Re: Katz on Main
Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2021 10:14 am
1940
1980-ish
More images here: https://kchistory.org/islandora/search/ ... pe=edismax
Imagine the neighborhood outcry if you tried to build this now: 'Too tall! Where's the parking?!'
Nice analogy -- it was an impressive structure, and it did signal the transition from the Plaza to Westport, despite its simple construction of 1930s Red-D-Mix concrete. I liked how it had a separated passageway for the pedestrian traffic -- all curved to match the site (i.e., the overpass actually had an architect, not just a civil engineer).
https://kchistory.org/image/3910-main-s ... fset%5D=18moderne wrote: ↑Sat Jul 17, 2021 2:03 pm ...So many buildings are intact in this stretch of Main but does anybody know what was at the CVS site historically? In the 70"s there was a gas station on the corner and a Denny's to the south. The Denny's actually was built up to the sidewalk with parking in the rear. This area may turn around, it has been on the skids since the owner of Mama Stuffeati's was shot down on the sidewalk on Main in the late 80's.
Even in 1940, many people still wouldn't have had cars --especially during WWII because automakers stopped making cars entirely, and gas and tire rationing during the war. They either walked or took bus/streetcar to shop in their neighborhoods.
transit ridership was way down by 1940. Pre-war it peaked at 135 million in 1923. It was down to 66 million by 1932. It went up to the 80s during the depression but was back down to 66 million in 1941. then rationing increased wartime ridership and it dropped of very quickly after the war
flyingember wrote: ↑Mon Jul 19, 2021 2:40 pmtransit ridership was way down by 1940. Pre-war it peaked at 135 million in 1923. It was down to 66 million by 1932. It went up to the 80s during the depression but was back down to 66 million in 1941. then rationing increased wartime ridership and it dropped of very quickly after the war
What's interesting is transit ridership decreased with car ownership going down during the early depression.
car ownership was at it's depression low in 1933, the year after transit ridership reached the bottom. transit use went up through ~1938 but never to the same numbers as 1923. So clearly people walked
the next bottom was 1940 when car ownership was near new highs. There was on car per 4 people. It wouldn't reach 50% until the late 60s and 75% until the 1990s. wartime ownership didn't drop below 1937/38 until well into the war for the US
https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/fa ... ld-regions
On the KC redlining maps, that bridge was also the boundary between the Grade-A Plaza and Grade-C Westport. Transition, indeed.herrfrank wrote: ↑Sat Jul 17, 2021 7:41 pmNice analogy -- it was an impressive structure, and it did signal the transition from the Plaza to Westport, despite its simple construction of 1930s Red-D-Mix concrete. I liked how it had a separated passageway for the pedestrian traffic -- all curved to match the site (i.e., the overpass actually had an architect, not just a civil engineer).
With the previous design, in the original building there's probably opportunity for better spaces-- higher ceilings and exposed trusses. I also love the subtle curved balconies and the rooftop and pool looks more interesting and private/secluded tucked away where it is. The deal breaker would be those blank parking garage walls. That alone makes the new version superior.Chris Stritzel wrote: ↑Thu Jul 22, 2021 1:47 am I discovered the full rendering set of the Old Katz plans. The date of these renderings are November 2019, so long before LuxLiving entered the picture, but Hoefer Welker (at the time: Hoefer Wysocki) is still the architect. I have reason to believe that these were not created for LuxLiving and instead for another developer who once pursued this project, but backed off thus opening the door for Lux to come in.
This plan made it pretty clear that the new apartment building would've been an entirely separate building from the Katz building itself.
The one component of this plan that I really like is the publicly accessible ground level courtyard space (last image). I also notice the striped details in the new building, and curved balconies, are odes to the Katz building itself. Despite the exposed garage and curb cut along Westport, this looks good. And while I'm happy with what we'll be getting, the original plans had some benefits to it (as I pointed out), but what do you all think?
Plans for the Lux proposal were approved.Goonies wrote: ↑Thu Jul 22, 2021 10:46 am What does this mean?
KATZ DEMOLITION CASE TO BE CONTINUED 30-DAYS
Redeemer Fellowship, owner of the Katz Drug Store building, filed an application with the Kansas City Historic Preservation Commission to demolish the building at 3948 Main St.
Case # CH-DR-2021-00082 originally scheduled to be heard by the Historic Preservation Commission this Friday, JULY 23RD will be continued for 30-days.
The owner of the historic Katz building had moved to start a countdown clock for the structure to be demolished, in light of the City Council's previous vote to deny incentives for an apartment redevelopment.
The request to continue Case # CH-DR-2021-00082 is based upon the revival and approval last week by the City Council of the same apartment redevelopment project. That ordinance will take affect within the next 30 days or so.
This 192 unit project in Kansas City will feature studio, 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom layouts. The property will be completed in 2023 but phase 1 move ins will begin in 2022. Lux Living is preserving the beautiful historic clock tower and foundation of the building, but adding on and making it become possibly the most luxurious complex in the city. On the corner of Main and Westport, this property will be at the intersection of 2 of the most popular streets in KC- the perfect location for city dwellers.
This amenity-rich complex has all that anyone could ever imagine. Walk through the front doors of the Katz building to be greeted by a massive TV wall lobby with a Bistro serving up fresh coffee everyday. You can cancel your gym membership because the 3500sqft gym will have everything you could ask for. After you crush your workout, rejuvenate your muscles in the Float Pod Relaxation Room. Celebrate your workout by hanging on the pool deck, with fireplace and hot tub. If the weather is nice, the pool deck Nano Doors will be open, revealing the Arcade Bar. Get your day started with the self pouring I-Pour-It beer/ wine tap. After the Arcade Bar, continue the fun downstairs in the Bowling Alley, or up top at the Sky Lounge. The Sky Lounge has some of the best views in KC, as well as one of the best Instagram backdrops. The Bowling Alley has a full size bar and double lane bowling to keep your friends entertained for hours. After you play a couple rounds of bowling, head up to the Golf Lounge and practice your long game at the Golf Simulator or your short game at the Putting Green. Chill out at the end of the night at the Movie Theater with reclinable, ultra cozy seating and giant projector screen.
Are people even expected to leave this place?This amenity-rich complex has all that anyone could ever imagine. Walk through the front doors of the Katz building to be greeted by a massive TV wall lobby with a Bistro serving up fresh coffee everyday. You can cancel your gym membership because the 3500sqft gym will have everything you could ask for. After you crush your workout, rejuvenate your muscles in the Float Pod Relaxation Room. Celebrate your workout by hanging on the pool deck, with fireplace and hot tub. If the weather is nice, the pool deck Nano Doors will be open, revealing the Arcade Bar. Get your day started with the self pouring I-Pour-It beer/ wine tap. After the Arcade Bar, continue the fun downstairs in the Bowling Alley, or up top at the Sky Lounge. The Sky Lounge has some of the best views in KC, as well as one of the best Instagram backdrops. The Bowling Alley has a full size bar and double lane bowling to keep your friends entertained for hours. After you play a couple rounds of bowling, head up to the Golf Lounge and practice your long game at the Golf Simulator or your short game at the Putting Green. Chill out at the end of the night at the Movie Theater with reclinable, ultra cozy seating and giant projector screen.