This project doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell. What's changed from the last go around? The area has gotten poorer if anything. Downtown with a hell of a lot more workers than this project will ever have struggles to support retail and it only exists there now because of the return, in part, of middle to upper class incomes to the area. I went to HS with the kids of the working class people who lived in the area and they are now all in Lees Summit which is replete with retail and I doubt if anyone is going to make the effort to shop at a walmart at 87th and I-435. I also remember reading that shoplifting was a huge issue with stores at Bannister and the surrounding big boxes and I cannot see that problem going away either.aknowledgeableperson wrote: I sincerely hope this project gets off the ground and becomes a success. But I think the odds are stacked against it. Portions of it might work (such as the office part). The retail, though, is misdirected.
When Bannister Mall was first opened the residential area to the east was, for the most part, middle class. Not professional middle class but solid, blue color working class. It was a regional mall that for years during the Christmas shopping season it was difficult to find a parking spot and the food court was packed throughout the year. But within a few years three of the big anchors had financial problems, two anchor spots became vacant, and the livings areas around it turned for the worse (one kid who grew up in the area called it a ghetto).
The area will never become a regional shopping draw again and the only retail that has a chance to survive will have to rely on the workers in the office areas. If area light rail does come into existence (IMO very low chance) and a station is built here it will help somewhat but not enough to survive on. Yes, a residential part will help but what kind of residential? Apartments? Row housing? Detached? Senior?
For me, I think Cerner is making a huge mistake on an area that will not really reap any benefits from their presence save that they may hire some their non skilled workforce from the area. Professionals will go to Lees Summit (at least KC had a chance of housing them while Cerner was in KC north or even if they went downtown).
From a Kansas City and metro point of view, it's just a terrible decision on all the participants part. We don't have enough corporate jobs in this city to spread them around like seed in a field and hope against hope that something grows. Concentrate them and develop an urban center that is worth something and beneficial to the area as a whole. This proposal does nothing for the metro, nothing for KC and nothing for SE KC. Just a waste of money.