No matter where you live, the revival of downtown Kansas City is a great investment

[|Zach|]

http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/op...e10769627.html

Perched where I sit in Johnson County, I can only marvel at how downtown Kansas City has been resurrected. All that is missing is a statue of Kay Barnes, the former mayor who pushed through its renaissance.

We in the suburbs can take great pride in watching this vital part of the metropolitan area become a place that draws visitors to our city and provides attractions for residents of the metro. It’s a new Mecca.

It wasn’t that long ago, in 1996, when residents of south and west Johnson County were asked in focus groups what they thought of Crown Center, and what they thought of downtown.

I watched through a two-way mirror.

As someone who has lived here my entire life, I remember taking the streetcar downtown with my grandfather. I remember going downtown to shop and to eat. It was a vital part of my childhood.

So I was stunned when so many Johnson County residents proclaimed they did not know where Crown Center was, and they had either never been downtown, or had only been there once or twice.

There was little recognition that a decaying Union Station, or a decaying downtown, had any effect on Johnson County.

Had anyone asked me back then I probably would have said that having a vibrant downtown, where people would actually choose to live, was a fanciful idea and not realistic.

Haunted houses and blight consumed much of central downtown. Not exactly a source of pride. It seemed much of downtown was lost as a magnet for much of anything except crime.

Fast forward.

Thousands of Johnson Countians and others who live far outside the downtown loop visit the spectacular Sprint Center for concerts and other events. They dine in the nearby restaurants or go for drinks at a downtown bar.

Above all, they feel safe.

Recalling the 1996 focus groups, there was a near-unanimous sentiment expressed that they would “never go downtown at night” under any circumstances. They weren’t crazy. It was not safe.

I can only imagine what a focus group of out-of-town visitors to Kansas City might have said about downtown. Nothing to do. Nowhere safe to go. A dead zone.

That was the impression conventioneers and other visitors took home after staying downtown. Kansas City was a place to avoid.

Yes, I know Kansas City taxpayers unfortunately have to subsidize the Power & Light District. It’s not my tax money, but I can tell you it’s a bargain.

It is like building an interstate highway system. It doesn’t ever pay for itself, but look at what it spawns economically. Today, Kansas City not only has a nationally renowned arena, but it has an entertainment district which, in turn, has spawned apartment living downtown. Important amenities like a high-quality grocery store and fitness club add to the sense that you can live in a self-contained downtown without constant trips required for day-to-day living. In addition, office buildings are starting to fill up, thanks to a new mindset about working downtown.

A controversial downtown streetcar corridor, inevitably to be expanded south, could be a real asset to downtown. We hope so.

Few of us in the suburbs would have ever dreamed that downtown could actually become hip.

Even with too few good public schools nearby, thousands of Kansas City residents are flocking to live downtown. It goes against what those in the suburbs imagined, but the phenomenon is real.

If those focus groups from 1996 were put together today, and people were asked what they think of downtown, I would be shocked if they wouldn’t say positive things. I would be surprised to see anything less than a consensus that the well-being of the entire metropolitan area depends on a rejuvenation of our downtown — the heart of the city.

To reach Steve Rose, longtime Johnson County columnist, send email to srose@kc.rr.com.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/op...#storylink=cpy

[WhawhaWhat]

Wow, PB really took it on the chin on this page.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Yep, better be careful, Prison Bitch. Less vigilance might result in interacting with someone who is different from you.

Just stick to the safety of Tiger Board.

I always chuckle at the disconnect urban hipsters have between their reality and what they think. I work downtown and have gone to a lot of events down here from World Cup parties (awful) to First Friday's and dozens of happy hours. These things are always whiter than a GOP convention. I think the World Cup party had 5,000 fans and not a single black person. I'd bet suburban events are more diverse than downtown milennial outings.

Something tells me Cosmo and Fat Zach spend exactly zero time ever speaking to people in person who think differently than they.

[-King-]

So PB, which posters in this thread have kids? And which don't?

[Strongside]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

I always chuckle at the disconnect urban hipsters have between their reality and what they think.

And I always chuckle at suburban stay-at-home dads that get their panties up in a bunch over the fact that they missed the boat by 10 years on their hometown's urban core being worth a shit, and that the hipsters are enjoying the absolute hell out of it. And just so you know, I spend about 25 hours a month coaching for RBI and sitting on board meetings for the Negro Leagues Museum and Jazz District...so don't assume that just because someone is white, younger than 35 and doesn't dress like Hank Hill means that they don't give a shit about diversity and ethnic groups/organizations in the communities they live in. Gentrification is absolutely happening downtown and it's forcing a lot of minorities out of their own neighborhoods, which is sad. When you live right on the edge of it, you have no choice but to speak to those being effected by it.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Cochise

It's interesting to hear this discussion as someone who has been away from KC for the last 5-6 years.

