Downtown Council votes 25-4 in favor of TSC Renovations

[KCDevin]

Board of Downtown Council approves renovation resolution
Stadium proposal backed
Former champion of downtown park endorses measure

By KEVIN COLLISON
The Kansas City Star

“You’ve got to work together and get away from this parochial attitude that if I don’t get it, I won’t support it. We need to send a message to the rest of the community.â€

[KCDevin]

Downtown Council backs sales tax for stadium upgrades
Kansas City Business Journal - 2:51 PM CST Thursdayby Jim DavisStaff Writer

The Downtown Council of Kansas City on Thursday endorsed a sales tax request that Kansas City voters will consider on April 4 to finance improvements to Truman Sports Complex.

The council's backing came a day after the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce endorsed the sales tax and a county use tax mainly on Jackson County businesses.

The council's support came despite the objection of Jon Copaken, its immediate past chairman, who had been a leading proponent of building a new downtown ballpark for the Kansas City Royals.

Royals Vice President Mark Gorris told the council's bimonthly board meeting that the Royals back the tax.

"If this passes, the Royals are part of Kansas City for 35 years," he said. "I don't know what the other alternative would be. We want this to pass."

Gorris said the Glass family, which owns the Royals, wants the team to remain in Kansas City.

But he said 33-year-old Kauffman Stadium needs modernization. For instance, he said, 18-foot-wide concourses are less than one-third the current standard. Conceptual plans call for widening the concourses to 42 feet, as well as adding lower-deck seating. The area outside the stadium also would be upgraded. A conference center and restaurant could be built beyond the outfield.

Gorris acknowledged Copaken's efforts to investigate a downtown ballpark but said that idea doesn't fit the Royals' needs. Continuing debate would be counterproductive, he said.

"If we look for the perfect solution, we may be regretting the fact that nothing happens," he said.

Copaken, who didn't attend the meeting, said in a letter to the council that he wanted to keep the Royals and Kansas City Chiefs but questioned why the council needed to support the proposed tax. The council wasn't included in discussions about the request, Copaken wrote, and is basing its endorsement on "pretty pictures and vague descriptions."

Copaken's letter was read by Buzz Willard, CEO of Tower Properties Co., a large downtown property owner. Copaken is a principal with Copaken White & Blitt, another large downtown property owner.

The council's resolution didn't take a position on another proposed tax on the April 4 ballot. That usage tax would partly pay for a $200 million roof that could roll between Kauffman and Arrowhead stadiums.

On Wednesday, the chamber embraced that tax, however, after the Chiefs agreed to donate to the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation two-thirds of net revenue received for naming rights on the roof.

The chamber's statement said the use tax would pay for $170 million of the roof's construction costs, with at least $30 million paid by the Chiefs.

Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes, who doesn't usually attend the council's board meetings, said she's "100 percent behind" both taxes -- "the only viable alternative."

"The bottom line is to keep both franchises in Kansas City," Barnes said at the meeting. "My goal is to keep them in Kansas City."

jdavis@bizjournals.com | 816-421-5900

[dangerboy]

Devin,

We already have a thread on this topic. Please update that thread instead of starting a new one...  Thanks.

http://www.kcskyscrapers.com/newforum/i ... pic=7990.0

[kcdcchef]

yeah, i like seeing the topic subject though. looks NICE

[Fenton]

Priaise to the Downtown Council for their wisdom!  Renovations are the best choice.

[kcdcchef]

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[KCDevin]

It's hilarious reading their posts. It's like some weirdo cult has formed... Methinks ppl have either gone insane or are just screwing around.