Pre-demolition permit for Italian Gardens

[KCPowercat]

I wouldn't doubt Portland did it....we need to remember than any of these cities we look to aren't perfect in themselves...we don't need to become Portland, we need to take hints from all cities and do it even better.

[tat2kc]

Tosspot, I'm not saying we don't have enough parking. I think we most likely do. What I am saying is that the situation with Citi Center is a result of competition between developers that prevents some office tower owners from using parking garages that are owned and operated by competitors, and this with tax subsidized parking facilities!  We need to update garages and parking facilites so that they are easy to find and safe and well lit. Tax subsidized parking garages need to be open for reserving spaces to all adjoining office developments so that the issue with Citi Center doesn't happen again.  We need a comprehensive public transit system that  provides more park and ride lots and better suburban routes that bring people downtown in a timely manner, and expand the rush hour service somewhat outside of the current system. 

And as for corporate types not willing to walk a few blocks, thats the same in every city around the world.  Bitch all you want about these folks demanding special treatment, but its been that way for generations in every country, and nothing you or anyone else can say or do will change that.  It speaks more the character of those people than the grunts who do have to hoof it. But the ones demanding the special treatment are the ones making the decisions about relocating businesses, and as long as other cities and office developments are willing and able to give them what they want, we have to do that too in order to compete.

It reminds me of Oprah's issues with Hermes. For those who don't remember that incident, Oprah showed up at Hermes flagship 15 minutes after closing, as they were setting up for a private function. They didn't let her in and reopen for her convience. And to her, this was the most humiliating moment of her life.  WTF? How do people like this function? What arrogance! Oprah and people with fame and fortune assume that the rules that the rest of the world function within don't apply to them, because we don't hold them to the same standards the rest of the world runs on.  Is it any wonder the corporate types don't think they should follow the same rules we do? 

These people aren't any different that we are, except they have more money or more "power". So we give them a pass on behavior, and give them perks. If every other city is going to give them perks, the only way we can compete is to give them the same perks. It sucks big time. Its stupid and make no sense.  If you've got a solution, I'd love to hear it.  I certianly have no sympathy for people who aren't willing to hoof it a block or so outside, but we are not in a position to dictate to anyone conditions on moving their businesses downtown yet.

[Long]

The upper levels of the garage attached to 1201 Walnut are pretty empty every time I go over there in the middle of the day to look at the P&L district. . .  so yes, there is parking available just a block away from City Center.  Availability is clearly not the issue. 

If the issue is the fat ass executive not wanting to walk a block, make the poor office workers walk a block and open up City Center's garage to the executives. 

So, (a) the issue is clearly political, and (b) I still don't think this new garage is going to solve City Center's problems.  The other towers downtown seem to have adequate parking, yet they still have a high vacancy rate.  This new garage just makes the building look more attractive to whomever Time Equities tries to sell it in the near future. 

[Gladstoner]

The upper levels of the garage attached to 1201 Walnut are pretty empty every time I go over there in the middle of the day to look at the P&L district. . .  so yes, there is parking available just a block away from City Center.  Availability is clearly not the issue.  ......

Yeah, just look at the Entertainment District cam on the kcskyscapers front page. The visible portions of that garage always seem to be empty. It doesn't seem to matter what day or time it is.

I think sometimes the issue with parking may not the total number of spaces, but the amount of time one sometimes has to drive around to find a spot. People get frustrated as they endlessly circle around searching one lot while nearby lots have ample room. And you know what happens to drivers who get frustrated....they tend to not see things like stop signs and pedestrians. Maybe this is key in designing good parking. In other words, come up with a system that makes it easy to find the existing parking. Standardized signage, perhaps?

[Long]

And do the owners of, say, the Town Pavilion garage, actually refuse to sell parking to people that don't work at Town Pavilion or 1201 Walnut?  I can see them wanting to have enough parking to serve any new tenant that might come along before they start opening it up to the general public, they have every right to do that, its their garage.  But if the garage is 30-40% empty on any given day, why not open up spaces to the public "subject to availability"?  Using Town Pavilion as an example, they could just offer a month-to-month contract, and when they get a tenant in one of their buildings that needs the space, the general public that has the least seniority gets the boot.  That makes more sense that just letting your garage sit empty, and the contract with non-tenant parkers is worded so that Town Pavilion can tell prospective tenants that the parking is available within 30-60 days. 

