loan with a third-party bank to fund operating costs. Merrill says this is to cover costs during times between traveling exhibits, when ticket sales slow down significantly. "There's six or seven weeks where there's no revenue from ticket sales," Merrill says. "That loan is supposed to bridge that gap."
I'm amazed they built a museum with only traveling exhibits and don't have a plan that doesn't have this much down time.
mistervinix
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Re: Prariefire at Lionsgate - large mixed use development

Post by mistervinix »

Well, looks like something has definitely delayed things. Mid December and still no groundbreaking for the final phase.

Meanwhile, Corbin Park next door keeps adding new buildings (but has yet to fill any spaces on the backside of the center). There is also a vast parking lot on the backside that is completely unnecessary. And a two-story parking garage that really only serves JC Penney. What an odd development.
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Re: Prariefire at Lionsgate - large mixed use development

Post by flyingember »

That something is probably all the empty spaces on the back side of Corbin Park. When your competitor can't fill spaces only an idiot builds.

135th St has way more retail speculation than the area can support.
mistervinix
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Re: Prariefire at Lionsgate - large mixed use development

Post by mistervinix »

flyingember wrote:That something is probably all the empty spaces on the back side of Corbin Park. When your competitor can't fill spaces only an idiot builds.

135th St has way more retail speculation than the area can support.
Corbin Park still keeps building more pad buildings surrounding the original site - there must be a reason retailers want to be there. A two-story Buster & Dave's is under construction as well next to the JCPenney parking structure. They still have those pesky empty storefronts on the back side though.

So this has to have affected expansion plans for PrairieFire. It seems like a quality development that unfortunately is in the wrong location. It cries out for lots of pedestrian traffic, but everyone has to drive there and then navigate a huge parking garage. There is no compelling reason to walk around the place; the native grasslands/dry swamp walking area next to the museum has no shade and doubtless is brutally hot in the summer. If they can't link up the first phase with something that is really a draw in the second phase, then they should just build another Walmart there and call it a day. Maybe Merrill is cooking up a cool new plan, but the delay is troubling (especially given the robust building going on right next door at Corbin Park).
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Re: Prariefire at Lionsgate - large mixed use development

Post by mgsports »

i know how they are in talks with like to go in Phase 2 Urban Outfitters/Chuy's,Beauty Brands and others.
http://www.blockandco.com/b/a/54/667/13 ... 202015.pdf Shows H2 not sold or available.
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