OFFICIAL - Wallstreet Tower (formerly US Bank Tower)

[FangKC]

Yes, it would make sense to use the upper floors to market the apartments at the View -- especially since that name of the building markets that aspect of the development. I wonder if the new elevators haven't been installed yet, so they can't take you up that high. Are the model apartments accessible by using the stairs?

I guess it's not really a big deal. I don't think 909 Walnut has a model apartment on the upper floors either. Or do they? They have that showroom in City Center Square that shows diagrams and accent options for the kitchens, etc., but do they actually have a model apartment yet?

If I recall, the model apartment at 21-Ten Condos is on the sixth floor I believe--the one that I saw anyway. I think the model I looked at in Library Lofts West (the old Board of Trade building) was on the fourth floor.

I don't recall a model apartment being available on any of the higher floors at either of those buildings initially.

However, I will say that the developer of WallStreet Tower is smart to have made that decision.

[FangKC]

like downtown said, 1115 Walnut is as good as dead. There was a column in yesterday's paper about it and how the city really couldn't do much....couldn't take over the property from the owners....all they can do is knock it down and charge them for it.

They will still own the land and probably do nothing with it....will be a nice big hole in a key area of downtown.

The present owners probably don't have the money to renovate it, so they are probably hoping the city will pay to tear it down. Then they can sell the cleared land for more than they could a building that needed repair. If the present owners do end up selling it and making a profit, will the city be able to put a lien on the property for the cost of tearing it down?

I just wish they would sell the damn thing to George Birt and let him renovate it. Or is he not even interested any longer?

On another note, let's assume 1115 Walnut could be renovated into lofts. If that happened, would it be better land use to close the adjacent park and build new apartment buildings there?

I don't think that park is really used that much -- not to the extent that it justifies having that parcel of land not producing income downtown.
If one can justify that it is needed so that people can sit and read on their lunch-hour, then redevelop the parcel so that 2/3rds is occupied by a building, and the remaining third is a small park for sitting and reading.

One could increase usage of remaining third of the park by fixing that fountain so it actually works, or replacing it with a more spectacular one. One could build a large wall fountain were water runs over the side of a stone wall and splashes at the bottom. It creates a soothing sound and is interesting to view.

Examples of what I'm talking about can be found here:



Scroll down. What I'm talking about is something similar to the Ira Fountain in Portland (Fig. 2), or the one in Paley Park in Manhattan, NY (Fig. 3).

Even if they didn't build new apartment buildings on part of that park, they could renovate the 1115 building; place a restaurant on the ground floor; cut doorways into the south wall of that building, and have outdoor terrace seating in the park next to a new fountain similar to the Paley Park fountain. Doesn't it look like that would work well for that site?

One could remove that earthen berm against the south wall of 1115 Walnut; level it and cover it with brick or stone; place a partial awning over some of the outdoor seating; and build a new fountain against a rock wall that could be constructed on the east side of that park. This fountain wall would also serve to partially conceal the alley and the back of that parking garage next between the Palace Clothing Company and the Borel buildings.

With those vines growing up the side of 1115 Walnut's south wall, it would all look so cool and inviting. it would take millions to recreate that effect from scratch. I just think that would look swell if done that way.

It would be a really cool place in which to go for lunch and dinner and just hang out after work. I also think it would be very popular. The park already has big trees. You could hang lights in the trees and turn them on at night. It would be sublime.

Even with the current configuration, that part of the block is crying out for a idea like this.

The second option, which reduces the size of the park, leaves the 1115 Walnut building renovated with doorways cut into the south side, the fountain, etc. The new apartment building--that replaces two-thirds of the park--would be constructed on the south two thirds of the park bordering 12th and Walnut. Under this scenario, the remaining park is "fenced" in by buildings--so to speak--exactly in the way that Paley Park (Fig. 3) is configured. That way, you could have restaurants on both sides of the park and fountain -- creating another reason for people to use that park space.

The park would remain public use. This means that anyone could sit there and read; not eat; and still enjoy the fountain and the space. The restaurant owners can't complain, since the space is being provided to the restaurants to use for free. The restaurants' would be responsible for maintenance of the park, or pay a user-fee.

Some of the leaders and developers in this city have no imaginatiion. If the owners (the Hos) had done something like that, the building would now be worth a great deal. Putting a parking lot, or a drive-through on that land is just the worst possible use for that land.

