| Downtown Kansas City Redevelopment |
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Information AboutDowntown Kansas City Redevelopment |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY REDEVELOPMENT | |
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''See Also: Downtown Kansas City '' ''See Also: Architecture In Kansas City '' PROJECTS Power and Light District The Power and Light District is a six-block area immediately to the south of the Central Business District. Originally to be named "Kansas City Live", the developer - Cordish, Inc. of Baltimore, Maryland - decided to name the district after the historic Power and Light Building (the headquarters of the Kansas City Power and Light Company, a Subsidiary of utility giant Utilicorp, is also located on the northern side of the district). Instead, a one-block area near the new H&R Block headquarters tower devoted to live music venues will be named Kansas City Live. As of spring 2006 , the H&R Block building has been topped out and the exteriors and interiors are being completed. Its prominent oval shape mixed with blue-green reflective glass makes for an architectural transition between the Central Business District's skyscrapers and the south loop's older buildings. If viewed from the south, the downtown skyline will have four glass towers all within a few blocks of the intersection of Twelfth Street and Main Street. As well, Cordish plans to build between four and six residential towers in the project. As of spring 2006, however, only one is under construction: a 22-story, 200-unit residential tower immediately north of the H&R Block headquarters on a lot once occupied by the flagship store of the Jones Store Company. As of March, 2006, construction on the building itself has not been started yet, but the ground has been leveled and dug out in anticipation of construction soon to begin. That section of the new district is estimated to be completed by spring, 2007 . Sprint Center The Sprint Center , an 18,500-seat arena, is a project that was announced shortly after the Power and Light District. In 2004, the proposed arena was effectively passed by the voters of all the affected counties, who voted to fund the arena by means of a tax on car rentals and hotels. This project has raised some controversy. Enterprise Rent-A-Car , a St. Louis corporation whose majority shareholder is known for supporting an NBA team for St. Louis, lobbied against the tax and tried to sway public opinion against the arena. Some city officials, as well as those who did not desire to pay the increased tax, also fought against the project. One of the most prominent of these individuals was Sandra McFadden-Weaver, a member of the City Council of Kansas City, Missouri. Despite the outcry from these few dissenters, the arena vote passed decidedly. Construction began late in 2004. Before this, however, and even before the vote, the city sent out a request for local and national architectural firms to bid on the project. Some of these firms included HOK Sports, Ellerbe Beckett, 360 Architecture, Rafael Architects Inc. and the world-renowned Frank Gehry . The first four of those firms, however, collaborated to form the "Downtown Arena Design Team", and won the contract over Gehry's bid. As as a reason for their choice, the city stated both that those companies had completed a variety of sports-related projects done many projects related to sports, and that all were local companies. Since construction has begun, many local minority leaders have protested the construction company and contractors for not putting enough Minorities in the construction and contracting teams. The contractors, however, assert that they have complied with state and federal requirements and continue to meet the requests of local citizens. Convention center ballroom Bartle Hall Convention Center , having notably expanded over the past decade, has decided to expand yet again. The current project entails a large ballroom facility, situated over I-70 's passage through downtown Kansas City just west of the convention center. The project is estimated to cost about $100 million. As of spring 2006, this project is under construction and the building is well on its way to completion. Performing Arts Center A new Performing Arts Center has proposed south of Bartle Hall Convention Center and its new ballroom. It entails an 1,800-seat concert hall and a 2,200-seat theatre. Currently, the design comprises two buildings, although originally the plan called for three buildings. Also proposed is an 800-car parking garage, to be placed underneath a park immediately south of the building. Those looking to build the PAC have announced it will start construction in fall of 2006. Federal Reserve headquarters The Federal Reserve Bank Of Kansas City decided to move its headquarters from a 21-story tower in the Downtown Loop to the Hospital Hill neighborhood on the southern edge of Downtown, immediately south of Crown Center on a site formerly occupied by Trinity Lutheran Hospital. The headquarters will house a 14-story tower surrounded by several smaller two-story and four-story buildings. Construction is underway and the foundations for the tower have been set. IRS headquarters The IRS recently decided to construct a new building downtown, just west of Crown Center, which will house 6,000 employees. Presumably because of the threat of Terrorism , the IRS decided on this particular site because it is in a low-lying area and will include low-rise buldings. The plan calls for a $200 million facility with 5,500 parking spaces in its accompanying garage, along with over a million square feet of space for the IRS. Construction began in 2004 and should be ready in time for a scheduled completion in the summer of 2006. The IRS will also occupy the nearby Kansas City Main Post Office building, the Post Office having moved across the street to a building next to Union Station . RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION This is a list of all currently under construction, proposed, and envisioned developments for Downtown that include residential units, ranging from lofts, to condos, to studios. Under Construction Number of units under construction in each location: Downtown Loop: 817 (47%) River Market: 467 (26%) Crown Center: 459 (25%) Crossroads: 37 (2%) Proposed Number of units proposed in each location: Downtown Loop: 2,563 (59%) Riverfront: 1,200 (28%) Crown Center: 405 (9%) Crossroads: 149 (3%) River Market: 25 (1%) Envisioned EXTERNAL LINKS |
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