Jan

22

City sues UMB Bank over arena site

January 22, 2005 | 8 Comments

Negotiations for the city acquire the UMB Bank branch at 14th and Grand for the new arena have broken down and the city has filed a condemnation lawsuit to force the issue. UMB CEO Mariner Kemper has said several times that the bank wants to cooperate on the arena project, as long as it receives market value for the the property. However, the city appears have made a very generous offer that is 50% more than other offers in the area, and more than twice the properties appraised value.

It almost makes one wonder if the Kemper family might be a little miffed that the city is replacing the R. Crosby Kemper Arena…

Categories: Downtown


Comments

8 Comments so far

  1. Eireeternal on January 22, 2005 7:01 pm

    I think the Kempers see themselves being knocked down the status pole. Of course
    they’re the only ones here that hasn’t realized that Kemper Arena has been
    irrelevant for about ten years. I’m concerned the Sprint Barn will be a money pit
    but we need it badly.

  2. dtkc on January 23, 2005 7:27 pm

    I’m sure the Kempers had a chance to buy naming rights to the new arena. It’s a little odd that none of the big downtown companies stepped up to do it, since they have the most to gain from the downtown redevelopment. No UMB Arena, Commerce Arena, Block Arena, Hallmark Arena, etc. It took at Jco company to get it down…

  3. Eireeternal on January 23, 2005 11:56 pm

    dtkc,

    i agree alot of downtown companies did not step up yet you wonder if it was not
    wanting to do business with Anschuntz.

  4. Jim S on January 24, 2005 12:21 am

    I read the article with UMB’s reasoning for demanding more money than the surrounding businesses and I question it. Years ago I worked in that area and if that location is one of their busiest then either things have changed greatly or I have to wonder how they stay in business.

  5. asdf on January 24, 2005 9:34 am

    Why is it so hard to believe that location is so busy? Over 100,000 people work downtown everyday. It’s the single biggest daytime concentration of people in the mero area.

  6. Jim S on January 24, 2005 10:46 pm

    asdf, What I’m saying is that I worked a couple of blocks from there and saw the place pretty much every day. It just didn’t seem that busy to me.

  7. Dayle on January 27, 2005 1:59 pm




    First the Drag Strip now the Arena! Some people just can’t keep from causing a ruckus. I elect Barnes for President! Can’t wait to get the Kings back! So glad to see that KC folks are finally seeing the light on downtown issues. I was beginning to think I lived in Hays Kansas!

  8. Mark Esping on January 29, 2005 11:45 am

    What about the Justrite Business right behind the bank. They proposed a five or six story building with 200 parking places, retail and a restaurant at ground level and office and apartments, but they will have to sell so that the arena project can build a restaurant at that location. Highest and best use??

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