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

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Winter's Bone was my Boyz n the Hood.

Great movie

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

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.

The restaurants are mostly overpriced shit, and the bars are stupid places to separate people from their money in a hurry and get douchebags and sluts rocks off.

You're much better off in Westport or on 39th, or even Town Center Plaza at 119th and Nall. And hell, at least the Plaza has a Jack Stack.

[Strongside]

Originally Posted by Numbah One

The restaurants are mostly overpriced shit, and the bars are stupid places to separate people from their money in a hurry and get douchebags and sluts rocks off.

You're much better off in Westport or on 39th, or even Town Center Plaza at 119th and Nall. And hell, at least the Plaza has a Jack Stack.

When's the last time you've actually gone to Westport to eat or have drinks? It's easily the best area of town for a night of entertainment now. New restaurants have exploded in that area, and 95% of them are locally owned, non-chain establishments. Crossroads is great as well. You're going to see and encounter douchebags no matter where you go...but you're far less likely to be put off or fought by a crowd of hipsters than you are by JoCo frat boys out spending mom and dad's allowance while they're in town from Lawrence, or Raytown thugs spending their entire weeks pay on a bottle of Dom at Mosaiic....that's PNL.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

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.

I had a daily ~15 minute walk through downtown Atlanta for a few months and I'd say there was a 50% chance someone would at least ask for change, and once every few weeks someone would try a random scam ("my wife is pregnant and in the car down that way and we ran out of gas..."). In downtown KC, the chance of being asked for change (the horror!) is maybe 5% and I've never been approached with a scam.

You kind of answered your own question when you said "a lot of us out of towners," because that's exactly what it caters to, people who are from out of town or hardly ever go downtown.... it's not a great draw for people who want some local flavor, and the two perspectives aren't really the same at all.

[Fairplay]

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

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

You blend in with them perfectly cosmo.

[Iowanian]

This post doesn't work for me. When I read your posts you are in skinny leg salmon colored jeans, wear tight sweaters and are pushing a 1950's bicycle along the sidewalk by Grinders.
PBR isn't bad when it's cold though, I learned that from watching my dad in 1977.

I don't think Hipsters can use Boyz in the Hood lines.

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Winter's Bone was my Boyz n the Hood.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

This post doesn't work for me. When I read your posts you are in skinny leg salmon colored jeans, wear tight sweaters and are pushing a 1950's bicycle along the sidewalk by Grinders.
PBR isn't bad when it's cold though, I learned that from watching my dad in 1977.

I don't think Hipsters can use Boyz in the Hood lines.

Shocking an article about the revitalization of downtown Kansas City didn't resonate with someone that has the username "Iowanian"

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

This post doesn't work for me. When I read your posts you are in skinny leg salmon colored jeans, wear tight sweaters and are pushing a 1950's bicycle along the sidewalk by Grinders.
PBR isn't bad when it's cold though, I learned that from watching my dad in 1977.

I don't think Hipsters can use Boyz in the Hood lines.

Either they don't know, don't show, or don't care about what's going on in the hood.

[Iowanian]

Shocking a joke didn't resonate with the resident plus sized emo model.

My comment was directed specifically at a specific poster. It was a joke. I do like downtown KC, including shows in the hipster pant wearing crossroads district. I have no interest in PNL but I spend time in that area at least 3 times/year.

Now I'll direct one to you, zach. Go comb the doughnut crumbs out of your shitty beard. Reading your whining emo posts is the internet equivalent of eating 10lbs of Haribo sugar free gummy bears.

[Pablo]

If that homeless guy asks you for money, you just fork it over. Never know what sort of dangerous weapon he's hiding in his crumpled paper bag.

[Strongside]

Originally Posted by Pablo

If that homeless guy asks you for money, you just fork it over. Never know what sort of dangerous weapon he's hiding in his crumpled paper bag.

I tried to give a dude ten bucks a few years ago when I moved down here. I was shocked when he said "Man, that ain't enough. I'm tryna get a room down here and I need at least twenty." I immediately put the money back in my pocket and told him to kick rocks. He got pissed off and became aggressive. I didn't grow up with privilege, and I know how to handle myself. When hobo Steve grabbed my jacket I put a firm forearm into his neck and pinned him to the wall (this was right next to the Midland box office, I was buying tickets). Since then, I haven't even acknowledged the homeless down here other than when I've volunteered at shelters a few times. Those people need help and are smart enough to know where to get it. The bums on the street asking for twenty spots are just looking for a buzz.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

Shocking a joke didn't resonate with the resident plus sized emo model.

My comment was directed specifically at a specific poster. It was a joke. I do like downtown KC, including shows in the hipster pant wearing crossroads district. I have no interest in PNL but I spend time in that area at least 3 times/year.

Now I'll direct one to you, zach. Go comb the doughnut crumbs out of your shitty beard. Reading your whining emo posts is the internet equivalent of eating 10lbs of Haribo sugar free gummy bears.

Was this the keyboard of doom? Or what are we calling your online rage these days?

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

I had a daily ~15 minute walk through downtown Atlanta for a few months and I'd say there was a 50% chance someone would at least ask for change, and once every few weeks someone would try a random scam ("my wife is pregnant and in the car down that way and we ran out of gas..."). In downtown KC, the chance of being asked for change (the horror!) is maybe 5% and I've never been approached with a scam.

You kind of answered your own question when you said "a lot of us out of towners," because that's exactly what it caters to, people who are from out of town or hardly ever go downtown.... it's not a great draw for people who want some local flavor, and the two perspectives aren't really the same at all.

Yea power and light is what it is though Pizza Bar and Dubliner aren't all bad.

[|Zach|]

It's funny though when Power and Light entered the scene it absolutely killed Westport for a while. Just killed it. Then things leveled off crowds that used to coexist there seem separated into P+L and Westport and that seems to work for everyone involved. Though a lot of the businesses in P+L don't do great if there isn't an event around.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Strongside

When's the last time you've actually gone to Westport to eat or have drinks? It's easily the best area of town for a night of entertainment now. New restaurants have exploded in that area, and 95% of them are locally owned, non-chain establishments. Crossroads is great as well. You're going to see and encounter douchebags no matter where you go...but you're far less likely to be put off or fought by a crowd of hipsters than you are by JoCo frat boys out spending mom and dad's allowance while they're in town from Lawrence, or Raytown thugs spending their entire weeks pay on a bottle of Dom at Mosaiic....that's PNL.

That.