Unbuilt KC

[moderne]

UMKC Library has a lot of architectural paperwork.

[WoodDraw]

Is there a local resource or institution that might have plans from projects proposed around town but never built? I’m trying to dig into the history of things, even if smaller buildings, that never made it past the planning stages.

I think HNTB keeps an archive. They were involved in a few things through acquired firms over the years. I'd reach out to them.

Best way unfortunately is to find someone that cares about it and start sharing information. Outside of the city and library sources I'm sure you know about.

[FangKC]

These were renderings put out for the proposed development put forth by Whitney Kerr Sr. and Ross Perot that never happened. It was proposed as a convention hotel and a World Trade Center complex.

[FangKC]

The Kansas City That Never Was': A look at the previous plan to build a downtown ballpark

...
A new exhibit, "The Kansas City That Never Was," curated by Stuart Hinds, offers a glimpse into the plans that never materialized in the heart of Kansas City.
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Housed in the Miller Nichols Library and accessible digitally on the UMKC Library website, the exhibit delineates various unfulfilled projects from the city’s past, including a once-proposed downtown ballpark from the 1960s, thwarted due to concerns over parking and traffic.
...

https://www.kmbc.com/article/a-look-at- ... i/45448195

https://library.umkc.edu/news/kc-that-never-was/


The online exhibit.

https://library.umkc.edu/exhibits/kc-never-was/

[langosta]

Plaza to Swope rail line 1899. I do not think this was completed.

[FangKC]

From KC Yesterday:

Did you know that Kansas City almost had its own space needle towering over the Truman Sports Complex?

When plans were first being drawn up in the 1960s, the design included a needle-like structure with a restaurant at the top, offering panoramic views of both Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadiums. It also accompanied a rolling roof which never came to fruition.

These ambitious ideas were part of a bold vision to make the complex a cutting-edge sports destination.

Fast forward to today: the future of Truman Sports Complex remains unclear. Will the Royals build a downtown stadium? Will the Chiefs renovate Arrowhead or move across state line to build a new stadium in Kansas?

While the space needle and roof never became a reality, the history of these designs remains a fascinating “what if” moment in Kansas City’s sports architecture story.

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=556 ... 3974145926