Tracks 215 Project

Issues concerning Downtown as described by the Downtown Council. River to 31st Street, I-35 to Bruce R. Watkins.
User avatar
FangKC
City Hall
City Hall
Posts: 18141
Joined: Sat Jul 26, 2003 10:02 pm
Location: Old Northeast -- Indian Mound

Re: Tracks 215 Project

Post by FangKC »

Anytime there was a major style change in architecture, people tended not to like the newer version.
flyingember
Mark Twain Tower
Mark Twain Tower
Posts: 9862
Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2012 7:54 am

Re: Tracks 215 Project

Post by flyingember »

dukuboy1 wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 10:36 am but IMHO, an opportunity was missed to build a more modern and architecturally distinct property in the downtown area, rather than what appears to be a very cookie cutter suburban office park type of building.
Buildings don’t get built in a vacuum.

They follow the market and a developer who sees high demand for lower prices will design to a price point. It’s also much easier to spend less on the outside than interior finishes.

At the end of the day people want to show off their kitchen and view, not the outside wall.

Before we built a house (infill) we looked at a lot of open houses on one of those tour weekends. We kept seeing the same iron spindle railing over and over in homes at the same price by a dozen different developers. Our millwork place sold the same product and we discovered they sold 30ish options. So those developers were all picking what cost least.

That’s what’s happening here, they’re picking out what costs the least to buy and install and putting the money into the inside.

It’s always going to be the case and the next new “trendy” design and cladding will replace today’s
Most likely it will start with a super visible project getting a good deal on materials and everyone copies them.
User avatar
FangKC
City Hall
City Hall
Posts: 18141
Joined: Sat Jul 26, 2003 10:02 pm
Location: Old Northeast -- Indian Mound

Re: Tracks 215 Project

Post by FangKC »

Most likely the exteriors will be 3D-printed using some type of hardening slurry. It may not be the concrete we see today, but some type of future compound perhaps mixed with clay soil and a hardener. Think of traditional adobe buildings, but mass-produced. You can have a variety of styles since you just punch in the floor plan on the computer, and the printer adjusts.

Why This 3D-Printed House Will Change The World

https://www.ukconstructionmedia.co.uk/v ... the-world/

Europe’s first fully 3D-printed house gets its first tenants

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ ... nts-video

This 3D-printed house is made entirely from mud

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/tecla-3d-printed-house
dukuboy1
Alameda Tower
Alameda Tower
Posts: 1031
Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2020 12:02 pm

Re: Tracks 215 Project

Post by dukuboy1 »

flyingember wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 12:53 pm
dukuboy1 wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 10:36 am but IMHO, an opportunity was missed to build a more modern and architecturally distinct property in the downtown area, rather than what appears to be a very cookie cutter suburban office park type of building.
Buildings don’t get built in a vacuum.

They follow the market and a developer who sees high demand for lower prices will design to a price point. It’s also much easier to spend less on the outside than interior finishes.

At the end of the day people want to show off their kitchen and view, not the outside wall.

Before we built a house (infill) we looked at a lot of open houses on one of those tour weekends. We kept seeing the same iron spindle railing over and over in homes at the same price by a dozen different developers. Our millwork place sold the same product and we discovered they sold 30ish options. So those developers were all picking what cost least.

That’s what’s happening here, they’re picking out what costs the least to buy and install and putting the money into the inside.

It’s always going to be the case and the next new “trendy” design and cladding will replace today’s
Most likely it will start with a super visible project getting a good deal on materials and everyone copies them.
Well if they were going for cheap, mission accomplished on the outside. Inside is very nice, outside is “meh”. Not terrible so as to be a distraction when you go inside & think “what the hell? Outside is dump & inside is amazing” type thing. Just kind of dull outside, nondescript. But screw it, it got built, we needed it, and now we as a country need to get our shit together and get out of this pandemic so we can start filling the thing with meaningful business 😀
flyingember
Mark Twain Tower
Mark Twain Tower
Posts: 9862
Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2012 7:54 am

Re: Tracks 215 Project

Post by flyingember »

dukuboy1 wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 10:31 pm
Well if they were going for cheap, mission accomplished on the outside. Inside is very nice, outside is “meh”. Not terrible so as to be a distraction when you go inside & think “what the hell? Outside is dump & inside is amazing” type thing. Just kind of dull outside, nondescript. But screw it, it got built, we needed it, and now we as a country need to get our shit together and get out of this pandemic so we can start filling the thing with meaningful business 😀
You're describing housing for the overwhelming majority of the world. Nondescript.
User avatar
normalthings
Mark Twain Tower
Mark Twain Tower
Posts: 8018
Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2015 9:52 pm

Re: Tracks 215 Project

Post by normalthings »

