Royals leaving the K

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

It'll absolutely be a bunch of chain bullshit. There won't be a single thing in walking distance that's actually legit KC. As in, born raised, made their salt here.

This is why I hate these types of projects. Before they put the Sprint Center in, the Crossroads area was organically beginning to thrive; arts and music and all locally owned businesses. Then Power and Blight, almost entirely chain shit from out of state. Locals are slowly getting pushed out as the developers snatch up real estate for rich people who want to live in a 'hip, urban environment', but actually hate everything about that and actually just turn it all into a whitewashed dystopia of chain restaurants, Starbucks, and some ****ing Toby Keith's yeehaw ****ing asshole bars.

Whether they plop this down right in the Crossroads district or just north, this will drive the real estate prices so high there won't be a local business anywhere in that area in 10 years. It'll all be ****ing Applebees and bullshit like that. Giant ****ing strip mall. Yay. Progress. Is this downtown Cleveland? No, Kansas City? Huh. Same difference, I guess.

****in' yuck.

I think you are giving a lot of credit to what downtown and the crossroads was before Power and Light. It would have been amazing if downtown was more dynamic without needing a district like that but it was not the case and people simply were not living downtown or going downtown at all.

I am sympathetic to your concerns I live downtown and know first hand some of the annoying stuff about it but it was not better before. Nobody was even around to like or not like something or have an opinion on it. Not everything is a local gem in a metropolitan area Power and Light is like a ridiculous adult Disney Land its plastic and chain but has helped the area bring in more people and do more things...allowed it to turn a corner.

There are amazing local Kansas City places everywhere. Just because they are not directly across the street from an area is ok. You can still have a drink at the Campground or a pizza and beer at Caddyshack. Downtown and the surrounding area have enough for everyone. Hell even Zoo bar still shines bright.

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

I think you are giving a lot of credit to what downtown and the crossroads was before Power and Light. It would have been amazing if downtown was more dynamic without needing a district like that but it was not the case and people simply were not living downtown or going downtown at all.

I am sympathetic to your concerns I live downtown and know first hand some of the annoying stuff about it but it was not better before. Nobody was even around to like or not like something or have an opinion on it. Not everything is a local gem in a metropolitan area Power and Light is like a ridiculous adult Disney Land its plastic and chain but has helped the area bring in more people and do more things...allowed it to turn a corner.

There are amazing local Kansas City places everywhere. Just because they are not directly across the street from an area is ok. You can still have a drink at the Campground or a pizza and beer at Caddyshack. Downtown and the surrounding area have enough for everyone. Hell even Zoo bar still shines bright.

Dude, I had a studio at 16th and Grand for ten years, and have worked in this area on and off since the late 90's.. At the beginning of that time, you could literally see tumbleweeds blowing down Grand certain times of year. Then artists started renting lofts down there. There would be rent parties, which would be live music shows, which led to actual live music venues, and art galleries, and cool little hole in the wall restaurants. It was beginning to happen, and the First Friday thing started, and early on, that was all local and grew naturally, no corporate bullshit, just like a real KC thing. Then Power and Light, and the arena, and the artists all run out for luxury loft living. Now the people in the luxury lofts are complaining about all the noise from the live music clubs and especially from Grinders, which is an outdoor smallish concert venue.

So, did 'people' go to the area before? Well, people that were part of things that were happening, yeah. People who were or were interested in art and music.

Did suburban people who want to eat chain food because that's what they know and drink $10 bud lights come by the thousands? Well, no.

Somehow people from the suburbs think things are either whitebread chain bullshit or gang war territory. It's entirely untrue and pretty insulting, really.
Not that YOU were being insulting, just that the concept of what makes a city interesting and unique is entirely lost on most people.

There is still a lot of cool stuff in the Crossroads district, but most of it will be gone soon with the rent hikes coming with a stadium build less than a mile away.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

Dude, I had a studio at 16th and Grand for ten years, and have worked in this area on and off since the late 90's.. At the beginning of that time, you could literally see tumbleweeds blowing down Grand certain times of year. Then artists started renting lofts down there. There would be rent parties, which would be live music shows, which led to actual live music venues, and art galleries, and cool little hole in the wall restaurants. It was beginning to happen, and the First Friday thing started, and early on, that was all local and grew naturally, no corporate bullshit, just like a real KC thing. Then Power and Light, and the arena, and the artists all run out for luxury loft living. Now the people in the luxury lofts are complaining about all the noise from the live music clubs and especially from Grinders, which is an outdoor smallish concert venue.

