KCRag Forum

Abbott Properties received the financing necessary to continue in the restoration of this building for a STL bank. So that is some long overdue positive news for this project.

There is an interesting Pitch article about how the 909 Walnut Building and the Law Building (the future Exchange Building) were competing for the same $250,000 in funding.

http://www.pitch.com/issues/2003-08-14/ ... index.html

More good news today in the Biz Journal. Looks like July 04 we could see things working again. I like the sounds of the ground level tenants

"Tenant commitments are for a sushi bar, coffee shop and sandwich restaurant"

30 rentals above that.

It's amazing that they got so many tenants committed when the building is in such bad shape and the renovation has been stalled for almost two years. Good news. Great news. More private development east of Grand, finally.

Sounds like a great development.

Could some please post a pic of the building?

Never mind

here's a current pic...pretty isn't it?

This building should be a priority of the city, period.

There are a few more that need to be higher on the list in my opinion....that sounds like a good topic.

bad news. Developer has backed out:

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascit ... 073736.htm

A buyer is already lined up but Urdis is saying it should be knocked down for a larger parcel project. HOW ABOUT NO. We've already lost enough old buildings around here.

God Udris is clueless. Didn't he want to level the President too? This is a case where renovation makes the most sense. Develop new stuff in one of the hundreds of empty surface lots in the CBD and downtown area.

This ungraceful structure is not worth a fight to save it. I believe the block should be redeveloped as a whole. It is primely located between the Sprint Center, Power & Light District. An ideal spot for a tall office tower, as it would align with all the other most recent high rises on 12th Street and would be attractive to govermental agencies and law firms

moderne wrote:This ungraceful structure is not worth a fight to save it. I believe the block should be redeveloped as a whole. It is primely located between the Sprint Center, Power & Light District. An ideal spot for a tall office tower, as it would align with all the other most recent high rises on 12th Street and would be attractive to govermental agencies and law firms

1. They probably won't build anything more dense.
2. It is a historic structure that shold be preserved.
3. It is less costly to renovate than to demolish and build new.
4. We have hundreds of empty spots for new development in the core.

What is up with America and the culture of "throw away?"

I think Udris is making a subtle suggestion that this may be the spot for KCP&L to build their new HQ instead of the Empire theatre site.

I thought the KCPL plan was already shifted a block west of the Empire block?

.

Man - some of Udris comments in regards to preserving local archetecture are disturbing. What is this guy thinking. Hopefully another developer can come in and get this deal done. Don't tear down anymore cool buildings.

As EDC head, who does Udris technically "work for"? How do we get rid of this guy? One of the most vocal economic development players in the city is trying to bulldoze downtown.

i would love to see a movement to get rid of this buffoon. At 1st I thought it was just me that felt this, but its apparent the guy is a clown...he wnated to bulldoze Presidnet and turn it into a "pocket park" Read: unused bum hangout!

staubio wrote:As EDC head, who does Udris technically "work for"? How do we get rid of this guy? One of the most vocal economic development players in the city is trying to bulldoze downtown.

Check out http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/s ... tory2.html

In Cincinnati the called him Andi Useless?

slappy that was almost on cue. I was wondering when you'd drive by and drop that off.

His constant comments of "let's tear that down" is making me question him, no doubt. Cleveland seemed to think he did a great job.