Westport

[smh]

I think it would be way smarter to just have Broadway flow as it does now. That plaza should just be an extension of the sidewalk in front of Mills (as others have suggested.)

If the illustrated plan was implemented that intersection would get crazy and you'd have some drunk person either ramming into the plaza, sidewalk bump-outs...or drive the wrong way down Broadway. Also this cuts the plaza off from the sidewalk with what would be heavy traffic. Making it contiguous with the sidewalks to the east would create a large patio space with no crossing traffic to get there!

If you just bump out the plaza (which makes a ton of sense, mind you) and forego the larger square then there is no opportunity for privatization and implementation of "Nigro/Kelly's/Beer KC Presents Westport Live!".

[chaglang]

Everyone planning this like we don’t live in Kansas City. After the WRBL, HKC, and the Broadway merchants get ahold of this, we will get a privatized surface parking lot with maybe 2 trees.

[DaveKCMO]

Everyone planning this like we don’t live in Kansas City. After the WRBL, HKC, and the Broadway merchants get ahold of this, we will get a privatized surface parking lot with maybe 2 trees.

True. I was surprised how well they embraced our temporary design for the 2014 Better Block, but it was nowhere near as disruptive as some of these "public square" designs. Ours eliminated no parking or travel lanes, but there's so much excess asphalt there we were able to reclaim a LOT of space.

[FangKC]

KMBC 9 reports that Jerusalem Cafe on Westport Road will move down the street to the former Qdoba building.

[DaveKCMO]

KMBC 9 reports that Jerusalem Cafe on Westport Road will move down the street to the former Qdoba building.

I totally predicted this. Everyone was all butthurt about the "chains" moving into the former parking lot redevelopment, but now this!

[brewcrew1000]

How is Sama Zama still in business? I like the place but it always seems dead

[bobbyhawks]

How is Sama Zama still in business? I like the place but it always seems dead

^ This +1.

[beautyfromashes]

Can someone reopen Harling’s already?! Much appreciated.

[KCtoBrooklyn]

How is Sama Zama still in business? I like the place but it always seems dead

Looks like Sama Zama is proposing to move to 39th and Central in the long-vacant former 7-11. A second floor will be added on the building for offices.

This is definitely an improvement for the longtime eyesore, but I still would have rather seen this demolished and redeveloped (along with the lots behind).





Also, I recently noticed some serious site prep work happening down the street, I assume for the proposed hotel at former site of XO.

[chaglang]

That might be what kills SZ. That 7-11 seems like a huge step down from their current location.

[brewcrew1000]

That might be what kills SZ. That 7-11 seems like a huge step down from their current location.

Maybe they think people will have easier access to parking if they move

[beautyfromashes]

That might be what kills SZ. That 7-11 seems like a huge step down from their current location.

Maybe they think people will have easier access to parking if they move

Buying a building will give them price and location security. I really think rents will skyrocket in the area in the next several years and many places will be priced out.

[FangKC]

Snooze to open in February--4140 Broadway.

Snooze A.M. Eatery, the Denver-based breakfast chain, is beginning to stir in Westport with a special pop-up preview party this Sunday followed by the formal opening Feb. 5.

The new restaurant at 4140 Broadway is partnering with Boulevard Brewing for “Bingo and Brunch” on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. It will feature the cafe’s special Pineapple Upside-Down Pancakes and Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat Brewmosas.
...
The 4,285 square-foot restaurant seats 121 people inside and 50 outside on its dog-friendly patio. Hours will be from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. seven days a week.

https://cityscenekc.com/snooze-awakes-in-westport/

[normalthings]

Looks like the Katz's drugstore redevelopment could begin this year.

https://www.construction.com/projects/m ... site-ph-1/

[moderne]

So reno of the Katz and adjacent new construction on the parking lot?

[KCtoBrooklyn]

Is there any info on this project anywhere else?

Where do you see anything about new construction on the parking lot? The description does seem odd:

Structural Information
1 Building / Story above grade / Story below grade / Building Frame: Structural Steel / 30000 Total ft
Additional Features
60 market-rate apartments; over 5,000 sq ft of commercial/retail space

So apartments on the ground floor and commercial space (and maybe more apartments) below grade? If it is 30k sq ft total, with 5k sq ft retail, that would leave 25k sq ft for 60 apartments, or 416 sq ft per unit, without including any common space.

Also, it does say "Ph 1", which I assume means phase 1. Maybe phase 2 could involve new construction or renovation of the building to the south (what is that building currently used for?).

[FangKC]

It's too vague to make any sense without seeing the plans.

[chaglang]

That building is about 15k per floor plate, so I'd agree that 30k is the reno. Phase 2 would likely build in the parking lot to the west.

Either way, good news.

[FangKC]

Fast-growing breakfast restaurant chain serves up first KC location [PHOTOS]

Denver-based breakfast chain Snooze, an A.M. Eatery is set to open Wednesday just in time for Kansas Citians to get a hearty breakfast before braving the cold for the Kansas City Chiefs' victory parade and rally.
...
Located at 4144 Broadway in Kansas City's Westport neighborhood, the 4,300-square-foot space has seating for more than 160 people and features a dog-friendly patio. Snooze will be open seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
...

https://tinyurl.com/tubk947

[herrfrank]

Looks like the Katz's drugstore redevelopment could begin this year.

https://www.construction.com/projects/m ... site-ph-1/

The Katz drug store on Main in Westport was the first commission of the architect Clarence Kivett, later Kivett & Myers. The building was done in the deco moderne style quite in vogue when it was built in the early 1930s. Clarence Kivett was a nephew of the Katz brothers. Isaac Katz "invented" discounting in retail, aspects of which were shared with Sam Walton, who learned the Katz business model via mutual connections in the Kemper banking family.

Kivett & Myers also did the current airport -- KCI -- in a much different, brutalist style 35 years later. They also designed the Alameda Plaza hotel (now the Intercontinental) in a more glamorous vein of modernism.