During that time P&L has come and is now passé; Legends came on the scene, failed, then was reimagined. The Sporting KC thing happened. The K was rennovated, Arrowhead was rennovated. Westport I haven't heard any discussion about but it doesn't seem to have changed much at all.

Wouldn't it be funny if KC went full circle back to the 80s where people go out in Westport, and downtown and the Dotte are pits again?

As someone who works everyday downtown and goes to a lot of Chamber events.....no: it would not be funny if downtown backslid to the early 1990s. If you recall, U2 came here to shoot a video. People were excited to be chosen. Then the video came out and it was a post- apocalyptic scene of a barren city. A true low point.

At any rate, downtown employment data is ugly right now and has been going to wrong direction even before the recession hit. DT has lost 20% of jobs the past decade.

[SAUTO]

my favorite spot is the foundation after hours...

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Strongside

When's the last time you've actually gone to Westport to eat or have drinks?

A couple weeks ago. I would rather go there than anywhere else in KC.

The ONLY place in P&L that I would go to is BRGR and I can get that 5 minutes from my house. The rest of those places strike me as establishments people from Springfield would think are good.

[Hammock Parties]

The only thing I wish Westport had is The Alamo Drafthouse. That's about the only reason I go up near P&L.

Then I get the **** out of there before some bro brushes against me, rubbing his AXE scent off, and a slut gives me an STD.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

I rolled the Paseo this morning on my way to the airport, I'm a 100x more frightened of the Walmarts in Branson.

From 2001 to 2010 there was 3 murders in Branson, a city of 11k, that even has an EXTREMELY high weekend population, probably Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of visitors every year. Kansas City had 1133 murders in that time frame. Even if you account for Branson's population, that would equate to 92 murders in that same span. Being that the Paseo and Prospect areas have violent crime rates at least 10 times higher than many other parts of Kansas City, the true rate of violent crime for those areas is even more startling.

I have no idea why you would be more frightened by old people wanting to see Dolly Parton statutes, but I guess that's just me.

[temper11]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

As someone who works everyday downtown and goes to a lot of Chamber events.....no: it would not be funny if downtown backslid to the early 1990s. If you recall, U2 came here to shoot a video. People were excited to be chosen. Then the video came out and it was a post- apocalyptic scene of a barren city. A true low point.

At any rate, downtown employment data is ugly right now and has been going to wrong direction even before the recession hit. DT has lost 20% of jobs the past decade.

What video was that?

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by BWillie

From 2001 to 2010 there was 3 murders in Branson, a city of 11k, that even has an EXTREMELY high weekend population, probably Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of visitors every year. Kansas City had 1133 murders in that time frame. Even if you account for Branson's population, that would equate to 92 murders in that same span. Being that the Paseo and Prospect areas have violent crime rates at least 10 times higher than many other parts of Kansas City, the true rate of violent crime for those areas is even more startling.

I have no idea why you would be more frightened by old people wanting to see Dolly Parton statutes, but I guess that's just me.

I was mostly joking based on the 6 year old girl who was raped to death in Branson over the weekend thread that was on the page with this one yesterday. But thanks for looking that up.

Small towns do frighten me a lot more than living in the city ever will. Purely anecdotal reasoning, though.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

No, but it's apparent you've replaced the batteries in your Keyboard of Douche.

A direct hit sir.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by Cochise

It's interesting to hear this discussion as someone who has been away from KC for the last 5-6 years.

During that time P&L has come and is now passé; Legends came on the scene, failed, then was reimagined. The Sporting KC thing happened. The K was rennovated, Arrowhead was rennovated. Westport I haven't heard any discussion about but it doesn't seem to have changed much at all.

Wouldn't it be funny if KC went full circle back to the 80s where people go out in Westport, and downtown and the Dotte are pits again?

Westport is thriving. Downtown has some good things going it will get there but obvious ch age in crossroads. Lots of interesting dynamics.

[|Zach|]

Would love to discuss this more but I have to listen to obscure records on my new record player whole drinking my home brew beer as I figure out the scheduled for my favorite NASL division soccer team. (Sporting got too popular for me)

[Beef Supreme]

I'm still trying to reconcile the article title. How is it a great investment, no matter where you live?

Gotta love this line:

Yes, I know Kansas City taxpayers unfortunately have to subsidize the Power & Light District. It’s not my tax money, but I can tell you it’s a bargain.

Great investment seems to indicate a return on money put forth. Which, if you don't live anywhere near there, you didn't put any money in it, and aren't receiving any benefit from it.