KCRag Forum

chaglang wrote:IIRC there were new renderings forthcoming. Is that still the case?

I wish, but unless I missed something I think they are going forward with the original plan. I thought they were planning on breaking ground soon too.

Really, really hope something interferes with this project. I would really it rather not be built than this go up. Waiting a few more years for a better design would be fine by me. This is such a key site. One of the most crucial downtown. It is sort of a gateway into downtown from the south side. Not to mention being along the streetcar and the new pedestrian friendly 20th street, this will not fit in one bit.

I wouldn't call that block a gateway.

From that area the gateway is formed by Crown Center and Liberty Memorial. It's about the view of the CBD and Union Station coming down the hill.
Once you see that, the view down Main is nice but isn't as nice.

flyingember wrote:I wouldn't call that block a gateway.

From that area the gateway is formed by Crown Center and Liberty Memorial. It's about the view of the CBD and Union Station coming down the hill.
Once you see that, the view down Main is nice but isn't as nice.

This block is a continuation of the Freighthouse District/ Union Station across Main and into the heart of the Crossroads, if it is walkable and done well. If definitely consider it a gateway property.

The billboard was a good roadblock. Unfortunate city settled it.

Does anyone know if the developers have even tried to respond to the design criticisms? I can't understand why they would just slop together something like this. Is it just lazy real estate speculation? Do they even save any money with a lazy design like this? It seems like they don't even want to try to compete with the plethora of other downtown hotels.

I think it's possible that they are taking their design cues from other Hilton Hotels. The developers might be building the structure to suit Hilton, and may have just had the architects who design Hilton Hotels do the drawing.

If you do a Google search for images of Hilton Home2 Suites, most of the current hotel buildings shown are fairly hideous.

FangKC wrote:I think it's possible that they are taking their design cues from other Hilton Hotels. The developers might be building the structure to suit Hilton, and may have just had the architects who design Hilton Hotels do the drawing.

If you do a Google search for images of Hilton Home2 Suites, most of the current hotel buildings shown are fairly hideous.

This is true, but most aren't built on stilts as this one is planned. Doubling down on its terribleness.

Drove by this site today, looked like fences were up and equipment had shown up for site work. Really hope the design of this building has changed, but am not overly hopeful.

the equipment is new, they just had fences yesterday

flyingember wrote:the equipment is new, they just had fences yesterday

All I saw today was a drilling rig. Probably doing bores to gather data for foundation design. I doubt any comstruction is imminent.

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The new rendering seemed more open at ground level.

flyingember wrote:The new rendering seemed more open at ground level.

Link or pics?

Does that mean the ground level is still a spooky car cave?

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ldai_phs wrote:

flyingember wrote:The new rendering seemed more open at ground level.

Link or pics?

https://twitter.com/kclightrail/status/ ... 1032879104

held over on CPC agenda.

up for council approval on 8/20:

150664 Approving a development plan in District DX-15 on a 1.2 acre tract of land generally located south of 20th Street and east of Main Street. (12130-P-2)

It appears that there was enough pushback about the ridiculous design of this building that the developer compromised into adding commercial space to the ground level. While the bottom floor is still mostly a parking lagoon, it does sound like some improvements were made.

City Council Fact Sheet

KCDowntown

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