@BlogKCToday the Star reports on the latest version of Cerner and Lane4′s plan to redevelopment the old Bannister Mall site in south Kansas City. Sadly the plan focuses on big box retail and suburban office parks, instead of seizing an opportunity to develop a new mixed-use, sustainable neighborhood.
Now known as The Trails, the $600 million plan relies heavily on the big box retail that is already going out of style in favor of mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods. Bannister Mall fell victim to the outdated enclosed mall concept, and its replacement relies on an idea that is also past its prime. Lane4 mentions the possibility of small “Main Street” shopping area, but the vast majority of The Trails would be big boxes and giant parking lots.
The Bannister site could be a huge opportunity to really improve the quality of life in south Kansas City and provide a great local model for infill suburban redevelopment. A mix of housing, shopping, and offices in a walkable setting would create a sustainable neighborhood to last for generations, instead of cheap boxes that will be obsolete as soon as they open. The plan does nothing to address south KC’s housing needs or provide new alternatives to the obsolete post-WWII tract houses.
This development will have massive taxpayer subsidies, so we deserve something that will outlast 20 year debt service. These big boxes will be ready for another redevelopment in a lot less than 20 years, assuming they can even be filled. Subsidizing retail development has been one of the biggest complaints about the city’s tax break system since it’s the least sustainable and most quickly outdated type of development around.
For about 10 years, I lived within a mile of this area. The reputation this area has developed is entirely undeserved. I think a major source of this is the assumption that suburbanites have: if they see dark faces, crime isn’t far behind.
I sat in on one of their focus groups and the public may not realize, but Lane4 has put a considerable amount of research and thought to the proposal to make sure the right approach is used. With the large-scale of the project, the big box retailers are what make the economics work to allow for the later phases to incorporate a main street-like atmosphere along with offices around those big box retailers. Big-box retailers are not going out of style, tell Wal-Mart, Kohl’s, IKEA, Sam’s Club, etc that because they’re all doing pretty well and there is an unfulfilled demand for them in the area.
I used to go to Bannister Mall almost every weekend when it was half dead and foundering, and the Hypermart of course.
Big Box didn’t work there in the first place, which is why it looks like a bomb hit it now. Seriously, when a movie theater, a mall, Walmart and Best Buy leaves your shopping center, you know that you need to find a new game plan.
I think you’re on the right track in thinking that a mixed use retail and residential is a good plan. There has got to be a way to liven that area up.
Speaking of missed opportunity. The developer of this project was supposed to speak to our neighborhood group but never showed up.