I thought it was established that it was not actually a historic building?DaveKCMO wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2020 8:03 pmThe opposition to at least the Opus project was pretty broad amongst midtown neighborhood groups and other known interests. There's a lot of space between Opus and party bar central, especially for projects that don't involve demolishing a historic property. The two no votes on the council at the time were the two known best for preservation connections: Wagner and Shields. Sure there were lots of "too big!" and "OMG parking!" chants, but in retrospect I believe it would have sailed through if it had just been a parking lot (or any of the other not-noteworthy Westport retail stalls built long after the turn of the century).
Also, I hear a lot of general disdain for large-scale multifamily developments, even from people that aren't typically identified as NIMBY. Arguments range from the lack of architectural diversity, the incongruous scale required for developer ROI, etc. I don't mind them, mostly because smaller scale multifamily developments don't seem to be attracting much capital in KC.
Westport
Re: Westport
Re: Westport
At the CPC (I think) meeting I attended, the people opposed to the OPUS project had a presentation that included a slide of the building throughout the decade, I think trying to indicate that it was old and historic. Unfortunately, I thought their slide undercut their position because it showed the building has gone under like 7 major facelifts in its time.
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Re: Westport
Many like me weren't exactly opposed to the Opus project but rather tearing down the old bank building. The lot next to it was huge, plenty of space to do a large project w/out tearing down the old building. Could've made a nice farm-to-table restaurant with exposed brick walls. And if you can tear down that Westport building, then why not all of them.chaglang wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2020 8:19 am Weirdly, the people who opposed the Opus project are solidly in favor of the TinyTown development above the Manor Square parking garage. A prominent midtown blogger explained to me that's because large buildings make more sense on smaller streets like Pennsylvania rather than larger streets like Broadway.
Between Opus and MAC's new buildings on Armour, the two projects that had drawn the most attention from the Midtown tinfoil hat crowd were both approved by council.... so maybe that's a sign of progress?
Am all for the large project on top of Tivoli stretch of buildings.
Re: Westport
The Opus development treated that building with only slightly less respect than the previous 7 reconstructions did.
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Re: Westport
^Could have been gutted to it's bare bones brick.
Re: Westport
To the 1970's brick facade? Seems like a waste of time and money to work around.
Re: Westport
The Opus brick color and blockiness of the building better suit Westport than the last iteration of the Westport Bank except for its large scale. That last remodel of the bank was done in the early days of the ressurection of Westport from a tired part of town with hippie head shops into a seventies version of ye olde towne. The era of fern bars(as a bar that had any decor was called) and salad bars. That bank facade was a seventies fantasy of the past.
Re: Westport
Are there any new pictures of the opus project?
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Re: Westport
However it could have been gutted out to original core. Can't make buildings like that anymore. The Opus building still would look good next to it.moderne wrote: ↑Mon Feb 24, 2020 3:17 pm The Opus brick color and blockiness of the building better suit Westport than the last iteration of the Westport Bank except for its large scale. That last remodel of the bank was done in the early days of the ressurection of Westport from a tired part of town with hippie head shops into a seventies version of ye olde towne. The era of fern bars(as a bar that had any decor was called) and salad bars. That bank facade was a seventies fantasy of the past.
Re: Westport
The "original core" was gone. Much of the remaining structure was modern (by building standards). The stoutest thing there was the bank vault, and that was just a heap of concrete.earthling wrote: ↑Mon Feb 24, 2020 4:42 pmHowever it could have been gutted out to original core. Can't make buildings like that anymore. The Opus building still would look good next to it.moderne wrote: ↑Mon Feb 24, 2020 3:17 pm The Opus brick color and blockiness of the building better suit Westport than the last iteration of the Westport Bank except for its large scale. That last remodel of the bank was done in the early days of the ressurection of Westport from a tired part of town with hippie head shops into a seventies version of ye olde towne. The era of fern bars(as a bar that had any decor was called) and salad bars. That bank facade was a seventies fantasy of the past.
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Re: Westport
It was a good looking *functional* Westport period building that should not have been torn down. The Opus project could have added an extra floor or two and still be a large project while keeping bank building, gutted out for a restaurant.
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Re: Westport
What's the Westport period?
Was it really functional? Every new owner effectively modified the building to fit their needs.
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Re: Westport
Due to building codes, the developer likely couldn't add floors to the building without changing the construction method from stick frame to something else like steel or concrete frame, at greater expense.
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Re: Westport
Or could have done same height and still a decent sized project. There are projects happening on lots smaller than that, it's a big lot.
If that building could go, any early Westport era building could go. Is concerning most don't care a functional 1906 building is torn down, especially considering there was plenty of space in lot for project. Westport is one of oldest districts in metro and those buildings can't be constructed anymore. OK if the retail along E of that stretch is torn down too? They're just scrappy buildings afterall (that help define early era Westport).
If that building could go, any early Westport era building could go. Is concerning most don't care a functional 1906 building is torn down, especially considering there was plenty of space in lot for project. Westport is one of oldest districts in metro and those buildings can't be constructed anymore. OK if the retail along E of that stretch is torn down too? They're just scrappy buildings afterall (that help define early era Westport).
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Re: Westport
Why are we saving a building? It's not the age. There's plenty of old buildings of no value to society.
We save for the aesthetics, the architecture design. You repair to the same design because it was unique for that era. You can find old materials or use historic methods and can save many old buildings that are nearly falling down. Sometimes we move especially old structures to new locations. (Missouri Town, Shawnee Town, Shoal Creek Living History Museum)
With this building first one owner replaces the interior structure. Then another owner replaces the exterior structure.
What remains of the character of the building from 1906 that's worth saving at that point? It seems like it became a 1970s building when all of the historic aspects were removed or lost.
It's like the old story. Someone has a hatchet used by George Washington. A historian shows up and it looks like a new hatchet.
His father replaced the handle to look the same when it broke and his grandfather replaced the head with the same style when it grew too dull.
Is it still the same hatchet?
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Re: Westport
Sigh
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Re: Westport
A small two story bank with drive through and substantial surface parking vs. 5 story apartment building. Just because the building was old, it was not historically significant nor was it the overall best use case for the area. Agree with preserving and renovating existing buildings, but adding density and residents to Westport is good for the tax base, good for public safety and good for the future streetcar.
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Re: Westport
I’m generally a historic preservation advocate, but even I don’t see the bank building’s significance. It had basically zero architectural integrity due to all the remodels, and was not directly associated with any major historic events. Unless it had been restored to its period of significance, I really see no reason to have saved it aside from it looking vaguely old timey