KCRag Forum

Andy Rieger of J. Rieger is pursuing a plan to revitalize the area around the distillery and it trying to rebrand it as "Electric Park" after the old amusement park of the same name.

https://cityscenekc.com/j-rieger-plans- ... t-bottoms/

I really like the name, and the rendering is cool, but this neighborhood has a long way to go. It will need some pretty serious investment.

I would love to see something like this happen, but I agree, this neighborhood has a long way to go. It will be especially tough since they are losing the businesses that anchor the area. On the positive side, there are some people with deep pockets and long-term interests that own down there and are buying up more land.

^what businesses are they losing?

I'm a little more optimistic about the specific area referenced. Knuckleheads has become it's own block between the original space, the gospel lounge and the garage. Local pig could very well spin off foodie collaborations with a sit down restaurant.

All it would take would be one or two more places opening.

OR A STREETCAR SPUR! I kid, but the connection from here to Columbus Park/River Market is as natural as it gets. Shuttle bus, bike lanes, streetscapes.

Vague but cool idea, and if nothing else happens but the renovation of the Heim warehouse that is still a big win. And, a great example of "buying local" translating directly into increased investment in KC. Reiger makes good stuff and it would be nice to see this turn into a public destination a la Boulevard tour/taproom.

You would think with that small core of older buildings around Local Pig/Knuckleheads something interesting could begin to take shape. But it's certainly still off-the-beaten path for most, and there isn't a whole of existing infrastructure to work with.

On the positive side, there are some people with deep pockets and long-term interests that own down there and are buying up more land.

Out of curiosity, who are you referencing here?

John McDonald of Boulevard Beer among others.

grovester wrote:^what businesses are they losing?

I'm a little more optimistic about the specific area referenced. Knuckleheads has become it's own block between the original space, the gospel lounge and the garage. Local pig could very well spin off foodie collaborations with a sit down restaurant.

All it would take would be one or two more places opening.

OR A STREETCAR SPUR! I kid, but the connection from here to Columbus Park/River Market is as natural as it gets. Shuttle bus, bike lanes, streetscapes.

Urban Provisions is already gone (moved to Xroads Bauer building) and Local Pig...I've heard rumors they are moving also.

Well that would certainly quash my optimism!

kboish wrote:

grovester wrote:^what businesses are they losing?

I'm a little more optimistic about the specific area referenced. Knuckleheads has become it's own block between the original space, the gospel lounge and the garage. Local pig could very well spin off foodie collaborations with a sit down restaurant.

All it would take would be one or two more places opening.

OR A STREETCAR SPUR! I kid, but the connection from here to Columbus Park/River Market is as natural as it gets. Shuttle bus, bike lanes, streetscapes.

Urban Provisions is already gone (moved to Xroads Bauer building) and Local Pig...I've heard rumors they are moving also.

If Local Pig leaves, that would be a huge blow... But I don't really see that happening. I think that they do a pretty good business where they are and a butcher shop is something you can make people travel a bit for. I could see them opening a second concept somewhere else though.

This looks cool, but I sometimes think development/investment gets spread too thin in KC. I think it would be wiser to focus on areas that already have some momentum than trying to start something basically from scratch in an area like this or at the riverfront.

I guess a revitalization of the East Bottoms could benefit and create synergy with the Northeast. I could see the area becoming a bit of a hub for Northeast residents. It's just too bad that the access between the two areas isn't great and the physical barriers make it seem disconnected.

Local Pig is expanding.

Am I going crazy or wasn’t the original Electric Park somewhere near where Emmanuel Cleaver BLVD is today?

JBmidtown wrote:Am I going crazy or wasn’t the original Electric Park somewhere near where Emmanuel Cleaver BLVD is today?

Not the original. According to an article that this article linked to, the original was right next to the brewery- they even had beer piped over. As KC expanded south, the Heims decided to open a second, bigger electric park down by Cleaver Blvd, 47th and Paseo. They closed the first one when they opened the second.

tower wrote:

JBmidtown wrote:Am I going crazy or wasn’t the original Electric Park somewhere near where Emmanuel Cleaver BLVD is today?

Not the original. According to an article that this article linked to, the original was right next to the brewery- they even had beer piped over. As KC expanded south, the Heims decided to open a second, bigger electric park down by Cleaver Blvd, 47th and Paseo. They closed the first one when they opened the second.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_ ... ansas_City

And apparently Walter Cronkite of all people was there to witness Electric Park II's fiery demise. This is my first time reading about this, quite an interesting piece of history! The park inspired a certain young Mr. Disney in the design of his later theme parks as well.

taxi wrote:Local Pig is expanding.

I wasn't sure if it was relocation or expansion, so I figured I'd start the rumor mill...but, thats great to hear it is an expansion!

I don't see this working out too good. Who in the world would want to live down there? There could be floods, I heard there were many floods down there and really the area looks like there isn't too much going on with all the vacant places.

Darlene wrote:I don't see this working out too good. Who in the world would want to live down there? There could be floods, I heard there were many floods down there and really the area looks like there isn't too much going on with all the vacant places.

People live down there today and have for over 100 years. It's extremely affordable housing.

Darlene wrote:Who in the world would want to live down there?

Funny. I say the same thing about Olathe. Different strokes, different folks.

I guess so. I always felt sorry for them people living in those tenements.

Darlene wrote:I guess so. I always felt sorry for them people living in those tenements.

I always felt sorry for people that lived like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W6dOEdEAAQ

That looks like a real nice area. Those people mustbe pretty well off.