@BlogKCThe Star recently ran a few stories on tenants that are lining up for the autumn opening of the Power and Light District, and the high rents that are causing many local names to balk at joining the development. We already know that there will be a big list of national chains like Hard Rock Cafe, et. al, but it’s the local tenants that will give the place a unique KC flavor. Hopefully the locals can get some kind of deal, considering that the Cordish Co. is getting millions in tax subsidies. Locals that have committed so far include Houlihan’s, Sprint, Cosentino’s grocery stores, 810 Sport Zone, LatteLand, and AMC Theaters. Others like Planet Sub and Cupini’s have chosen cheaper rents around the periphery of the P&L District.
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I like how Ollie Gates is holding out. He’s no dummy. On the one hand, it’s a tragedy that our new entertainment district will feature a restaurant called “Gimme Sum Asian Grill,” but that’s usually what it takes in developments created from whole cloth like this.
Village West has a damn Cheeseburger in Paradise and a Nebraska Furniture Mart. If Gimme Sum wants to get things started, that’s fine with me. Let’s just hope that more locals are able to be a part of this over the next decade. And for the local establishments in the Crossroads, the Blvd, and even Midtown, a downtown attraction like this has to be good.
I know that Gimme Sum will steal business for a while, but in the long run anything that draws us JoCo racists and Clay County suburbanites into the city center has to help the other KCMO establishments.
This is completely un-surprising. That space cadet in the mayor’s office would give out TIF to a freaking homeless person if she could find someone to do the paperwork! It’s a very sad statement that no one seems to remember the original intention of why TIF was created. But they have– and now the citizens of KC are standing by while the beneficiaries of this program are asking for above-market rent. GENIUS.
Until someone steps up to the microphone and declares that the emperor is wearing no clothes (and giving subsidies away like there’s no tomorrow), KC will always be a fourth-rate city.
I have no idea what articles you were reading but the story of the P&L district is how it completely lacks local flavor and doesn’t provide any kind of entertainment that can’t already be found more conveniently in the suburbs.
Enough with the cheerleading. I didn’t like this plan when it was called Town Pavilion; which is a ghost town now . . . turned that way once the subsides ran out. Unless fake football can draw a crowd (doubtful) the same fate awaits the P&L scheme/scam.
lets not forget how INCONVENIENT it is for us core dwellers to go into the traffic snarled suburbs. last time i checked, downtowns population was on the rise. i understand what you are saying, but, dont underestimate the spending power of thousands of professionals who will live within walking or at least bus and MAX distance.
Bingo, Matt. For me, going to the suburbs to shop is a HUGE pain in the ass. I’m on the freeway for what seems like forever and then I get off and the streets are clogged with traffic, mostly giant SUVs and minivans that I can’t see around, and huge parking lots jam packed with cars. I can’t wait to be able to start spending all my money within walking distance.
I think Matt and Scooter are forgetting that part of the P&L scheme is to draw the suburbanites into downtown. Judging by the list of tenants, there’s little reason to make the trip when it’s more convenient to stay in JoCo or NKC. It sounds like the P&L district will have all the charm and allure of a Johnson County strip mall. If that’s what you want, that’s fine. But why not move (or stay in) to Olathe or Overland Park?
And Dave’s Famous BBQ from Minnesota? What the hell? They couldn’t entice a LOCAL barbecue place to set up shop?
I think you guys might have it wrong. Suburbanites love suburbanite crap and might be MORE likely to go downtown if they are familiar with the shops and restaurants. I get the impression that suburbanites are more likely to drive to the Plaza to eat at The Cheesecake Factory than drive to 39th Street to eat at Room 39. The same could be true here.
I don’t understand the psychology of it, but people love national, familiar stuff, even if it’s crap. Hence the smashing success of Cheesecake Factory. And for some reason, I think that Cordish probably knows what he’s doing.
Cordish does now what he’s doing. He’s built similar entertainment districts in several other cities, and they have all been quite successful. He’s the best in the business, at least for this type of project.
There’s another audience that’s just as important as the suburbanites, if not more so: conventioneers. The convention business used to be huge in KC, until other cities upgraded their facilities and renovated their downtowns.
Downtown can and should be a little bit of something for everyone. There’s plenty of room for suburban/tourist stuff like Hard Rock, as well as the galleries and restaurants, and increasingly basic services for residents.
I’ll have to disagree with Hippster here. The difference between the suburban location and the downtown location is simple, but huge. Suburbanites might have to rub elbows with someone black, brown or otherwise not white Downtown. Again, there IS a reason they live, shop and dine in NKC, Olathe and Overland Park.
Here we go again. I could make the same stupid argument that the only reason people who live downtown want to revive downtown is to push out the blacks and browns. Afterall, there IS a reason urban dwellers constantly bitch about not not enough development and services downtown. Build a grocery store, build an entertainment district, gentrify the area, and get the minorities out of there. There. See how stupid that argument is?
I’m going to the Symphony Saturday night, along with a thousand other mostly white suburbanites. This happens fifteen or so weekends a year. The lesson is that if there is something to do downtown, the terrified racist suburbanites will deign to go there.
