Royals No matter where you live, the revival of downtown Kansas City is a great investment - Page 6

|Zach| · 02-22-2015, 08:48 AM

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

**TribalElder** · 02-22-2015, 07:25 PM

Just cut the hand off lolz

Prison Bitch · 02-22-2015, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strongside

I live and work downtown. It's not unsafe if you aren't an idiot.

What does that mean? Dumb people get attacked? Why would anyone fear for their safety?

Strongside · 02-22-2015, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

What does that mean? Dumb people get attacked? Why would anyone fear for their safety?

Pretty self-explanatory. Don't make stupid decisions that might cause you to become the victim of a crime. I'm not just talking about violent crime, either. I hear about iPads, or purses getting stolen from cars, and that's stupidity. My comment means don't be naive...don't walk home drunk and alone at night, don't invite people you don't know home with you, don't leave valuables in your car or wave money around with in public, don't get into fights...don't be an idiot.

It's pretty safe down here, but if you make dip shit decisions, then you absolutely increase your chances of becoming a victim.

Titty Meat · 02-22-2015, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strongside

Pretty self-explanatory. Don't make stupid decisions that might cause you to become the victim of a crime. I'm not just talking about violent crime, either. I hear about iPads, or purses getting stolen from cars, and that's stupidity. My comment means don't be naive...don't walk home drunk and alone at night, don't invite people you don't know home with you, don't leave valuables in your car or wave money around with in public, don't get into fights...don't be an idiot.

It's pretty safe down here, but if you make dip shit decisions, then you absolutely increase your chances of becoming a victim.

I always walk home alone drunk nobody ****s with me. Our Joco posters are pretty scared people.

Strongside · 02-22-2015, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billay

I always walk home alone drunk nobody ****s with me. Our Joco posters are pretty scared people.

That was aimed at women and possibly small, weak men that can't defend themselves. I did see a pretty crazy shooting at Grand Slam one night while walking home drunk. Some hood rats got into it in the parking lot and started popping off shots...cops were in the lot and shot back. Iirc, one guy died. In 3.5 years of living down here, that's the craziest shit I've ever seen.

ChiefsCountry · 02-22-2015, 10:55 PM

Downtown Kansas City seems pretty safe. I've walked back from P&L to several hotels and have felt safe. It's really lighted and plenty of police presence. Of course downtown St. Louis is way more scary and have done the same plenty of times and been safe as well. It's also comical to see the P&L hate. It's a fun time and a good reason for lot of us out of towners to come to Kansas City. Guess what Westport is still a good time as well. Both can survive and serve a great purpose for the city.

Brock · 02-22-2015, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

What does that mean? Dumb people get attacked? Why would anyone fear for their safety?

You scared puss.

cosmo20002 · 02-22-2015, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Becasue I get tired of derelicts coming up to me on the sidewalks and asking me for $. I suspect if it were at night and nobody was around, they wouldn't be asking.

That must be terrifying.

Also, watch out for gay people downtown. They will gay-marry you so fast you won't even know what happened.

|Zach| · 02-22-2015, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Becasue I get tired of derelicts coming up to me on the sidewalks and asking me for $. I suspect if it were at night and nobody was around, they wouldn't be asking.

Pussy.

Prison Bitch · 02-23-2015, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

That must be terrifying.

Also, watch out for gay people downtown. They will gay-marry you so fast you won't even know what happened.

No doubt. That's why derelicts never attack Fat Zach. See him walkin down the street with his Sporting Kansas City scarf and prolly think he's got AIDS

**DaneMcCloud** · 02-23-2015, 01:42 AM

This thread explains the need for so many Concealed Carry licenses in Kansas.

Good grief, people. You're not afraid of ISIS or ISIL but you're afraid of the homeless guy that barely has any clothes on that's asking for a dollar?

TLO · 02-23-2015, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

This thread explains the need for so many Concealed Carry licenses in Kansas.

Good grief, people. You're not afraid of ISIS or ISIL but you're afraid of the homeless guy that barely has any clothes on that's asking for a dollar?

That depends, is he black?

|Zach| · 02-23-2015, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

No doubt. That's why derelicts never attack Fat Zach. See him walkin down the street with his Sporting Kansas City scarf and prolly think he's got AIDS

You're on top of things.

eDave · 02-23-2015, 02:54 AM

KC is not ready for nice things.

**petegz28** · 02-23-2015, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TribalElder

Downtown, to get there from the south you need to travel through kansas city's version of the Gaza Strip... Aka 71 highway

02-22-2015, 08:48 AM
\|Zach\| For The Glory Of The City Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $5326768	No matter where you live, the revival of downtown Kansas City is a great investment 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
Posts: 53,435

02-22-2015, 07:25 PM	#76
TribalElder Arrowhead Trail of Tears Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: KansasCity Casino cash: $2400441	Just cut the hand off lolz
Posts: 29,156

02-22-2015, 10:55 PM	#81
ChiefsCountry The Insider Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lake of the Ozarks Casino cash: $2308752	Downtown Kansas City seems pretty safe. I've walked back from P&L to several hotels and have felt safe. It's really lighted and plenty of police presence. Of course downtown St. Louis is way more scary and have done the same plenty of times and been safe as well. It's also comical to see the P&L hate. It's a fun time and a good reason for lot of us out of towners to come to Kansas City. Guess what Westport is still a good time as well. Both can survive and serve a great purpose for the city.
Posts: 49,608

02-23-2015, 01:42 AM	#86
DaneMcCloud Supporter Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Hollywood, CA Casino cash: $10053648	This thread explains the need for so many Concealed Carry licenses in Kansas. Good grief, people. You're not afraid of ISIS or ISIL but you're afraid of the homeless guy that barely has any clothes on that's asking for a dollar?
Posts: 88,960

02-23-2015, 02:54 AM	#89
eDave Banned Join Date: Jan 2013 Casino cash: $9998560	KC is not ready for nice things.
Posts: 53,803