KCRag Forum

FangKC wrote:Demolition of the parking garage on the southeast corner of 14th and Baltimore (next to the Empire Theater) has begun.

I have pics. But they are not developed yet...

"They are tearing down the parking garage behind it. They are doing so
carefully, probably so they can sell the parts." --SonicBoi

SonicBoi:

You need to go take a closer look at the demolition. They aren't doing so carefully at all. From what I could tell, they are not salvaging any of the parts thus far. The art deco stone motifs that have been torn away so far are laying crumbled on the ground.

I hope they at least have the good sense to save that frieze of the goddess that is on the front of the building near the top (on Baltimore).

From what I saw it looked like they were doing so carefully. They probably can't salvage each and every part and that may have been what you saw. But it did look look they were trying to salvage as much as possable. I saw them taking parts from under the windows on the second floor in whole pieces and taking them inside. I do agree about the goddess frieze.Also, on the corners are friezes that have gears, etc. These are made up of several blocks.

well I took a quick drive by and did see what they were tearing out.....there wasn't a wrecking ball but couldn't really tell how careful they were doing it...

I'll try to get some pictures this week...damn it just remember, can't....woman has the camera in Colorado all week...anybody else have a chance to get over there and snap some pics?

I have a few... but it's past my bed time... I'll scan them eventually.

The owner of the parking garage on 14th and Baltimore is not Larry Bridges and Executive Hills Inc. as I stated previously. They do own the Empire Theater though. The owner of the Baltimore Parking Garage is:

BALTIMORE PARK LLC
c/o ROBERT E FITZGERALD
12 WYANDOTTE PLAZA
120 W 12TH ST
KANSAS CITY, MO, 64105

Here are the permits filed on that garage:

Address: 1401 BALTIMORE
Permit Description

KILL WATER SERVICE PERMIT
1401 BALTIMORE AVE
08-Jul-2003

PRE-DEMO INSPECTION
1401 BALTIMORE AVE
28-Jul-2003

OPEN FIRE INSPECTION
1401 BALTIMORE AVE
30-Jul-1999

OPEN
FIRE INSPECTION
1411 BALTIMORE AVE
30-Jul-1999
DONE

Robert E. Fitzgerald Jr. is a corporate attorney with Shughart Thomson & Kilroy. Here's his email address if anyone has the gumption to email him and ask what's being done with that site:

rfitzgerald@stklaw.com

Here's part of his biography from the law firm's Web site:

Robert E. Fitzgerald Jr., a shareholder of Shughart Thomson & Kilroy, practices corporate law.

Mr. Fitzgerald has served as a director of many civic organizations. He was appointed to the Rockhurst College Board of Regents in 1996. He was a member of the Seton Center Board of Directors, the Learning Exchange and Crittenton. He has served on the Finance Committee of St. Elizabeth's Church. He volunteers with the GEM Theater Cultural and Performing Arts Center, Inc. and works on both the 18th & Vine redevelopment area and various high school and college capital campaigns.

I also found out that he is legal counsel for the Kansas City Public Library.

Hey, I have an idea. Why not scrap the entire plan to build a ballroom
over the interstate, and take that money and turn the Empire Theater
into a ballroom?

They want a ballroom that will seat 3,000 people. The Empire seated
3,000 people when it opened. Surely it would be cheaper to renovate an existing building than build one from scratch, and it would save the Empire. Plus the Empire has elaborate interior beauty that no new building today can replicate.

sounds like the fears aren't too far off:

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascit ... 518680.htm

Hopefully they save this building...I can't believe reuse is unfeasible....

BTW, I think a few on this thread should get credit for bringing this story out....I think this thread made the story go to the paper.

You know, the short mention of using the Empire as the new ball room is really a cool idea. I'm not sure that just because it could hold 3,000 for a show that it could hold that many for a banquet or some other function though. It is sure worth looking into, especially with the parking garage being torn down as we speak. The main auditoruim could be restored and expanded, taking into account the rich detailing in the building. It could be really cool space.

The deadline is approaching that will determine the fate of the Hotel President. Has anybody heard if Jury has secured financing for the project? It would be a real detriment to downtown and greater KC if both projects fail and the buildings are turned to rubble.

is that the end of this month (Hotel President that is)

I think August 31st is the deadline imposed by the EDC for TIF funds.

I think I read that Ron Jury did get his financing in time--from some investor in San Antonio.

