| The future of downtown Kansas City might be best viewed from two perspectives: developments that are relatively certain and those which are still in the hoped-for stage. East Village is the most significant project in the relatively certain category. Although at least one major question remains—and several smaller ones—it appears certain that the huge, nine-block development emphasizing amixed use model is on the way. One reason a start date has not been announced involves the location of a Federal office building for some 1,600 employees that would be concentrated downtown from separate offices located throughout the metro area. East Village was a leading candidate for the site but a contender has arisen on a site near Richard Berkeley Park owned by the Port Authority. Regardless of the outcome, the nearly $400 million East Village project will provide a major transformation for the last remaining, large area within the Downtown Loop lacking redevelopment. The significance of the development is easy to underestimate at this point. Although comparable in size to the Power and Light Entertainment District, East Village may lack some of the big splash of the former with its tandem developments of Sprint Center and the H&R Block headquarters. Nevertheless, the East Village would transform the area east of City Hall dramatically. The J.E. Dunn $175 million J.E. Dunn headquarters will solidify an important downtown tenant, while providing a dramatic definition to the east side of the urban plaza. The redevelopment would also replace empty parking lots and vacant buildings with new offices, shops, apartments and homes. There are even plans for additional office buildings and a 200-room hotel. That hotel might sound especially optimistic, given the continued reconstruction of several boutique and historic hotels in the area. However, a recent study estimates that convention expansion and other traffic resulting from projects such as the Bartle Hall expansion could increase demand for hotel rooms by 185,000 nights per year. While one of the greatest needs is probably a major convention hotel—which has also been proposed—the addition of rooms in locales such as East Village appears sustainable. In terms of overall downtown development, either the East Village or the Riverfront Park site would be beneficial locations for the Federal office complex. Both have their proponents, although the Port Authority site by the river claims a lower overhead cost. A decision is likely in December 2007 or early in 2008, allowing construction to start in 2009. The riverfront site is a story in itself. The Port Authority rebuilt the Richard Berkley Riverfront Park in order to make more space for public events and access to the river. That project would complement what originally was proposed as a private residential development proposed next to the park on 55 acres controlled by the Port Authority. Like East Village, this will provide a extensive area of successfully developed urban density. Other key proposals include a hotel and condominium plan by the Cordish Company, the entertainment district’s developer. The 35-story combination hotel and condominium tower is proposed for the entertainment district. The tower would include 350 residential condos and a 150 to 200 room luxury hotel. In action at City Hall approving the Cordish proposal, the City Council also went on record supporting a large convention hotel. Several studies have argued for construction of such a 1,000-plus room convention hotel, especially with Bartle Hall’s expansion and other projects that will bring visitors here. Although the step was a small one, it could bring announcement of that next critical component closer. There has also been slight progress in resolving questions regarding light rail, which in its earliest stages would probably benefit Kansas City’s downtown as much as any other area of the metro. Although debate still centers on selecting a plan and resubmitting it to voters—huge steps with potential pitfalls—the growing consensus for a core route could mean that transportation boost would come sooner rather than later.
|