KCRag Forum

I think I read that Ron Jury did get his financing in time--from some investor in San Antonio.

I did a little research at the downtown public library today. I looked in the Cole's Directories and old SW Bell Directories over a span of years (from the 1940s-80s) for any business called Subway at that address. I found none. I'm inclined to think it was a subterranean tunnel that lead to the Pro...

Hey, I have an idea. Why not scrape the entire plan to build a ballroom over the interstate, and take that money and turn the Empire Theater into a ballroom? They want a ballroom that will seat 3,000 people. The Empire seated 3,000 people when it opened. Surely it would be cheaper to renovate an exi...

I agree about not using Kansas Citians' tax money. I would like to see it turned into a world-class museum though. Since it is the only WWI Memorial in the United States--and is really a national museum, I'd rather see it turned over to the National Parks system; or private groups like the Veteran's...

The owner of the parking garage on 14th and Baltimore is not Larry Bridges and Executive Hills Inc. as I stated previously. They do own the Empire Theater though. The owner of the Baltimore Parking Garage is: BALTIMORE PARK LLC c/o ROBERT E FITZGERALD 12 WYANDOTTE PLAZA 120 W 12TH ST KANSAS CITY, MO...

I don't think it's been a problem so far. Most people probably complain that there aren't enough new buildings being constructed downtown. The only area of the city were that may become a problem is around Crown Center. I think some of the residents of Union Hill were irritated when that new office ...

The size of the new downtown arena is important to the future of the city. A 19,000-seat arena is not big enough to replace Kemper. I mean, why bother? The city needs to look down the road and realize that it should build something that will last for many years. An arena that seats 25,000 would allo...

The Royals and Chiefs stadiums were built on the Leeds site, and not downtown, for the following reasons: 1. Land cost: The land at Leeds cost $13.9 million and didn't require demolishing a lot of buildings or clearing space. The land downtown (south of Bartle Hall) would have cost $21 million. 2. T...

The actual name was Electric Park--not Electric Land. It was successful for a time. However, it burned down and the owners could not afford to rebuild.

I actually like the sky stations on Bartle Hall. They make an otherwise ordinary structure a bit more interesting. It also adds something to the skyline that is unique. They also look cool from a distance when they are lit at night. If you look at advertising brochures for Kansas City, those sky sta...

Did anyone read the Kansas City Star Sunday edition yesterday (August 10)? The article's topic was about "Hometown Favorites," where five high-profile Kansas Citians take out-of-towners? No one mentioned the Liberty Memorial as their primary attraction. It only appeared on the rappers list...

City leaders have historically neglected the original plan for Penn Valley Park and the Liberty Memorial site. George Kessler, father of the City's parks and boulevard system, advocated the Memorial as the centerpiece of a large cultural arts center. From Lest the Ages Forget: Kansas City's Liberty ...

I've also wondered about that place. Having lived in New York City, it reminds me of subway entrances in many of the older buildings there. I don't think it was ever part of the Subway restaurant chain because it appears to pre-date that chain. Perhaps it was just a subway sandwich place that used t...

An editorial in the Kansas City Star published on Jan. 12, 1962, called the underappreciated memorial "our neglected asset," and called for "innovative ideas to make the staid monument vibrant--to draw visitors to this unique American treasure." The 1962 Star editorial went on to...

I noticed on Saturday, August 9, that a new mural is being painted under Bartle Hall on W. 14th Street between Broadway and Central.

Andrew Drips Park and Monument That monument sits in Kansas City's "first" public park, West Prospect Triangle, at the juncture of 16th, Jarboe, and Belleview Avenue. The land was given to the City in 1882 by William and Catherine Mulkey for use as a park. Catherine Mulkey's father was Maj...

"They are tearing down the parking garage behind it. They are doing so carefully, probably so they can sell the parts." --SonicBoi SonicBoi: You need to go take a closer look at the demolition. They aren't doing so carefully at all. From what I could tell, they are not salvaging any of the...

I ride my bike in that neighborhood occasionally. It has a strange mix of housing, but it's an interesting neighborhood. I think it has great potential for future development. Because it is so hilly, I envision streets of townhouses--sort of like neighborhoods in San Francisco. There are also some g...

Demolition of the parking garage on the southeast corner of 14th and Baltimore (next to the Empire Theater) has begun.

According to a source at City Hall, Executive Hills Inc. owns the Empire Theater and the parking garage on 14th and Baltimore. Their phone number is 913-451-9000. G Downtown Redev. Partners appears to be a partnership in which Executive Hills is a major shareholder. I haven't been able to find out w...