So, did 'people' go to the area before? Well, people that were part of things that were happening, yeah. People who were or were interested in art and music.

Did suburban people who want to eat chain food because that's what they know and drink $10 bud lights come by the thousands? Well, no.

Somehow people from the suburbs think things are either whitebread chain bullshit or gang war territory. It's entirely untrue and pretty insulting, really.
Not that YOU were being insulting, just that the concept of what makes a city interesting and unique is entirely lost on most people.

There is still a lot of cool stuff in the Crossroads district, but most of it will be gone soon with the rent hikes coming with a stadium build less than a mile away.

I don't think those breweries & updown will go anywhere especially with First Fridays coming back business will be boomin

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

I don't think those breweries & updown will go anywhere especially with First Fridays coming back business will be boomin

For now.

Unless those businesses own the buildings they're in, their days will be numbered.

That's not a crazy prediction. It's exactly how all of this goes every time, in every place.

It will be generic chain stores, restaurants, and bars because only the chains will be able to cover the rent.

That's just how this goes.

It will be entirely devoid of anything authentically Kansas City. I'm sure it'll make a lot of money, and people who don't actually know the city will think it's swell, because they'll have no idea what they missed.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

Somehow people from the suburbs think things are either whitebread chain bullshit or gang war territory. It's entirely untrue and pretty insulting, really.
Not that YOU were being insulting, just that the concept of what makes a city interesting and unique is entirely lost on most people.

There is still a lot of cool stuff in the Crossroads district, but most of it will be gone soon with the rent hikes coming with a stadium build less than a mile away.

I totally agree with all of this. The perception of downtown is ridiculous and wrong.

But honestly I think one of the best things KC has done lately is stop bending over backwards for people from the suburbs who don't understand it and don't give a shit and are always going to paint it as whatever they want.

City manager Brian Platt has done a good job in this regard. He knows what cities our size should be doing to thrive and he pushes to do things like that. He doesn't pretend to care what a group guys in a barber shop in Grain Valley think about what KC needs or does not need. They do not live here and do not know anything about it and bending over backwards to try to make it more appealing and catering to them.

Just feels like PL helped establish something that we have been able to build upon. Not that it is perfect and has not had problems. Alot of the issues we face now in regard to housing are not really KC specific but that does not mean we do not need to be better at making it so more people can live in and enjoy downtown.

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

I totally agree with all of this. The perception of downtown is ridiculous and wrong.

But honestly I think one of the best things KC has done lately is stop bending over backwards for people from the suburbs who don't understand it and don't give a shit and are always going to paint it as whatever they want.

City manager Brian Platt has done a good job in this regard. He knows what cities are size should be doing to thrive and he pushes to do things like that. He doesn't pretend to care what a group guys in a barber shop in Grain Valley think about what KC needs or does not need. They do not live here and do not know anything about it and bending over backwards to try to make it more catering to them.

Just feels like PL helped establish something that we have been able to build upon. Not that it is perfect and has not had problems. Alot of the issues we face now in regard to housing are not really KC specific but that does not mean we do not need to be better at making it so more people can live in and enjoy downtown.

I don't disagree with any of that necessarily, and my viewpoint is deeply arts-centric as I believe very strongly that what makes a city great, unique, and fun is the arts and entertainment. The music, art, food, theater, all that stuff. I came here as a young person to make art (music) and I stayed because it was an affordable place to live while i did so. I'm afraid for the youngsters coming up now. I mean, I own my house. But how the hell does a 22 year old kid afford rent in this city now? and still have time to make art?

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

I don't disagree with any of that necessarily, and my viewpoint is deeply arts-centric as I believe very strongly that what makes a city great, unique, and fun is the arts and entertainment. The music, art, food, theater, all that stuff. I came here as a young person to make art (music) and I stayed because it was an affordable place to live while i did so. I'm afraid for the youngsters coming up now. I mean, I own my house. But how the hell does a 22 year old kid afford rent in this city now? and still have time to make art?

You are right its an issue. It is an issue much bigger than Kansas City you see this playing out in so many places.

I think there are still a lot of great and affordable places in midtown. KC Tenants is doing amazing things as a group advocating for liveable housing for working people which in turn can create more opportunities for artists.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

You are right its an issue. It is an issue much bigger than Kansas City you see this playing out in so many places.

I think there are still a lot of great and affordable places in midtown. KC Tenants is doing amazing things as a group advocating for liveable housing for working people which in turn can create more opportunities for artists.

