Cosentino's Grocery downtown

[Midtownkid]

Some of the people against the change are some of the current business owners in the crossroads.  Why?  Because they already have the cost of securing parking in their operational costs and they cannot get out of the parking agreements for a few years or have already puchased the required parking and new businesses would not have those costs and that would put the old businesses at a competive disadvantage.  And there are people and businesses making money from the parking requirements that would lose that source of income if the requirements were abolished.

But if the parking requirements were abolished many business owners would be able to sell the parking they own (or stop leasing it).  They could make a ton of $$ selling (essentially empty) lots ripe for development of more housing.  Something we really need!

[kcdcchef]

According to page 153 of the City's budget for the current fiscal year about 25% more money, from 2 years ago, is being spent on food inspection and food handler permits with almost all of the increase going to salaries and permits but the number of full time employees has been decreased by one.  They are hoping to perform about 50% more normal inspections than 2 years ago so they have either reallocated personnel or have shorter inspections or something.

With regards to liquor control that is a more difficult nut to crack since it is part of Regulated Industries which also includes adult entertainment and taxis.  But according to page 237 of the budget it too is spending more money for Regulated Industries but the number of employees has increased by one in the two year period.

the city had to do that based on the tighter laws from the gaming commission on the casino's. casino food operations have more inspecitons based on agreements between municipality and gaming commission. or so i was told, not sure how true it is.

look back in time for me someone. tell me how often kcmo added 25% in funding for that department. even if it is first time in decades which it probably is, a) i applaud the effort, and b) still no where near enough.

kcmo's various departments failed to grow enough in the past 30 years.

[KCMax]

Bingo!  Winner!

That's is and will always be the biggest challenge to KCMO.

How can KCMO offer a level of service comparable to places like Lee's Summit, Liberty, Olathe and Overland Park?  From trash pick up to snow plowing to tree trimming to utility cuts into streets, KCMO just doesn't do as well as most of the suburbs and probably never will.

But every major metropolitan city faces this problem.

[KCTigerFan]

Yes, but many have made great progress in solving their problems.  NYC, LA, Chicago... Even Birmingham and Portland have addressed crime, permitting, roads, development and general customer service all at the same time. 

I especially like Birmingham's 23/23 program.  They have created a team of 500 city workers from roads, sewers, sidewalks, trash, tree, demolition, towing et cetera.  They then divided the entire city into 23 zones.  Each day the entire team shows up in one zone and goes to work on everything.  When they are done there is a considerable difference and the residents know it. 

But every major metropolitan city faces this problem.

[moderne]

Isn't Birmingham on the verge of municipal bankruptcy?

[kcdcchef]

But every major metropolitan city faces this problem.

not even close and we all know it.

[KCMax]

not even close and we all know it.

What makes us so unique?

[LenexatoKCMO]

But every major metropolitan city faces this problem.

When it comes to urban development - KC can't even be mentioned in the same breath as "major metropolitan cities".  In most other major metropolitan cities, DT areas are perceived as premium, desireable locations.  Thus if there is a little extra red tape, a certain amount of folks will still consider it worth the hassle to be there.  In KC, we are asking folks to put up with that red tape to move into an area that already carries a lot of baggage and has a long history of being regarded as a secondary, at best, location in terms of desireability.  This isn't Park or Michigan Avenue around here - If folks have to put up with the run around, long delays, palm greasing, etc., there are plenty of desireable alternatives.  

[KCPowercat]

Lenexa - obviously not chicago, etc but other major metro around our size, your description of downtown would ring true with 90% of them.  Love the cowtown "we aren't as good" attitude though, good show.

[LenexatoKCMO]

Lenexa - obviously not chicago, etc but other major metro around our size, your description of downtown would ring true with 90% of them. 

Oh really?  What are you considering "around our size"?  Do you think the reputation of our DT is on par with the reputation of DT Indianapolis? Minneapolis? Denver? Las Vegas? Austin?  Or should we only be compared to broke dick citys?

