kboish wrote: ↑Thu Mar 17, 2022 8:02 am
My guess is they will quietly start demo and finish that before presenting a redevelopment plan to avoid any “save my strip mall” push back. Just a guess though
That was my basic theory. The businesses seemed successful, the liquor store, laundry and the market, but maybe they were unprofitable for some reason. I've been expecting to hear something reliable about this for months but have not.
daGOAT wrote: ↑Thu Mar 17, 2022 8:19 am
I question the legitimacy of my source but I've been told a plan is already in the works for housing. I dug deeper to see if they were maybe confusing the Jamestown project but they assured me it was a separate project.*fingers crossed*
I would love to see more residential over retail line 39th. Living in the neighborhood I'm probably in the minority on that. They key point is that there is ground floor retail.
kcjak wrote: ↑Thu Mar 17, 2022 8:40 am
Several people on my Volker neighborhood Facebook page claim that Del Hedgepath (sp?) bought the Bob Wasabi site and put fencing up without even allowing the businesses to clear out (there was a small market that JUST opened in the old laundromat space!). Rumor is that the site will be cleared for a mixed use development and of course neighbors are all worked up that it will be similar to the building on 39th/State Line - the one with Panera on the ground floor. If they're planning on tearing down the laundromat/hookah bar building, I think the neighborhood will fight vehemently against it.
Yeah, I'm aware of the FB group but mostly don't use FB. My wife and neighbor and repeated all of that pretty much verbatim and cited Facebook as their source so I'm aware of that rumor. I basically discounted all of that as BS except the part where residential might get built there. When you look in into the market it almost looks like there is a lot of stock and trade fixtures were left in place which might drive the theory, also the deserved contempt of Del. The one part I agree on is that any new building must absolutely respect the neighborhood better than the Panera building. That thing is an abomination and already looks worse for wear, not more than 10 years old right?
taxi wrote: ↑Thu Mar 17, 2022 9:56 am
My insider source says there is no real plan for the space, it's kind of for sale, and thankfully it is not owned by Del Hedgepath. It's a shame it's empty after having mostly excellent tenants.
I may have an opportunity to buy it, though I'm not sure I am up for such a big project. I would want to restore the theater. Probably not a very smart idea. What do the KCraggers think is the highest and best use for this spot?
I have heard that there used to be a theater on 39th street but didn't know that this was the spot it was at. I have no idea what your background is but if you crunch the numbers and think you could make a small theater work there I would lose my mind for it. When I was in high school I used to drive in from OP with my film geek friends several times a month to go to the Tivoli. Was pretty devastated to find out it was closed when I moved back to the metro. KC is badly lacking in the art house theater department. Other than that the highest and best use would probably be a high quality residential building with high quality retail on the ground floor to replace what is lost. Parking requirements would probably sink the ideal kind of building I would want though.