Thanks for the compliment on the ballroom idea. The Empire Ballroom. I like the sound of that. And with its' stage and portable table seating, it could be used to stage dinner theater as well.

A restaurant-quality banquet kitchen could be placed in the basement of the old theater, or in the basement of the new annex.

One could remove the portable seating for live performances--like visiting rock acts.

One could expand the Empire Theater on the west side onto what is now the location of that parking garage being torn down. An addition could be built by tearing out the west wall of the theater building (which has some brickwork buckling already) and make room for the additional seating to hold 3,000 seated people.

One could package the location with a future hotel built on top of the annex space (facing Baltimore), and line the street-level with space for restaurants and clubs.

Then you have a multi-use block that serves local residents and visiting conventioneers. It adds to the entertainment district; gives the bureau of tourism the ballroom they want; and saves an old building.

Having the theater be multipurpose makes it more financially viable, since it could be adapted for several uses.

And since Kansas is trying to pursue legal gambling, maybe Missouri will come to their senses and see that riverboat gambling is really a farce, and pass legislation that would allow casinos downtown and in the River Market. Then the Empire Ballroom could even be converted into a casino at a later date.

The casino thing is just thinking outside the box though.

I want to present some additional ideas for reuse of the Empire Theater, and specifically address past attempts to lure the House of Blues franchise into the Empire.

What about this idea? Instead of the House of Blues taking out a long-term lease on the building, why not build the facility in such a way that House of Blues could use it on an ad hoc basis. On weekends, it could be "House of Blues at The Empire Ballroom."

Under this plan, House of Blues wouldn't carry so much risk, and they could use the theater when they had acts booked. If House of Blues isn't interested, why not approach the B.B. King's blues club franchise and propose the same deal? The one in New York City is quite successful.

One could also rename the Empire Theater: "The Charlie Parker Ballroom." I'm sure the black community would support that, and it would pay homage to one of the City's native sons.

To take this one step further, the Empire Ballroom could be equipped to accommodate television production. The House of Blues, or B.B. King's franchises could then produce live or taped televised performances from the facility.

Imagine: "Live from House of Blues at the Empire Ballroom (or Charlie
Parker Ballroom) in downtown Kansas City, Missouri..."

With all the live country music talent in nearby Branson, acts could be brought to perform in Kansas City. This would be a cross-pollenation strategy designed to promote and expand both cities' marketing efforts.

The City could also invite talk shows like Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, David Letterman, Late Night with Craig Kilborn, Live with Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa, The View, and the Tonight Show to broadcast from the facility. They often take their shows out-of-town.

Another interesting idea would be for Kansas City officials to invite future U.S. presidential candidates, and Missouri's future candidates for the U.S. Senate and the Governor's Office, for live televised debates in front of an audience. The City could do that if it had a facility of this type.

I sure hope someone connected with the city and the planners working on the ballroom idea read this! Those are really good ideas, and the adapted Empire would be an additional catalyst for the renovation of the President.

Did everyone see the article Patrick Dobson did in the Aug. 14-Sept. 10, 2003, edition of eKC praising Ron Jury for being persistant in his plans to redevelop the President Hotel? It's on page 7 of the paper edition. You can read it on the Web at:

This article from January in the KCStar states Larry Bridges intentions for the Empire Theater. I don't know if he got the money from the downtown bond money, I also don't know how we missed this.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascit ... 045057.htm

Developer Larry Bridges, who controls the Empire Theater, is seeking $150,000 to help demolish the building at 1400 Main St. Bridges said renovating the theater has proven unfeasible and wants to leave the site as an interim park and make it available for future development.

KCDowntown

FangKC wrote:Did everyone see the article Patrick Dobson did in the Aug. 14-Sept. 10, 2003, edition of eKC praising Ron Jury for being persistant in his plans to redevelop the President Hotel? It's on page 7 of the paper edition. You can read it on the Web at:

I like this quote:

"But what happens if one of them does an Aquila or Marion Merrill Dow...I mean Hoechst Marion Roussel...er...I mean Aventis on us?"

What in terms of financial help is available to Larry Bridges in regards to the Empire. I would think he can get TIF funds, MoDESA and State historical funds for preservation? It seems reasonable that with all that help he could make a go of something. How about promoting a jazz/blues venue at the Empire. Get something like the Grand Emporium to relocate downtown and you would have a nice start to an entertainment center. And you would keep the essence of KC!