KC Tenants should all be shot. Pieces of shit org

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by BWillie

KC Tenants should all be shot. Pieces of shit org

Thankfully I think what little momentum they had is gone

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

I don't disagree with any of that necessarily, and my viewpoint is deeply arts-centric as I believe very strongly that what makes a city great, unique, and fun is the arts and entertainment. The music, art, food, theater, all that stuff. I came here as a young person to make art (music) and I stayed because it was an affordable place to live while i did so. I'm afraid for the youngsters coming up now. I mean, I own my house. But how the hell does a 22 year old kid afford rent in this city now? and still have time to make art?

Cordish's (P&L) four light is going up, too.

All well and good, but it's a Boston based company. It's like Blvd, owned by the Belgians.

I think the goal is to get as many people into downtown as possible ( new apartments in the last few years), but like you said, it will simply out price those who made the 'roads great to begin with.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by stevieray

Cordish's (P&L) four light is going up, too.

All well and good, but it's a Boston based company. It's like Blvd, owned by the Belgians.

I think the goal is to get as many people into downtown as possible ( new apartments in the last few years), but like you said, it will simply out price those who made the 'roads great to begin with.

I don't understand 1, 2, and 3 Light. Its all for rent. We need more for purchase apts downtown. Not throw away rent places.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by BWillie

I don't understand 1, 2, and 3 Light. Its all for rent. We need more for purchase apts downtown. Not throw away rent places.

All that money goes back to Boston.

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

Dude, I had a studio at 16th and Grand for ten years, and have worked in this area on and off since the late 90's.. At the beginning of that time, you could literally see tumbleweeds blowing down Grand certain times of year. Then artists started renting lofts down there. There would be rent parties, which would be live music shows, which led to actual live music venues, and art galleries, and cool little hole in the wall restaurants. It was beginning to happen, and the First Friday thing started, and early on, that was all local and grew naturally, no corporate bullshit, just like a real KC thing. Then Power and Light, and the arena, and the artists all run out for luxury loft living. Now the people in the luxury lofts are complaining about all the noise from the live music clubs and especially from Grinders, which is an outdoor smallish concert venue.

So, did 'people' go to the area before? Well, people that were part of things that were happening, yeah. People who were or were interested in art and music.

Did suburban people who want to eat chain food because that's what they know and drink $10 bud lights come by the thousands? Well, no.

Somehow people from the suburbs think things are either whitebread chain bullshit or gang war territory. It's entirely untrue and pretty insulting, really.
Not that YOU were being insulting, just that the concept of what makes a city interesting and unique is entirely lost on most people.

There is still a lot of cool stuff in the Crossroads district, but most of it will be gone soon with the rent hikes coming with a stadium build less than a mile away.

I lived in the RM and my now wife lived on 16th and Walnut pre-P&L, arena, Star building, etc. and this brings back fond memories. There would be random parties in the Crossroads at art spaces that you could just walk into, DIY music spaces, etc. Felt like everyone knew one another and after a certain time of day there was no one outside of that who was really down there at that time.

That said, and its 100% because I don't live there anymore, I do enjoy going back and seeing the evolution. Yeah its weird booking a Hampton Inn right across the street from where I once hung out, but seeing people out walking around or out walking their dogs feels nice.

I get both sides of it. If I were still down there I'm not sure how I'd feel. As an out of towner I enjoy visiting the Crossroads.

Hopefully they do it right but I totally get the feeling that it hasn't and won't end well for a lot of folks down there.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

I lived in the RM and my now wife lived on 16th and Walnut pre-P&L, arena, Star building, etc. and this brings back fond memories. There would be random parties in the Crossroads at art spaces that you could just walk into, DIY music spaces, etc. Felt like everyone knew one another and after a certain time of day there was no one outside of that who was really down there at that time.

That said, and its 100% because I don't live there anymore, I do enjoy going back and seeing the evolution. Yeah its weird booking a Hampton Inn right across the street from where I once hung out, but seeing people out walking around or out walking their dogs feels nice.

I get both sides of it. If I were still down there I'm not sure how I'd feel. As an out of towner I enjoy visiting the Crossroads.

Hopefully they do it right but I totally get the feeling that it hasn't and won't end well for a lot of folks down there.

You talking about the place off of Walnut and 9th st? What used to be across from there?

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

You talking about the place off of Walnut and 9th st? What used to be across from there?

Walnut and 9th?

The Stables?