Harisonville

[Highlander]

http://www.kansascity.com/746/story/1412835.html

I admire Dunmire's vision but redeveloping a town square in such close proximity to KC, with it's own potentially overbuilt entertainment scene, was pretty risky.  Weston does a good job at attracting visitors from KC but it fills a nice little niche with antique shops, vinyards etc....  A bit ambitious to think Johnson Countians were going to take an interest in this place although I would have loved to seen it suceed. 

[Melling]

It sounds like he's holding the square hostage.  I think the former slave auction should be turned into a museum related to slavery and the African-American experience in Missouri.  I don't know why he was so "excited" about that site, but this seems like a worthwhile use.  It would also create foot traffic, and customers for restaurants, shops, and maybe a hotel.

I can't imagine people from Lee's Summit driving to Harrisonville, let alone from Johnson County. 
Harrisonville is at about 255th Street.  If people drive that far, they will probably keep driving to the Ozarks. 

Lee's Summit has actually developed a decent small town.  When I was a kid there we had the Do-Drop Inn, a music store, and a place that mainly sold sweatpants (seriously).  Now it has several bars, restaurants, and a few shops.  It also has a new city hall, and a public parking garage.  It also has about 80,000 people in the town, plus small towns nearby. 

The downtown I don't understand is Olathe.  I would say more, but this is the Missouri Suburbs section.

[dangerboy]

I think Harrisonville *could* become a specialty destination for dining, antiques, whatever - *If* it has the right developer.  Look what the McClains have done on the Independence Square as virtually a single owner/developer. JoCos somehow find their way to Weston.  Harrisonville is 10 miles closer, so it was a compelling destination I bet they would go for day trips.

If I was a Harrisonville town elder I would be commissioning blight studies and preparing for eminent domain proceedings.  Fighting to take over the properties in court is probably cheaper and faster than waiting for someone to come up with Del's outrageous price tag.

[IraGlacialis]

All I have to say is this: **** Dunmire. **** him with a chola cactus.

What should be focused on with the town square is actually having able to be used by the locals, and not just on Living History Day.
Fill it up with basic amenities such as a general store. Actually refurbish the place. The hope is that it will draw people from the smaller surrounding towns.
Once they do that, then it can be specialized to draw in people from the KC suburbs.

For now, all we have is a huge gravel parking lot where a whole set of brick buildings used to be and a town square that is over half-vacant. And of course, all the activity is occurring on Commercial St at the edge of town, not the center.
At least we don't have that damn Santa anymore...

EDIT: Memo to self, don't post while tired...

[KCMax]

Wow. I know absolutely zero about Harrisonville other than I stop at a gas station there on my way to the Ozarks. I think it could be a local desintation like Weston, but that's an awfully large gamble. I'd agree they're probably better off serving the locals. Really sad that one rich guy can decimate a downtown like that by sitting on so much property. He reminds me of one of those people on those house-flipping shows that is doing it for the first time and decides he needs to buy granite counter tops and expensive amenities for a $150k house, then asks for $250k to recoup his losses when that price is way out of whack for the neighborhood.

Are there any legal options the city has?

[LenexatoKCMO]

Probably about as realistic as his old plan to turn Bob Berdella's house into a tourist attraction. 

[IraGlacialis]

Probably about as realistic as his old plan to turn Bob Berdella's house into a tourist attraction. 

Who?

[LenexatoKCMO]

Who?

Dunmire.  One of his earlier ventures was to buy up the Berdella house, with plans to turn it into a serial killer museum.  Fortunately the plan got blocked and the house was eventually torn down - still a vacant lot. 

[dangerboy]

Dunmire.  One of his earlier ventures was to buy up the Berdella house, with plans to turn it into a serial killer museum.  Fortunately the plan got blocked and the house was eventually torn down - still a vacant lot.  

It's not a vacant lot.  Dunmire ended up removing the house and donating the land to the neighbors on either side.  They split it in half and added it to their lots, using it as extra side yard.

[chrizow]

It's not a vacant lot.  Dunmire ended up removing the house and donating the land to the neighbors on either side.  They split it in half and added it to their lots, using it as extra side yard.

really?  the lot has been for sale for a long time - the for sale sign is almost completely faded from the sun.  i heard a rumor that someone was going to build a house there, but i haven't heard anything since.

[dangerboy]

^That's what I had heard from friends that live around the corner from it...

[IraGlacialis]

Dunmire.  One of his earlier ventures was to buy up the Berdella house, with plans to turn it into a serial killer museum.  Fortunately the plan got blocked and the house was eventually torn down - still a vacant lot. 

Actually I was asking who Berdella was.
I take it he was a serial killer.

[grovester]

Had a booth at the Westport Flea Market

[Highlander]

Had a booth at the Westport Flea Market

An aptly named booth at the Flea Market.  Wasn't it called Bob's Bizzare Bazaar?

More on Bob...            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Berdella

[Cratedigger]

https://nexthomevibe.com/property/122- ... MO-64701

Funny listing I stumbled across: The former Cass County Missouri Law Enforcement Center and Detention Center/Jail is for sale in Harrisonville, MO. $195,000.

Perfectly priced for a growing area cult or misguided Airbnb developer!

[Chris Stritzel]

https://nexthomevibe.com/property/122- ... MO-64701

Funny listing I stumbled across: The former Cass County Missouri Law Enforcement Center and Detention Center/Jail is for sale in Harrisonville, MO. $195,000.

Perfectly priced for a growing area cult or misguided Airbnb developer!

Ah yes. The perfect investment.

[Anthony_Hugo98]

https://nexthomevibe.com/property/122- ... MO-64701

Funny listing I stumbled across: The former Cass County Missouri Law Enforcement Center and Detention Center/Jail is for sale in Harrisonville, MO. $195,000.

Perfectly priced for a growing area cult or misguided Airbnb developer!

Ah yes. The perfect investment.

Harrisonville does have one of the better downtowns of the small towns around here. Downside is everything outside of that has devolved to auto-centric sprawl style development

[shinatoo]

https://nexthomevibe.com/property/122- ... MO-64701

Funny listing I stumbled across: The former Cass County Missouri Law Enforcement Center and Detention Center/Jail is for sale in Harrisonville, MO. $195,000.

Perfectly priced for a growing area cult or misguided Airbnb developer!

Club Eden's new home.