A few of Kansas City's Black leaders are making sure the Wizards go to JoCo and South KC stays underdeveloped!!!
Richard Tolbert and his cadre of local businessmen have their heart in the right place but don't realize that nothing will save Bannister Mall short of the second coming.
Prime Buzz reports that the Save the Bannister Mall Group Inc. is attempting to block the soccer-oriented redevelopment plan approved by the Kansas City Council earlier this month for the Bannister Mall area.
I'm not completely sure but I've heard the group wants to covert the old Bannister Mall site into some kind of urban co-op, utopia with local minority owned businesses and maybe a drum circle. It's a beautiful notion but it's not going to happen. Bannister Mall was ruined by the fear of roving groups of young, Black males . . . Well, that and all the crime the place hosted. It is literally, the "place in KC where white people used to shop" and the history of the establishment as a retail outlet has almost as many bad memories as Dachau . . . At least in the minds of so many white people scared of their daughters discovering the joys of interracial dating.
Sadly, this group can be a big enough thorn in the side of developers that escaping to Johnson County could seem like a reasonable alternative.
Most people like the Three Trails development plan and TKC is the only one brave and cocksure enough to point out that the Wizards have one of THE WORST ATTENDANCE RECORDS IN MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER. Soccer fans (no homo) attempt to use the "chicken and the egg" argument and claim that a better stadium will mean more fans . . . Whereas TKC knows this town and realizes that a city full of mullet fans and fickle JoCo sports enthusiasts don't have the patience for a pastime almost completely supported by mini-van driving moms in this country.
Meanwhile, Mayor Funky flip-flopped on this issue and finally gave in to South KC demands for generous TIF awards with only a few minor changes.
Certainly, South KC deserves some attention for a change but a few of this town's loyal soccer fans subsidized by millions of dollars will most likely only help construction companies. So, in the long run, I'm not going to shed a tear when the Wizards and their dozen or so fans take off for JoCo.
KC's best soccer blog hits on the issue.
ReplyDeletehttp://downthebyline.blogspot.com/2007/12/save-bannister-people-are-back.html
Actually this is a well done article, Tony. You are right. Some people focus so hard on one point, in this case trying to turn it back into a mall that will only fail. Why not spend millions more for a stadium that will most likely fail? South-side KC needs so much help it isn't funny. A stadium would help, but how much? All I see is yet one more group, in this case so called 'minority leaders' with a hand held out asking for money. How much has ever shown up for the people since the Kauffman complex was built in this area of KC? Screw more shopping for 'urban-centric' themes. That is part of the problem, most people in this town do n to want to be shopping for FUBU when they are looking for work clothes. No around the stadium, why not open up some good food joints and what not. You will get a crowd back that way, but the area from 87th to 435, from state line to blue ridge, needs to be razed and cleaned up. Hell I live in that area, and worry about where I park.
ReplyDelete"KC's best soccer blog hits on the issue."
ReplyDeleteBest soccer blog? I guess if ONLY equates to best....
If it were only a stadium, you guys MIGHT have a point...
ReplyDeleteHowever, this is almost a BILLION dollar project, that involves much more than just a stadium. It includes a hotel, retail space, office buildings, resturants... much much more than just a stadium. The stadium and the youth fields are the anchor that will draw people from around the metro and the surrounding areas... the rest is what will make money are re-vitalize the area.
"Best soccer blog? I guess if ONLY equates to best...."
ReplyDeleteThere are actually quite a few other KC soccer blogs if you actually take the time to check out the link.
Anyway, I would think it's a little to late to be saving anything at Bannister... try about 5 years to late. This development needs to and will happen.
"Pastor" Richard Tolbert would need to HAVE a heart in order for it to be in the right place.
ReplyDeleteSome of his greatest hits:
http://www.psc.mo.gov/orders/2007/081507407.htm
http://www.pitch.com/2006-08-17/news/the-blight-king/full
Just your friend, Tindall and his groupies.
ReplyDelete