People are going to enjoy the new look of downtown not just for the restaurants or shops, but also the atmosphere and feel that only a city setting can give. When you go to a huge strip mall, the feeling is just not the same. Restructuring downtown is crucial to the development of Kansas City as a whole, it attracts employers and professionals.
To PRM- Not all people who live in the suburbs is white, and when you say suburbanites live in the suburbs to not have to interact with people of color is the most moronic thing I have read in a long time.
No, not all suburbanites are white, but most are, particularly those north of the river and in JoCo. It’s called white flight and it’s made the Kansas City suburbs what they are today. You might want to look into it.
I’ve worked, socialized and went to school with the suburbanites and to say they’re less than enlightened on racial matters would be an understatement. Spare me the happy talk.
I live in the suburbs, and I am not white. I also live in a very ethnic neighborhood. You seem to be the one less enlightened on racial matters, open your eyes a little bit wider. White Flight was an event that started in the 1950′s, and is an idea that does not apply to todays society. The exact opposite is happening and its called Gentrification, look into it.
How long ago did you go to school in the suburbs?? There are a lot of programs that public schools offer for minority outreach and classes that stress diversity.
One thing you should learn is to not generalize people, because then you are just the same as the ones you claim are less enlightened. Way to go!
prm,
i’m well aware of that. i also have been a critic of the power and light district not having more local stuff. but…lets not forget the synergy p + l is creating in all of downtown. lots of local business will and are rising around it.
matt
Suburbanites flock to the Plaza in increasing numbers, and guess what: very little on the plaza anymore is unique.
The P&L district will be a sucess. Sure, Kansas City will call it a failure for at least two years. That is in the genes of the people in this town. The idea that “nothing is 100% perfect” falls upon deaf ears, especially in the suburbs.
Unique offerings are already appearing around the P&L district and will continue. The P&L district may be too suburban for some, but that’s fine. We need everything represented downtown. I also agree that Cordish is not making a mistake. They have extensive experience with urban districts.
Ollie Gates & Co. will find great locations near the district, if not directly in it, and people will get to choose what to patronage. Last time I checked there was no Gates on the plaza. In fact, there is no good BBQ joint on the Plaza cept for Kc Masterpiece which is mostly for tourists anyways. Perhaps the business model of a BBQ chain simply cant support high rents that accompany an urban entertainment district? Just a thought.
Drew,
You’re either being disingenuous, or you are exceedingly naive. Either way, good luck pretending you live in a color-blind society (and the Kansas City metro area at that!).
prm
Prm,
I didn’t claim that we live in a perfect society, but what we can’t do is gerneralize people like you do. Not all suburbanites are white, and most certainly are not all city dwellers minorities. I think I know what your problem is, you have these own sterotypical perceptions about people of color, and the reason why you live in the suburbs and you assume other people of your same ethnicity or skin color have to have these same ideas as well.
To get back to what this post was about, read what Cook says in the post above yours.
Good luck pretending to know what it is like to be a minority growing up in eastern Kansas
Drew,
Talk about stereotyping! First, I live in Midtown Kansas City, about two blocks west of Troost, an “ethnic” neighborhood if you will. If I was worried about minorities, I’d certainly move to your suburban wonderland. Second, in the roughly 30 years I’ve lived in KC, I’ve always resided within KC city limits. My guess is that I know the city a bit better than you. So you’re initial assumptions are completely wrong.
I’ll cop to being white. However, the only group I’m stereotyping is white people. I think I know white people, urban and suburban, pretty well. And, quite frankly, a goodly number of them are quite nervous around black and brown people. I’m talking suburban school educated, college degree holding professionals who really ought to know better.
Why is the Plaza so popular with suburbanites? There aren’t many black or brown people there. Hence the popularity with suburbanites. Ditto Westport.
Drew, I’m really glad WyCo is working out for you. Best of luck to you.
Again, that is a generalization about people. I can not argue against ignorance. This is the last time I will comment about this topic, because I have better things to do. Peace!!
Drew says on 1/10/06:
“One thing you should learn is to not generalize people, because then you are just the same as the ones you claim are less enlightened. Way to go!”
Drew says on 12/22/05 (Homerun KC thread):
“I agree with summit, Raytown and Independence offer nothing to society. We should give downtown a chance before all of you backward minded conservatives criticize it.”
Drew – Maybe you should stop commenting on any topics on this blog since you have just proven yourself to be contradictory and hypocritical.
That is my roomie..I am using his computer which autosaves past entries. I usually just look through this site, but after I read what you said, I had to comment.
I didn’t want to change the name, because I didn’t want to confuse you..anyways peace!!
It doesn’t change what I said
If you actually took time to look back at old entries..that is sad!
-The original Drew
Oh, shit! That’s too funny! “It wasn’t me it was my roomie.” Classic.
It doesn’t surprise me that virtually no effort is being put into finding any sort of viable retail options for downtown. I’m sure there are those that will yell, “When there’s proven residential need, then there will again be retail,” but you know, places like Power and Light will not be fully attractive to some unless there are places other than Borders to shop or a thousand places to have dinner.
There is so little viable retail space left downtown because so much has been turned into parking garages that do not allow for retail uses.
Only so many downtown dwellers will put up with driving out of downtown to shop for so long.
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