It's Lee's Summit's turn I guess. Legoland, aquarium etc...

[trailerkid]

Everything is not going to be urban and walkable.

e.g. Florida and SoCal...talk about ped-friendly. 

I do agree with the concept that KC would be more attractive if Village West, Schlitterbahn, WoF, Legoland and all future destination attractions were in the same "zone." However, WyCo or KCMO or someone else would've had to buy a gigantic tract of land and plan all these attractions at once. What WyCo is doing right now is the closest thing to having a suburban tourist area and it looks like they're going to get competition in that arena from Lee's Summit, East Jack, and possibly OP and Olathe. 

[KCMax]

Developers officially file for TIF

Public money would provide $183 million, a third of the anticipated $554 million cost of a Legoland theme park and supporting development in Lee's Summit, according to the developer's financing application.

RED Development LLC's Friday filing forecast that most of the public money would come from tax increment financing. The 23-year plan would divert $69 million of property taxes and $50 million of sales and other economic activity taxes. The project also would capture $44 million of state taxes. The remaining $20 million would come from a community improvement district that would collect a new tax on district property.

The largest beneficiary would be a shopping center next to Legoland that would receive $75 million. The theme park, a Lego-themed hotel and a Sea Life Sanctuary aquarium would get $63 million. Other recipients:

    * RED's Summit Fair shopping center under construction next to Legoland -- $17 million.
    * A proposed office development -- $16 million.
    * Retail space in Legoland -- $12 million.

[Highlander]

Developers officially file for TIF

Public money would provide $183 million, a third of the anticipated $554 million cost of a Legoland theme park and supporting development in Lee's Summit, according to the developer's financing application.

RED Development LLC's Friday filing forecast that most of the public money would come from tax increment financing. The 23-year plan would divert $69 million of property taxes and $50 million of sales and other economic activity taxes. The project also would capture $44 million of state taxes. The remaining $20 million would come from a community improvement district that would collect a new tax on district property.

The largest beneficiary would be a shopping center next to Legoland that would receive $75 million. The theme park, a Lego-themed hotel and a Sea Life Sanctuary aquarium would get $63 million. Other recipients:

    * RED's Summit Fair shopping center under construction next to Legoland -- $17 million.
    * A proposed office development -- $16 million.
    * Retail space in Legoland -- $12 million.

I would love to have Legoland come to KC regardless of where it ends up locating.  I do not, however, support TIFS for Red Development to create yet another suburban entertainment or shopping center.  As far as I am concerned, TIFS should be used to lure jobs to the area or support an attraction such as Legoland that would bring visitors to the area.  TIFS should NEVER  be used for suburban shopping centers in well-to-do areas that create poorly paid service industry jobs and commonly are a source of money leaving the community.  Not only that, the TIF money would go towards creating an entertainment center that will be in direct competition with a TIF project in which we all have a much greater vested interest (P&L District).  At times, I think that Legoland is bait or subterfuge in this whole thing, with the real issue for the developers being the entertainment/shopping center.  Give the TIF to Legoland, let the shopping center stand on its own two feet. 

[LCDSI]

here's a link to the official legoland missouri site.

http://www.legolandmissouri.com/default.asp

[eliphar17]

And how, pray tell, does GRID feel about the name being Legoland Missouri rather than Legoland Kansas City? Surely such a high-profile project should be used to bring attention to the metro as a whole rather than one side of the state line?

[ddw334umkc]

Is it just me, or does the proposed Legoland site plan suggests that MDot have plans to incorporate widened lanes and flyover ramps to I-470 and US 50?

[aknowledgeableperson]

There are some plans in existance to improve that intersection.  What they are I do not know.  But one change is a new exit west of the shopping center between it and the houses.

[mister816]

4 rollercoasters huh?..... i like it.

[aknowledgeableperson]

Here is some info on 50 Highway with MODOT.

http://www.modot.org/kansascity/U.S.50CorridorStudy.htm

[trailerkid]

And how, pray tell, does GRID feel about the name being Legoland Missouri rather than Legoland Kansas City? Surely such a high-profile project should be used to bring attention to the metro as a whole rather than one side of the state line?

If it's on the Missouri side that's OK-- KS side just can't do that.

[KCMax]

Legoland Missouri is a stupid name. Just like Kansas Speedway.

[GRID]

And how, pray tell, does GRID feel about the name being Legoland Missouri rather than Legoland Kansas City? Surely such a high-profile project should be used to bring attention to the metro as a whole rather than one side of the state line?

Not sure why they would call it Missouri rather than Kansas City.  Maybe they thought about it or did some research and found out that people simply have no desire to visit "kansas" regardless of what they put there, while Missouri with its cities, branson, lakes and other attractions that make it a top midwestern vacation state made more sense! 

You started it.

Seriously.  It's dumb, but we owe you one since Kansas Speedway.

Let's see this thing begin construction before freaking out.  This is one project I will have a hard time believing till it's open.

[GRID]

Is it just me, or does the proposed Legoland site plan suggests that MDot have plans to incorporate widened lanes and flyover ramps to I-470 and US 50?

That was all planned before legoland.  The Prior Road interchange begins construction next year and the rest should be built within 5 years of that.  Legoland would certainly accelerate the timeline for it though.

[beautyfromashes]

Great idea!  Let's put a children's theme park next to an industrial plant with some of the worlds most hazardous materials.  &&& There is stuff in the Summit Technology park that one drop of it in the open would kill people for miles!  This stuff is nasty. 

[mister816]

QUICK! someone say something else negative about legoland.  I'm starting to like the idea of KC doing something to bring people here!

[KCTigerFan]

I think it's a great idea.  Let the kids learn about Legos and toxic chemicals. 

[mister816]

I think it's a great idea.  Let the kids learn about Legos and toxic chemicals. 

whew, thanks man, i was worried there for a sec.

[KCMax]

TIF panel recommends Legoland for Lee’s Summit

The recommendation came on a 6-4 vote, and the council is expected to take up the issue with public hearings in May.

[Thrillcekr]

As interesting as this prospect of a Legoland in Lee's Summit may seem, it looks as if it may be overshadowed pretty quickly.  Twice in about the last week I've seen mention on the news of some goings on between Disney and Branson.  Apparently they are wanting to purchase a thousand acres and I can't remember what all else they said.  Something about financial aid or tax credits for hotels and blah, blah, blah.  I can't seem to find anything about it in writing anywhere or I'd paste it for ya.  It sounds like the midwest is getting it's own Disneyworld/land.

[kard]

As interesting as this prospect of a Legoland in Lee's Summit may seem, it looks as if it may be overshadowed pretty quickly.  Twice in about the last week I've seen mention on the news of some goings on between Disney and Branson.  Apparently they are wanting to purchase a thousand acres and I can't remember what all else they said.  Something about financial aid or tax credits for hotels and blah, blah, blah.  I can't seem to find anything about it in writing anywhere or I'd paste it for ya.  It sounds like the midwest is getting it's own Disneyworld/land.

Disney to Ozarks?
http://forum.kcrag.com/index.php/topic,11844.0.html