KCRag Forum

WoodDraw wrote: ↑Wed May 04, 2022 2:15 pm The plaza owners should be forced to spend a week in a proper Italian or Spanish plaza.

The solution is so obvious. Just pedestrianize it and have parking around the edges. Upzone everything as it comes up for development.

They already have the infrastructure because of the plaza art fair. Just set that shit up in what are now way too massive streets and surround them with tables. Have live music. Let stores set up kiosks to sell coffee or sports stuff.

GRID wrote: ↑Wed May 04, 2022 3:13 pm

WoodDraw wrote: ↑Wed May 04, 2022 2:15 pm The plaza owners should be forced to spend a week in a proper Italian or Spanish plaza.

The solution is so obvious. Just pedestrianize it and have parking around the edges. Upzone everything as it comes up for development.

They already have the infrastructure because of the plaza art fair. Just set that shit up in what are now way too massive streets and surround them with tables. Have live music. Let stores set up kiosks to sell coffee or sports stuff.

Yep. The place is literally perfect for it.

SilentSpades24 wrote: ↑Sun May 08, 2022 10:56 pm But the parking!!! How will we survive if we can't park everywhere and drive everywhere?! /s

But no, I would love to see the Plaza be pedestrianized and used to it's full potential, literally anything.

SilentSpades24 wrote: ↑Sun May 08, 2022 10:56 pm But the parking!!! How will we survive if we can't park everywhere and drive everywhere?! /s

But no, I would love to see the Plaza be pedestrianized and used to it's full potential, literally anything.

Highlander wrote: ↑Mon May 09, 2022 7:36 pm It would be pretty simple to close off Nichols Road, 48th, Pennsylvania, Central and Wyandotte and make them pedestrian only with a couple of exceptions. The exceptions being allowing cars access to the parking garage behind Classic Cup via Central (from 47th), allowing access to the former Halls building parking via Wyandotte (from Ward Parkway) and allowing access as far as the parking lot behind Kona Grill via Pennsylvannia from Ward Parkway. I believe the remainder of the parking lots could all be reached via open streets. That's a lot of room for pedestrian to roam without the interference of cars. Also convert the surface lot behind Starbucks/classic cup to a true plaza with a major fountain (allowing a single point for entrance/exit from the parking garage below as near to the Central Street as possible. Only a minor amount of surface parking would be impacted. All garages would still be accessible.

msmith011 wrote: ↑Tue May 10, 2022 11:40 pm Plaza retailers are already more challenged during cold and inclement weather; closing off streets like Nichols would be a deal breaker for a lot of people who want to park or get dropped off near a particular store. I’m in favor of widening sidewalks in some way though — Nichols in particular.

earthling wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 10:03 am For pedestrian street, Nichols Rd is truly doable as the logistics are already figured out and has been in practice for decades with the Plaza Art Fair. The rest of the roads can't be blocked for the most part w/out blocking the garages.

Nichols Rd should be turned into a true full time real Euro style "plaza". At least one block, the rest can be seasonal or for events. And The Plaza should offer more outdoor events year round, like once a month.

earthling wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 10:03 am For pedestrian street, Nichols Rd is truly doable as the logistics are already figured out and has been in practice for decades with the Plaza Art Fair. The rest of the roads can't be blocked for the most part w/out blocking the garages.

Nichols Rd should be turned into a true full time real Euro style "plaza". At least one block, the rest can be seasonal or for events. And The Plaza should offer more outdoor events year round, like once a month.

Highlander wrote: ↑Thu May 12, 2022 11:27 am

earthling wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 10:03 am For pedestrian street, Nichols Rd is truly doable as the logistics are already figured out and has been in practice for decades with the Plaza Art Fair. The rest of the roads can't be blocked for the most part w/out blocking the garages.

Nichols Rd should be turned into a true full time real Euro style "plaza". At least one block, the rest can be seasonal or for events. And The Plaza should offer more outdoor events year round, like once a month.

Check out google maps. As you probably know, the entrances to the garages on Central, Wyandotte and Pennsylvania are generally only a quarter of a block or so off of Ward Parkway or 47th so about 80% of these streets could be turned over to pedestrians only. These streets do not carry that much traffic and are not that critical beyond access to garages. Wornall/Broadway, Jefferson and Baltimore could remain as through going streets. As for deliveries, where needed, they can use the pedestrianized streets as access. Delivery trucks use pedestrian streets in Europe for access on a regular basis.