KCPT's Week in Review focuses on Block and Cordish
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 10:35 pm
KCPT's Kansas City: Week in Review was intense this week as they discussed Block and Cordish almost the entire time. It will air again on Sunday morning at 11:00 AM...Watch it and tape it!! This episode is basically like the forum come to life.
Here is brief recap:
--Guests were Jack Cashill of Ingram's Magazine, Jim Davis of the Business Journal, and Chris Lester of the Star.
--The first segment was only discussing why Block went downtown.
--It was mentioned that Block has a primo current location at the Plaza and could've just been expanded
--Block is a rapidly expanding company (Could have 2,000 employees in the near future)
--Was the Block move selfish (free land, free parking) ?
--Everyone says no the Block move was NOT selfish (free land, free parking)/ would've gotten more in Jo Co
--Company needs self-interest, but Bloch family has developed a corporate culture that supports doing for the community
--Cashill goes into a rant about how we don't need another Plaza because we already have the Plaza...the development should be similar to Corporate Woods
--Davis explains that KC Live would be more in competition with Legends
--Power and Light is brought up and a commercial is shown for it, and then there is a photo comparing how similar KC Live looks to Power and Light
--Lester says there is a major difference because the current development is housing, corporate offices, and retail whereas Power and Light was a 30 screen theater and more retail than currently planned.
--He explains that downtown is building a 24/7 neighborhood and that is part of the reason this development will suceed.
--He also mentions that the district should be localized with a "Great BBQ place, Great steakhouse, and a Boulevard Brewpub."
--Lester: Westport would be most hurt, clubs could possibly leave and Westport would equate to a more urban Brookside.
--Lester: The deal is not done...there could be a conflict between Block and Cordish over what retail goes where and who is in control of what.
--Davis explains that there is a conflict between Legends and KC Live over tenants like Virgin and Hard Rock
--Legends has the advantage because they already have Cabela's, Speedway, and NFM.
--But downtown is in the center of the metro and more accessable to people in Lee's Summit or East Jackson.
--Cashill goes back into how the development style is off and it should be like Corporate Woods
--Davis cuts him off and says Corporate Woods is a textbook definition of suburban design and not appropriate.
--Cashill says downtown is intimidating to outsiders and suburbanites.
--Davis mentions that Cordish would build an easily navigated development.
--It was mentioned that the Arena is derailed because of Modesa legislation, but is on the drawing board.
Overall, Davis and Lester seemed pretty hard core into this and you can tell they know a lot and love to talk about it. Cashill is more of a wise guy who is skeptical.
Here is brief recap:
--Guests were Jack Cashill of Ingram's Magazine, Jim Davis of the Business Journal, and Chris Lester of the Star.
--The first segment was only discussing why Block went downtown.
--It was mentioned that Block has a primo current location at the Plaza and could've just been expanded
--Block is a rapidly expanding company (Could have 2,000 employees in the near future)
--Was the Block move selfish (free land, free parking) ?
--Everyone says no the Block move was NOT selfish (free land, free parking)/ would've gotten more in Jo Co
--Company needs self-interest, but Bloch family has developed a corporate culture that supports doing for the community
--Cashill goes into a rant about how we don't need another Plaza because we already have the Plaza...the development should be similar to Corporate Woods
--Davis explains that KC Live would be more in competition with Legends
--Power and Light is brought up and a commercial is shown for it, and then there is a photo comparing how similar KC Live looks to Power and Light
--Lester says there is a major difference because the current development is housing, corporate offices, and retail whereas Power and Light was a 30 screen theater and more retail than currently planned.
--He explains that downtown is building a 24/7 neighborhood and that is part of the reason this development will suceed.
--He also mentions that the district should be localized with a "Great BBQ place, Great steakhouse, and a Boulevard Brewpub."
--Lester: Westport would be most hurt, clubs could possibly leave and Westport would equate to a more urban Brookside.
--Lester: The deal is not done...there could be a conflict between Block and Cordish over what retail goes where and who is in control of what.
--Davis explains that there is a conflict between Legends and KC Live over tenants like Virgin and Hard Rock
--Legends has the advantage because they already have Cabela's, Speedway, and NFM.
--But downtown is in the center of the metro and more accessable to people in Lee's Summit or East Jackson.
--Cashill goes back into how the development style is off and it should be like Corporate Woods
--Davis cuts him off and says Corporate Woods is a textbook definition of suburban design and not appropriate.
--Cashill says downtown is intimidating to outsiders and suburbanites.
--Davis mentions that Cordish would build an easily navigated development.
--It was mentioned that the Arena is derailed because of Modesa legislation, but is on the drawing board.
Overall, Davis and Lester seemed pretty hard core into this and you can tell they know a lot and love to talk about it. Cashill is more of a wise guy who is skeptical.