KCRag Forum

Well? Pros? Cons? What could Corndish improve on?

Pros
* Finally seem to be getting a good mix of local places and national chains
* Goes without saying but has become a focal point of downtown. Gives downtown an energy, not so much for residents but for visitors.
* Brought basic services back downtown for residents


For improvements:
* Get a TV station to move in to the empty space at the NW corner of 14th and main.
* Get a famous BBQ restaurant to move in
* mainstream clothing shop
* Keep going strong and get Three Light going
* Get the 670 cap built

Pros:
it provides a central place for people to go who may be confused about what's downtown, helping introduce them to more places through someplace easy to pick
the sports events on the big screen made it look like a great place to go

much better than the well know Kemper issue of walking out and the only real choice was to leave downtown

Get a TV station to move in to the empty space at the NW corner of 14th and main

why a tv station? intrigued on thought basis

mainstream clothing shop

I would like to see this take one of the empty lots or buildings further south. something clearly urban where they're in multiple floors. P&L really doesn't have the space to do this right

Lol p&l has plenty of empty space to do a big retail clothing store.

TV station would just be a fun interactive way to advertise downtown to viewers....kind of like a smaller Rockefeller center the of setup.

KCPowercat wrote:Lol p&l has plenty of empty space to do a big retail clothing store.

TV station would just be a fun interactive way to advertise downtown to viewers....kind of like a smaller Rockefeller center the of setup.

I agree on the TV station - always thought the Panera space at Crown Center would've been a great location. Just creates a little 'buzz' when I watch the news in cities like Chicago, Dallas or SLC where they have news stations downtown.

Pros:
*Filled a need and spurred further development in downtown
*Living room concept in P&L has been the unsung hero of the project.
*Wow factor for out of town visitors and suburbanites

Cons:
*Negative press and discrimination concerns

*Empty spaces in key locations

Key Improvements:
*Would prefer more relaxed bars (AKA Bar Louie & Flying Saucer)
*Would really like to see a canopy between Sprint Center and P&L district over Grand. This would help with larger events and improve walkability when Grand is shut down.
*Cap 670 and finish 3 & 4 light buildings
*Need more public art, maybe a rotating art space in conjunction with the art institute
*Would like to see some innovative shops (Amazon pop-up, etc..)

Pros:
best watch parties in a downtown environment
Sprint Center being right next door adds to the success
Westport is still alive and well
Even though some may be chains, there are still some very unique places.

Cons:
Needs more businesses that downtown residents would use daily
Trying to remember all the times when it's ok and not ok to allow children into the Live block.
Would like to see more local businesses there.

Oh and add a damn fountain somewhere...not that piddly fountain by BK

I still think P&L needs a Hard Rock Cafe - cheesy and overrated, yes... but they are draws and I think it would do well.
What better place than the empty space at 14th & Grand across from Sprint Center.

KCLover wrote:I still think P&L needs a Hard Rock Cafe - cheesy and overrated, yes... but they are draws and I think it would do well.
What better place than the empty space at 14th & Grand across from Sprint Center.

They do need a national chain that is a big trendy draw like HR Café. It's surprising how many people want to eat there as they are indeed cheesy and overrated. I never quite understood their draw in the US as they were originally created to satisfy demand or a good burger in Europe/overseas and such restaurants are commonplace in the US. Cordish had a public falling out with HRC a few years back, otherwise, I think you'd see one there.

Need more healthy quick options, especially for lunch. I'm surprised that a Panera hasn't been added yet. It would be packed all the time. Would like to also see a bookstore. I'd like to see them change the direction a bit to not just be catering to the hookup crowd on the weekend and build places to be on an everyday basis.

I'm going to go ahead and triple down on the HRC. We need one in KC.

Tokyo Joe's! All over the metro please.

KCPowercat wrote:Well? Pros? Cons? What could Cordish improve on?

pros:
- unmistakeable catalyst for downtown's newfound "vibrancy"
- blends in with surroundings quite well
- mostly good restaurants
- decent programming all year long
- opting in to pay the streetcar sales tax
- residential towers!
- cosentino's (i don't care what the cheapsters say, it's a great urban grocer we should be proud of!)

cons:
- the development agreement gives cordish WAY too much power over public right of way, parking, etc.
- lame retail
- half-baked concepts (they should just stay out of the restaurant business entirely... pizza bar!)
- prime spaces are still empty
- took them almost 10 years to fix the shitty sidewalks

an urban target and a few more chains/locals to replace the cordish failures would seal the deal.

DaveKCMO wrote:

KCPowercat wrote:Well? Pros? Cons? What could Cordish improve on?

pros:
- unmistakeable catalyst for downtown's newfound "vibrancy"
- blends in with surroundings quite well
- mostly good restaurants
- decent programming all year long
- opting in to pay the streetcar sales tax
- residential towers!
- cosentino's (i don't care what the cheapsters say, it's a great urban grocer we should be proud of!)

cons:
- the development agreement gives cordish WAY too much power over public right of way, parking, etc.
- lame retail
- half-baked concepts (they should just stay out of the restaurant business entirely... pizza bar!)
- prime spaces are still empty
- took them almost 10 years to fix the shitty sidewalks

an urban target and a few more chains/locals to replace the cordish failures would seal the deal.

One additional pro - single-handedly wiped out blocks of surface parking on the south side of the loop. Some of that has re-appeared since along Grand north of Sprint Arena but a huge net improvement.

improvements, especially for CBD-area residents:

more diverse food options. something like 10 of the ~18 options between 13th and main & 14th and grand are interchangeable generic bar food, albeit at different price points. get some diverse food options in there. i don't want one there, but a damn buffalo wild wings would have enhanced the food diversity in the live district more than leinenkugel's did. some BBQ / mexican (i know it's failed at least twice) / thai / indian would be a very welcome improvement.

also, get mixx to extend hours to weeknights and weekends.

I think a German beer hall concept would be good when Dubliner leaves. Maybe just give Dubliner that front space facing 14th

Yeah you are right...already lots of beer places. That's just always what I thought would be cool in that big space...then the Irish bar in front would be cozy like most Irish bars are in for reals life

^ I think we mentioned several years ago how it would be awesome to attract a Hoffbrauhaus for the P&L. I don't think there is another one in the US. Would be a big draw.

Correction: One in Chicago.

I believe you may be referring to the discussion in which I proposed the Hasselhoffbrauhaus concept, which I am still trying to license.

mean wrote:I believe you may be referring to the discussion in which I proposed the Hasselhoffbrauhaus concept, which I am still trying to license.

Does your burger get served on the floor at the Hasselhoffbrauhaus?