One thing I definitely believe would improve things a lot in redeveloping downtown and retaining many of the remaining old buildings is that everyone (city leaders, owners, developers) waits around and does nothing until it's too damned late. They let the buildings rot instead of reusing them for profit.

We have more ideas about what to do about these things than they do. I've seen it time and time again reading posts here. If people in this city were smart, and really wanted downtown to be a jewel, they would become proactive and encourage proactive ideas. Instead of waiting around, why not encourage people to come forward with imaginative ideas? If I were mayor of this city, I would be doing that.

The lesson of downtown redevelopment time and time again has been that you cannot wait for developers to do any of this. The developers only come in later when they see activity being created by others.

That's why it's so important for area residents to actually move into downtown buildings, and continue to create a demand to convert more buildings into housing. Developers always follow where people go--or want to be.

[KCPowercat]

43 reserved...construction starts when ~80 are reserved...shouldn't be long now.

[KCPowercat]

condos now have 25 year tax abatement.....nice selling point. Somebody buy me one of these.

[KC0KEK]

I used to go in this building for the Business Journal. I can't remember the floor number, but the views were great.

[chrizow]

what is that "skinny" building in Michael's picture?

also, what is that courtyard?

in essence: wtf is that a picture of?

[ComandanteCero]

oh wait, now i recognize it. That's at 151st and Metcalf lol

[KCPowercat]

that picture isn't in KC

[chrizow]

that picture isn't in KC

no wonder...

[KCPowercat]

we're drifting from the main point here...who's buying me a Wallstreet condo? come on, I host this board for you...it's the LEAST you could do.

[KC0KEK]

Well, if we can come over to party once in a while . . .

[Pork Chop]

Wallstreet Tower owner buys building next door

http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansa ... ily20.html

[KCDevin]

woohoo! The demo squad hasn't won yet

[zonk]

woohoo! The demo squad hasn't won yet

Hold your horses....they're the ones demoing it! Bottomline is the building is coming dow.

[KCDevin]

"The Wallstreet Tower's owner has bought the neighboring building and said he'll decide by the end of the year what to do with the long-vacant structure that had been targeted for demolition by Kansas City. "

Why demolish it when you can have the city do it and then buy the land for less money?

[zonk]

The Wallstreet owners have lobbied the City to demo it for the last few years. The City has not had the $$. Wallstreet will pay to have it torn down.

[KCDevin]

but do you know that for a fact?

[Deleted User]

.

[FangKC]

we're drifting from the main point here...who's buying me a Wallstreet condo? come on, I host this board for you...it's the LEAST you could do.

I thought you just bought a townhouse on Quality Hill?

[FangKC]

what is that "skinny" building in Michael's picture?

also, what is that courtyard?

in essence: wtf is that a picture of?

That photo is of Paley Park on the upper east side of Manhattan, NYC. I cited it as an example of what could be done with the Ho building next door to WallStreet Tower to keep it from being demolished and becoming a vacant lot. There is a great opportunity there to create a great public space.

Basically it would entail putting a restaurant in the street level space; cutting doors in the south wall of the building to have access to Oppenstein Park; put in a waterfall fountain to conceal the back alley and parking garage; and place some tables and chairs so that the restaurant has outdoor seating; and you have a nice little urban space that actually gets used.

More example photos:

Paley Park in Manhattan, NY
E.53rd St. between 5th Av. & Park Av.



http://www.pps.org/gps/one?public_place_id=69#

Be sure to click on the thumbnails (6 photos) on the right side of the page.

http://www.nycjpg.com/2003/pages/0905.html (3 photos, click top left)

http://www.rs.noda.tus.ac.jp/~koji_lab/ ... /0041.html

http://www.geocities.jp/hirosasakiurban ... ewyork.htm

http://www.trpt.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp/DESIG ... 25huru.htm

-------------------------------------------------
Greenacre Park in NYC
E. 51st between Second and Third Avenues



http://www.pps.org/gps/one?public_place_id=70

Be sure to click on the thumbnails on the right side of the page.

http://www.pps.org/general-images/slide ... ge_id=3837

http://www.pps.org/general-images/slide ... ge_id=3836

http://www.pps.org/general-images/slide ... ize=xlarge

http://www.pps.org/general-images/slide ... ize=xlarge