Grading approved, construction permit reviewed
User avatar
normalthings
Mark Twain Tower
Mark Twain Tower
Posts: 8018
Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2015 9:52 pm

Re: Tracks 215 Project

Post by normalthings »

new name: The Tracks Apartments at The Old Milwaukee Yard
User avatar
Chris Stritzel
Penntower
Penntower
Posts: 2294
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2017 9:27 pm

Re: Tracks 215 Project

Post by Chris Stritzel »

normalthings wrote: Mon Nov 22, 2021 3:42 pm new name: The Tracks Apartments at The Old Milwaukee Yard
That’s a mouthful.
User avatar
FangKC
City Hall
City Hall
Posts: 18141
Joined: Sat Jul 26, 2003 10:02 pm
Location: Old Northeast -- Indian Mound

Re: Tracks 215 Project

Post by FangKC »

They should build an apartment building at the other end of the freight house and call it Schlitz Place.

Image
User avatar
AlkaliAxel
Broadway Square
Broadway Square
Posts: 2948
Joined: Wed Jun 16, 2021 9:58 pm
Location: West Plaza

Re: Tracks 215 Project

Post by AlkaliAxel »

normalthings wrote: Mon Nov 22, 2021 3:42 pm new name: The Tracks Apartments at The Old Milwaukee Yard
If you could have this whole project done or the south cap done- which would you choose?
User avatar
DaveKCMO
Ambassador
Posts: 20039
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 6:22 pm
Location: Crossroads
Contact:

Re: Tracks 215 Project

Post by DaveKCMO »

AlkaliAxel wrote: Mon Nov 22, 2021 10:48 pm
normalthings wrote: Mon Nov 22, 2021 3:42 pm new name: The Tracks Apartments at The Old Milwaukee Yard
If you could have this whole project done or the south cap done- which would you choose?
This project. It adds people and direct tax revenue.
dukuboy1
Alameda Tower
Alameda Tower
Posts: 1031
Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2020 12:02 pm

Re: Tracks 215 Project

Post by dukuboy1 »

agreed, adds people who will spend money at businesses in the area and work in the area as well (or at least some of them will). The Cap is an awesome project and may be able to generate some revenue if there are commercial/residential structures built on it. But Cap is more of a catalyst to spur continued growth and development by creating a cohesive flow from downtown directly into the cross roads. Making the feeling of connection, which is powerful and will most likely aid in future development.
langosta
Valencia Place
Valencia Place
Posts: 1502
Joined: Mon May 27, 2019 4:02 am

Re: Tracks 215 Project

Post by langosta »

Told The Tracks will start soon
User avatar
normalthings
Mark Twain Tower
Mark Twain Tower
Posts: 8018
Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2015 9:52 pm

Re: Tracks 215 Project

Post by normalthings »

User avatar
Chris Stritzel
Penntower
Penntower
Posts: 2294
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2017 9:27 pm

Re: Tracks 215 Project

Post by Chris Stritzel »

Fence around the site. Some mounds of dirt are dotted throughout the site. Bridge to Union Station closed for apparent restoration of the stairway and elevator.
Image
Image
User avatar
normalthings
Mark Twain Tower
Mark Twain Tower
Posts: 8018
Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2015 9:52 pm

Re: Tracks 215 Project

Post by normalthings »

foundations work has started
User avatar
TheLastGentleman
Broadway Square
Broadway Square
Posts: 2908
Joined: Tue Jun 13, 2017 9:27 pm

Re: Tracks 215 Project

Post by TheLastGentleman »

Image

Image

Image
User avatar
beautyfromashes
One Park Place
One Park Place
Posts: 7188
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2005 11:04 am

Re: Tracks 215 Project

Post by beautyfromashes »

Parking lots getting torn up make me smile. Thanks for the pics.
User avatar
Anthony_Hugo98
Valencia Place
Valencia Place
Posts: 1932
Joined: Fri Mar 22, 2019 10:50 pm
Location: Overland Park, KS

Re: Tracks 215 Project

Post by Anthony_Hugo98 »

beautyfromashes wrote: Wed Jan 19, 2022 9:54 am Parking lots getting torn up make me smile. Thanks for the pics.
“bUt wHeRe wiLl wE pArK?!?” *Every suburbanite right now*
User avatar
DaveKCMO
Ambassador
Posts: 20039
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 6:22 pm
Location: Crossroads
Contact:

Re: Tracks 215 Project

Post by DaveKCMO »

Heard a construction update at PTC today:

- 12' of excavation
- W. 22nd will be one-way westbound and south sidewalk closed for up to 24 months
- First 12 months will be excavation and concrete trucks
- Next 12 months framing upper floors and finish
Post Reply