If that issue can be resolved, yeah, we need signage that not only tells people where the parking spaces are, but also that they are in fact "allowed" to park there-- parking garages are like a building in that people are less likely to go into them if they don't think they belong there.  Especially the uninitiated needs to know they are allowed to drive into these buildings to park their car.

[GRID]

Sure, there is plenty of parking downtown, as mentioned, the TP garage is nearly empty, (although so is the TP Tower).  They will need that garage once the tower fills back up.  It does not make a lot of sense to lease the parking spots to a competing tower and then be at a disadvantage themselves to fill their own tower at a later date.  That garage also serves 1201 Walnut and other buildings too which also have empty office space. If City Center Square needs more parking to be competitive, then they have every right to pursue that.  Most garages Downtown are half full right now, even the new Oak garage is barely used.  That is quickly changing and most garages are becoming shared garages with multiple users i.e., office/residential etc.  Once the arena and everything else begin to open, parking will be needed.  This is a high density parking structure that will replace blight (yes blight).  It will have retail on the lower level and add more density to the street.  The skywalk seems excessive, but I don’t see why people are against the garage itself.

[staubio]

I started a new job today and was surprised at how painless parking was at the multiple urban locations.  The facilities manager that was outlining the information and said that at his last job, parking was $125 a month and you weren't even guaranteed a spot.  Ah, that sounds nice.

[kcdcchef]

hey let this eyesore of a one story building come down, ground level retail, with a several story garage that has a nice steel skin, let it be. this building is vacant, and the food there over the past several years SUCKED, no where near where it once was.

[zonk]

I couldn't have said it better myself....tear that piece of crap down...

[KCPowercat]

agreed....just no reason for the skywalk.

[Tosspot]

[kcdcchef]

that skywalk is on the fifth story, yes? hurts nothing

[KCPowercat]

that skywalk is on the fifth story, yes? hurts nothing

I kind of think it does and it really adds nothing to the garage when less than 1/2 the garage will even use it. 

[kcdcchef]

probably so, however, if they want this skywalk as a part of making this happen ( a used lot versus a non used lot ) let them have it. i think the skywalks do nothing for union station, or perhaps those great skywalks to jones store that are now useless, however, i am all for whatever makes these projects move forward

[moderne]

     The view to the north on Baltimore is one of the few true urban vistas in Kansas City, with its grand terminus in the New York Life Bldng.  The rendering released of the skywalk is carefully placed to appear that the skywalk is framing that view.  However from any spot other than that exact location the skywalk will block that view with a clunky trailerhouse in the sky.

[voltopt]

i agree. i stood at the corner of 14th and baltimore and looked north the other night, and the skywalk would clip the top of the new york life building.  go see for yourself.
it would look ridiculous, and even moreso since the skywalk is so high in the sky.

this whole proposal is ludicrous.
i don't see how anyone could support this project at all.

its a tiny parking garage that doesn't even solve the problems of the landowner.

leave the parcel open for something else...

[kcdcchef]

yes, an empty restaurant sitting worthlessly waiting for nothing is a nice part of this area. good idea


Quote from: kcdcchef on Today at 06:37:17 pm
you mad because i have a wife, and yours left you??

December 15th, 2008
Just a guess here, but I'd imagine it'd take me about 20 viagras (and a pint of Wild Turkey) to get "interested" in your gal.

January 2nd, 2009
Only if you and your gal promise to go on a diet this Holiday season.  It's a health issue at this point, Cook.  I'm worried about you.

[ComandanteCero]

i think most of us have resigned ourselves to the fact that will be a parking garage, but the skywalk is an optional aspect that takes more than it adds to the city at large from an aesthetic and urbanistic stand point.  No point in having it.

[Long]

yes, an empty restaurant sitting worthlessly waiting for nothing is a nice part of this area. good idea

Thanks for reading the thread first.  You really covered all the issues.

[myxomatosis]

Did anyone read Kevin Collison's article today? It really summed up all the problems with this idea, but also illustrated that Time Equities is being backed into a corner regarding their parking issue options.  Regardless, the skywalk is counterproductive on many levels.  In his article, Collison refers to the Greater Downtown Development Authority (GDDA).  Any idea who are the members of the GDDA and why they haven't met for over a year?