[KCMax]

When it comes to urban development - KC can't even be mentioned in the same breath as "major metropolitan cities".  In most other major metropolitan cities, DT areas are perceived as premium, desireable locations.  Thus if there is a little extra red tape, a certain amount of folks will still consider it worth the hassle to be there.  In KC, we are asking folks to put up with that red tape to move into an area that already carries a lot of baggage and has a long history of being regarded as a secondary, at best, location in terms of desireability.  This isn't Park or Michigan Avenue around here - If folks have to put up with the run around, long delays, palm greasing, etc., there are plenty of desireable alternatives. 

Oh I totally agree. I think we need to make our business climate more favorable than that of the suburbs, at least in terms of less bureaucratic red tape. I just don't think we face much more competition from our suburbs than any other major metropolitan area. Most cities have intensely competitive suburbs that will bend over backward to land a trophy business. We're not unique in that respect.

[KCPowercat]

Yes. Those all have areas outside downtown that are at least, if not more desireable than downtown. Too much red tape and people bail.

Red tape needs to be reduced hwere no doubt, which is why I posted a thread to hopefully get ideas and real life accounts. But I won't buy we are in some unique disadvantage downtown. It just isn't true imo.

[Midtownkid]

I just don't think we face much more competition from our suburbs than any other major metropolitan area. Most cities have intensely competitive suburbs that will bend over backward to land a trophy business. We're not unique in that respect.

What about a city like Phoenix?  I have noticed that all their 'upscale' stuff is in Scottsdale.  That seems like big competition for them.   It may be a demographics thing, too.  Same for Detroit...everything goes in their suburbs (Troy, Dearborn, even Ann Arbor)...but that is definitely more of an issue with that city sucking.

never mind...just saw that you said that we are not unique in that respect. 

[KCFan]

Yes. Those all have areas outside downtown that are at least, if not more desireable than downtown. Too much red tape and people bail.

Red tape needs to be reduced hwere no doubt, which is why I posted a thread to hopefully get ideas and real life accounts. But I won't buy we are in some unique disadvantage downtown. It just isn't true imo.

It shouldn't be true, but it is.  Downtown is at a major disadvantage in attracting jobs.  Whether it's the earnings tax, parking, office buildings that aren't as close to where people live....for some reason KC's downtown just hasn't been a very viable option.  Downtown has gotten a few KCMO companies to shuffle around, but that's it.  Downtown occupancy is pathetic and that's despite relatively cheap lease rates, P&L, and downtown's good highway network making it one of the most convenient places to do business from for all parts of the city.

OP is now saying that the College Blvd. corridor either has more jobs or is a close #2 to downtown (I've heard both).  JoCo's job market has been growing by leaps and bounds and the jobs out there are much higher paying.  So if it's #2, it won't be there much longer.

I think downtown would be a great place to office, but for whatever reason, there just aren't enough people around the metro that perceive that.  I'm frustrated the city council hasn't done something to get downtown office filled up.  Their hands off approach isn't working at all.

[KCPowercat]

Numbers from MARC prove that college blvd talk incorrect.

All I said was downtown's disadvantages are not unique to KC, other cities our size struggle with the same type of competition

[KCFan]

It doesn't appear that College Blvd. would be too far off.  I got about 97,000 jobs for the 5 zip codes that include Overland Park.

To me, it seems like there's more going on in the burbs than downtown job wise.  I feel like our downtown is weaker relative to the suburbs.  I know there are other cities like St. Louis that also have their struggles.  It may just be my perception, but I just don't feel like our downtown isn't as competitive as other downtowns when it comes to jobs.

[KC-wildcat]

It may just be my perception, but I just don't feel like our downtown isn't as competitive as other downtowns when it comes to jobs.

Wouldn't it be nice if we had a Mayor that made it a priority to change this.   

[JayFan]

Does anyone know when this is opening for sure?  It will be nice to have a grocery store so close to where I live!  (I'm sorry if this is already posted.  I got lost trying to read through all of the posts to find this information.  Thank you!)

[ComandanteCero]

no one knows for sure, they were supposed to open early November, but that has been pushed back to "after the 1st" of next year.  Don't be surprised if it takes till next March.

[JayFan]

no one knows for sure, they were supposed to open early November, but that has been pushed back to "after the 1st" of next year.  Don't be surprised if it takes till next March.

Thank you!  I guess I'll keep driving for awhile longer!