Predict the "new" downtown complaints

[snarf]

1.  Too far to drive (but less distance than most commutes)
2.  Cost too much
3.  Thugs
4.  No parking
5.  Downtown is confusing to get around
6.  Don't want to give my money to downtown.  They already get the tax breaks. 
7.  The same stores are in the burbs

[bahua]

Are these parking complaints anticipated because of ignorance of the city, or because there actually wont be much parking? I was under the impression that just aboutb half of what they've been building in the new area is parking.

[K.C.Highrise]

ignorance of the city. Half of downtown IS parking.

[Maitre D]

The Sprint Center won't be used often enough. - No anchor tenant

That's my biggest complaint.



As for the rest, hell, there's no perfect situation there.  You don't have to please everyone.  The Royals get 18,000 retards per game out there in the boonies - for the worst franchise in sports - so surely P&L can work.

[DaveKCMO]

5.  Downtown is confusing to get around

i assume people say this because of the one-way streets and flurry of interstate exits? as opposed to the near-perfect street grid and decent walkability.

[tompendergast]

Here are what I envision complaints about the P&L district to be.  I don't think I'd fit into any of these, though, because I'm very excited about the district and I don't complain a whole lot as long as I'm generally left to my own devices.

#1 complaint from Kansans:
"It's in Missouri!"

#1 complaint from Missouri suburbanites:
"Too many minorities."

#1 complaint from East Side KCMO residents:
"Too many racist cops and racist dress codes."

#1 complaint from current downtowners:
"Too many outsiders."

#1 complaint from current midtowners:
"Too expensive."

#1 complaint from panhandlers:
"They won't let me panhandle!"

#1 complaint from tourists in general:
"I have the same damn thing in my hometown!"

#1 complaint from tourists from California:
"Too much smoking and no macrobiotic restaurants."
My response: "Go screw yourself."

#1 complaint from P&L tenants:
"The rent is exorbitant."

[Highlander]

I think most of the complaints from people in the KC metro will invoke the hassle factor:

Too Far
Hard to find Parking
Too long of a Walk from Parking to P&L District
Too much traffic

Most of those will be suburbanites.  I think people in the core will be much more concerned about prices, prevelance of national chains, and appearance of pretensiousness. 

It won't be deemed unsafe until the inevitable mugging/murder on the periphery of the district a few months after operations begin.  That is what killed the River Quay. 

Actually, surburbanites in KC do not know how lucky they are.  I can get from my parents house in far south KC to downtown using I435 - Watkins drive in 15-20 minutes.  In some cities like Dallas and Houston, you might as well bring your toothbrush and a change of clothes if you are going downtown for an evening.  It is much more of a task to get those DT's from the far out burbs than it is from any burb in KC.   

[staubio]

In talking with people at the urban tour, the number one complaint/concern I heard was panhandling. It made them feel unsafe.

[ShowMeKC]

"It's too bad we can't afford anything here"
"We'd love to live here, but the schools aren't that great"
"Downtown is really coming back, it's too bad other areas are still blighted"

[kcmetro]

"Where are all the sorostitutes? This sucks. Let's go back to Fuel!"

[bahua]

We were walking home from Harry's last night, and passed Vivace, which was apparently emptying out at the time. Some twentysomething dude in jeans, a t-shirt, and a sport jacket, clutching an open aluminum BMC bottle stopped us on the sidewalk and asked where NV is. I pointed directly at it, and said, "over there, across the highway." He swore under his breath, and appeared to consider it a lost cause. A five-minute walk, at most. So with that in mind, I predict the following complaint:

"I have to walk too far from my car."

[KCTigerFan]

Yep...  "Too crowded, nowhere to park, too far to walk anywhere." 

[Paintfumes]

ignorance of the city. Half of downtown IS parking.

isn't most of it private parking lots.

[KCMax]

I miss the blight.

[bahua]

isn't most of it private parking lots.

That sentence was phrased like a question. Please relearn English and make another attempt.

[aknowledgeableperson]

During a rare event at the SC the complaints will be:
parking was a nightmare.
traffic was horrible.
if the event was a "family values" concert the major complaint will be the weird types walking around the area.
if the event was a "rap concert" the major complaint will be all of the gang types handing around.

When there is no event (a large majority of the time) the complaints will be:
why go there and pay an additional $10 to park when all we were doing is going out to eat.
it was nice but we have just about the same stuff so much closer to home.

[Paintfumes]

That sentence was phrased like a question. Please relearn English and make another attempt.

Its private parking lots. You should buy some clear license plate covers, bahua.

[LenexatoKCMO]

Lately I have encountered a lot higher percentage of people who are aware of the project and what is going on  - sadly almost everyone I talk to lately is absolutely convinced that it will be a disaster and lead the city to financial ruin.  I can't help but think that this is the direct result of Mayor Poopey-Pants election campaign. 

[brett]

Maybe complaints that can be foreseen might seriously be an issue and deserve more of a concern rather than heckling.

[ShowMeKC]

parking isn't an issue, and most complaints about parking, driving, walking, etc... by suburbanites have no meaning in urban areas.