KCRag Forum

GuyInLenexa wrote: Is the one on Lackman and College still there?  When I lived in Lenexa I always went to the one on 87th by Tanner's.

yea the Quizno's is on Lackman and COllege still.  It is only open during nearby business hours, close about 6pm and depends sometimes open on Saturdays.  that is why I am looking forward to the one open at City Center

Funny, four years ago I moved into an apartment near City Center, excited about the plans for it.  Four years later, they've now finally built a couple buildings in City Center East but now there is a delay in building them.  They're FINALLY starting to move dirt in the Lenexa City Center area and North looks to be SLOWLY moving along.

Still, there is no excuse for this project moving so slowly.  Now, four years later, I'm moving further west to Woodland Road, because stuff is actually happening there.  I am not the only one -- I have a friend who talks to those associated with the planning and they are sensitive when anyone dare ask about the slowness of the project.

City center is a great idea, but if I'm going to be 55 (low 30's now) before it's done, what is the point? 

mistervinix wrote: A friend of a friend said that Target and a new Dickinson theater are eventually coming to this development. The theater would replace Dickinson's West Glen. I think a more likely site for these would be further west near K7.

It appears your friend is right. The theater looks like it'll anchor the SW side. The theater will be a big hit...the closest megaplex is miles and miles away (Merriam? or Olathe?) with the depressing Westglen shuttered. 

I still have to give this site plan a great big WTF! It's like Corbin Park, but with the retail wrapped around parking.

I can't believe that traffic circle is bordered by a...2 story parking structure (building 'A').  Wouldn't at least some retail have been better there?

what's up with all those traffic circles?

Who is Klover?  Not to impressed with the site plan.

Another sprawled development with acres of parking. Wonderful. Very forward thinking!

KCMax wrote: Another sprawled development with acres of parking. Wonderful. Very forward thinking!

You think thats sprawled - the rendering doesn't show the massive single family golf course community that will link up with the back of the development. 

KCMax wrote: Another sprawled development with acres of parking. Wonderful. Very forward thinking!

I guess this is what happens when there isn't a viable alternative to private transportation i.e. zero adequate public transportation.

Pork Chop wrote: I guess this is what happens when there isn't a viable alternative to private transportation i.e. zero adequate public transportation.

That is a factor, but that hasn't stopped other developments in JoCo from being more dense and walkable.

KCMax wrote: Another sprawled development with acres of parking. Wonderful. Very forward thinking!

I don't know.  All the parking structures are 4 or 5 levels and most are wrapped by buildings.  The only spot with significant surface parking is around the "major tennant" building.  So, unless you are going to have tall garages peeking out over shorter buildings, all those office over retail spaces must be at least 3 stories.  For a community like Lenexa, it seems relatively dense.

As for the traffic circles, Renner has gone haywire with the things.  There's one every block.  For what was originally the main N-S thoroughfare through there its darn near unnavigable.  Maybe they are trying to push the "thru traffic" over to 435.

What kind of Retail were you looking for because the Site Plan doesn't say what's coming just what Types and not like Target and so on?
Their's a Movie in Shawnee and by Oak Park Mall to.

mgsports wrote: What kind of Retail were you looking for because the Site Plan doesn't say what's coming just what Types and not like Target and so on?
Their's a Movie in Shawnee and by Oak Park Mall to.

FYI...word is that Dickinson will shutter Westglen for the new Lenexa theater and the Oak Park AMC is closed.

jimb wrote: I don't know.  All the parking structures are 4 or 5 levels and most are wrapped by buildings.  The only spot with significant surface parking is around the "major tennant" building.  So, unless you are going to have tall garages peeking out over shorter buildings, all those office over retail spaces must be at least 3 stories.  For a community like Lenexa, it seems relatively dense.

As for the traffic circles, Renner has gone haywire with the things.  There's one every block.  For what was originally the main N-S thoroughfare through there its darn near unnavigable.  Maybe they are trying to push the "thru traffic" over to 435.

Those roundabouts (not traffic circles) are so annoying....

There is something about this area that just says.  Not urban.

I think it's massive right of way the roads have and the even more massive right of way that I-435 takes up in this area.

It's just so damn spread out.  The footprint of 435 and the interchanges out there are about 4 times the normal size of an urban interstate or interchange.

Too much grass and too much open land that will never develop.

I think this is a decent project, but the area is just so spread out.  It's makes I-29 and Barry seem like the east coast.

It's good they are trying though.

GRID wrote:
It's just so damn spread out.  The footprint of 435 and the interchanges out there are about 4 times the normal size of an urban interstate or interchange.

It's good they are trying though.

I've not been too impressed with New Urbanism in KC.  The developments are essentially cordoned off from the surrounding neighborhoods by wide and busy streets and almost always located near interstates for traffic reasons.  The interstates here and at Zona Rosa are more effective than the Berlin War as a pedestrian barrier.  That pretty much compromises the entire purpose of "urbanism".  They need traffic to survive but the traffic corridors destroys the urban concept.  I give them cudos for making an effort to build structured parking  and I think they should altogether do away with the surface parking (except for the angled parking on the streets).  Nice to see at least a little residential. 

Does Zona Rosa have residential?  I know that was in the plans but just wondering if it ever came about.

Highlander wrote: I've not been too impressed with New Urbanism in KC.  The developments are essentially cordoned off from the surrounding neighborhoods by wide and busy streets and almost always located near interstates for traffic reasons.  The interstate here and at Zona Rosa is more effective than the Berlin War as a pedestrian barrier.  That pretty much compromises the entire purpose of "urbanism".  They need traffic to survive but the traffic corridors destroys the urban concept.  I give them cudos for making an effort to build structured parking  and I think they should altogether do away with the surface parking (except for the angled parking on the streets).  Nice to see at least a little residential. 

Does Zona Rosa have residential?  I know that was in the plans but just wondering if it ever came about.

That's why I had such high hopes for Mission.  That seems like an area that would have the natural ability to integrate into the neighborhood as would NU along Metcalf.

I've never seen so much whining about roundabouts.  Why would you want regular intersections instead of them?  They're actually much safer than intersections and look a hell of a lot better than a bunch of traffic lights.

Except that people don't know how to use them and they end up working like scary stop signs.

mgsports wrote: What kind of Retail were you looking for because the Site Plan doesn't say what's coming just what Types and not like Target and so on?
Their's a Movie in Shawnee and by Oak Park Mall to.

The Oak Park Plaza theater has been torn down for almost a year. The small retail center that was supposed to replace it and open this fall has yet to materialize. I agree that the West Glen is depressing, but it was very nice when it was new (in '95?). Dickinson blew it by adding on 6 screens. Hopefully the one they would build in Lenexa would at least be as nice as the Palazzo in Overland Park.

phxcat wrote: Except that people don't know how to use them and they end up working like scary stop signs.

Fair enough, it's a different concept in traffic control than most Americans are used to,  but when we finally get the hang of it, they are much better than traffic signals.  The only time I have real problems with them is at a major intersection with several lanes of traffic in all directions, then they become kind of tricky because you have to cross lanes within the round-a-bout. 

They need to rebuild one by Oak Park Mall is what I mean.