KCRag Forum

earthling wrote: ↑Fri Dec 16, 2022 10:15 am The main urban core districts need more mixed use neighborhood balance...
Westport - needs more residential within, fewer party bars
CBD - could use some chain retail (small Target, a few chain clothing/mall stores)
Xroads - of course fill in surface lots with mainly more residential
RM - the most complete district in KC, is nearly what it should be after filling in the few remaining lots
Plaza - residential within, a few specialty counter eats, small grocery or upscale bodega, more quaint small restaurants, a tad few less mall stores and mega chain restaurants but enough to maintain a regional draw.

That's a good diagnosis.

Those stupid save Westport from tearing down historic buildings are holding Westport Back

There are several spots that don't involve tearing down historic buildings.

- Manor Sq is one.
- The meh strip retail with Spectrum store can be torn down and redeveloped, as well as the large lot to W of it.
- The old XO club lot has had some proposals that never went through.
- Was hoping the old Keith Coldsnow could be torn down for residential (now dog place), still could be bought out and redeveloped with midrise.
- The Westport post office branch could be rebuilt with residential midrise and post office restored at base.
- St Lukes lots near Westport could be developed with mix of housing/hospital space.
- Possibly World Market may take offer for lot to be developed if including garage spots for their customers as well. Or maybe to completely rebuid entire site with midrise apts and World Market at base.
- Unclear on WM ownership/lease situation but If Spectrum strip redeveloped with significant ground level retail with apts on top, World Market could move there, allowing for entire WM site to redeveloped.

Several locations that don't impact the oldest/early era buildings. Potential for 3000+ units across all of these depending on height allowed.

brewcrew1000 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 16, 2022 12:06 pm Those stupid save Westport from tearing down historic buildings are holding Westport Back

Disagree, there’s more than enough empty stretches of Westport, and you can retrofit exiting structures as well, tearing down buildings should always be the absolute last resort

KC has so much empty space and disposable architecture that it really shouldn't have to ever tear down a single historic building ever again

Westport is a historic district. Many of the older buildings enhance the area. There are plenty of opportunities for denser infill to increase the population.

That said, the preservation community should be willing to accept some taller buildings on vacant parcels, and non-historic building replacement (without current parking minimums), and more population density in the area in exchange for preserving the historic ones.

Yeah, my problem with these groups isn't trying to save historical buildings, it's their position on density and development in general.

I understand their zeal because so much has been lost. Increased population density provides more customers and stability for the businesses there. This in turn ensures that owners can afford to maintain historic buildings and that helps their long-term survival.

This is also especially true for older one- and two-story retail buildings. If the businesses and property owners can't make enough money from the property, there will be more incentive to demolish that building to build a new larger structure with a different purpose that will provide more revenue -- like tearing them down to build a new 5-story apartment building.

We have lost many historic buildings simply because the owner couldn't afford to maintain them properly -- mostly because they were empty or they couldn't command high enough rents for the owner to make a profit -- must less afford to maintain them.

Couple transforms historic KC church into wedding venue

...
The couple purchased the former church — known as Broadway Baptist Church — in Kansas City in April 2021 for roughly $700,000.
...
While much of the building is still undergoing renovation, the plan is to turn the balcony in the cocktail hour space, the basement into a reception hall, and church offices into hotel rooms for newlyweds and families. The venue will be known as the Melrose Abbey to symbolize a place for romantic and committed love. Johnny and Abby say they can’t wait to continue filling the space with love.
...

https://www.kctv5.com/2023/02/14/couple ... ing-venue/

https://www.tiktok.com/@johnnyyou

Been following this development on tiktok- cool stuff

https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity ... ort.html

Psyched to have this spot a little closer to downtown. This place is gas

Looks like the shabby building on the SE corner of 39th/Broadway caught fire last night. Sounds kind of extensive. Maybe this will lead to demo and development of something more urban and appealing.

https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/fi ... sday-night

kcjak wrote: ↑Fri Apr 07, 2023 11:59 am Looks like the shabby building on the SE corner of 39th/Broadway caught fire last night. Sounds kind of extensive. Maybe this will lead to demo and development of something more urban and appealing.

https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/fi ... sday-night

What’s more urban than a tattoo shop and a stripper clothes store?

The suburban format Walgreens, Gomers, and Jimmy Johns drive through on the other three corners are just so depressing for what should be a very important and valuable intersection for the city.

FlippantCitizen wrote: ↑Fri Apr 07, 2023 1:14 pm The suburban format Walgreens, Gomers, and Jimmy Johns drive through on the other three corners are just so depressing for what should be a very important and valuable intersection for the city.

Not even 35 years ago it was a two-story Tobler's Flowers (offices on 2) on the NE corner; a 3 story apartment building (NARROW) on the little parking strip (SE corner abutting the building that just burned down); an old Victorian house on the SW, with a small lawn to the corner; and Gomer's predecessor building (NW corner) which was built to the curb. To be fair, the new Gomer's also is built to the curb albeit with expanded parking.

That intersection was urban within moderate memory. The first to kill the corner was Popeye's now expanded to Jimmy John's. My Dad owned a building one block away and you could hear their drive-through speaker throughout the immediate area.

Murder in Westport last night. When will the residents of this city get tired of this crap!?

herrfrank wrote: ↑Sat Apr 08, 2023 1:11 pm

FlippantCitizen wrote: ↑Fri Apr 07, 2023 1:14 pm The suburban format Walgreens, Gomers, and Jimmy Johns drive through on the other three corners are just so depressing for what should be a very important and valuable intersection for the city.

Not even 35 years ago it was a two-story Tobler's Flowers (offices on 2) on the NE corner; a 3 story apartment building (NARROW) on the little parking strip (SE corner abutting the building that just burned down); an old Victorian house on the SW, with a small lawn to the corner; and Gomer's predecessor building (NW corner) which was built to the curb. To be fair, the new Gomer's also is built to the curb albeit with expanded parking.

That intersection was urban within moderate memory. The first to kill the corner was Popeye's now expanded to Jimmy John's. My Dad owned a building one block away and you could hear their drive-through speaker throughout the immediate area.

kcjak wrote: ↑Fri Apr 07, 2023 11:59 am Looks like the shabby building on the SE corner of 39th/Broadway caught fire last night. Sounds kind of extensive. Maybe this will lead to demo and development of something more urban and appealing.

https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/fi ... sday-night

Well, this building and a good portion of the block is up for sale now.

It appears all of the numbered parcels here are part of the sale. Listed at $4.75M

The owners of Mike's Wine & Liquor store reported at the Volker Neighborhood Association meeting that the old storefront is going to become a Vietnamese sandwich deli: Paris Banh Mi.

Awesome