This week's Highlight from TKC Comments is really just an attempt to point out old and busted local logic. Funny thing is, I have heard this arguement in favor of the Downtown Hotel before from a guy who probably takes down at least 3 million bucks a year. Building a HUGE Downtown hotel is simply the "last piece" that's going to cost hundreds of millions for Kansas City and may or may not work. Here's the horrible arguement that's being sold to the Council:
"Build the Hotel and get several thousand visitors into P&L every week and you can have good retail less P&L subsidy and lots of new jobs."
Conveniently, there's no mention of hundreds of millions worth of EVEN MORE Debt and the very real possibility it STILL WON'T WORK.
In the final analysis, I'm just against this town getting into the Hotel Biz because I've seen how we have screwed up so many other, far less complex projects.
This idea is nothing less than a recipe for even more failure and it not only qualifies as "throwing good money after bad" but also offers a convenient excuse as to why the current P&L boondoggle didn't pan out.
Developing . . .
How about making the city first rate, you know, for the people who actually live here.
ReplyDeleteThe council are clowns.
I have an idea. Let's make Prospect first-rate. You know, for the people that live in KC. I am sure it can easily be revitalized. Just think of all the new jobs and joy everyone will get out of Prospect.
ReplyDeleteI thought we already had great hotel's that are half empty most of the time.
ReplyDeleteThe hotel is a boondogggle. If it were a really good and potentially profitable idea it wouldn't need taxpayer subsidies. Enough already.
ReplyDeletethe real winners would be Cordish..think of all the beer that will sell...why don't they pay for it? Wheres Brent Lambi?
ReplyDeleteHey Tony...thanks for highlighted my view as your comment of the week.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I am not on the Hotel committee, an elected official or do I have a $3M income. I am involved in city affairs and have lived at one time or another in every major city and suburb on both sides of the line. I lean right politically (am worried about debt), agree that the Funks are idiots and agree with you about 1/2 of the time.
Although the debt worries me, I love my city enough to support the hotel. Here's why.
I've lived in the area over 50 years and in that time, until the Sprint Center and P&L, only with the Hall Families efforts with Crown Center was there a really dynamic urban enhancement in KC. In that time, the DT core became a total embarrassment and high quality development left the city almost altogether.
In the history of the city, how many big projects have really played out? The stadiums were misplaced. Kemper in the Stockyards never really worked. KCI's economic impact wasn't really felt until just recently. Only the Plaza & Crown Center have worked.
Here we are again. DT, another big project that without the Hotel only partially works. It's location has proved out (a surprise to many including the no nutts people who didn't bring baseball DT) but without the Hotel it will not create critical mass. It's risky to go forward but finally - maybe this town's leadership will show the courage to do a big deal, a proud civic and economic deal without the Nichols, the Halls the Curry's or the Kemper's dominating.
They'll do it as leaders like the Suburban leaders do.
How have the suburbs been different? What can be learned from their success? In Indep and OP and Leawood and recently yes EVEN KCK they were courageous and did projects with a BUILD IT AND THEY"LL COME COURAGE!
Completing the DT package with another Hotel will take the same courage. People like you Tony will never admire the courage to elevate a community...remember you live in your mothers basement!
And don't say that the P&L is unpopular. The NAACP and the Soccer fans were recent diverse groups who have proved you wrong.
ELEVATE THIS CITY. CREATE JOBS. COM
PETE WITH THE SUBURBS AND OTHER LESSOR CONVENTION TOWNS AND PROVE FUNK AND TONY WRONG!
DAMN THE TORPEDO'S! BUILD IT!
@wish...
ReplyDeleteCome on. This is not the site for well reasoned and insightful discussion. If you would please just write poorly, post a titty pic and move on. Thank you.
Maybe the Kemper and Curry families can kick in about $25M each (payback for hounding their way into the TERRIBLE decisions on the arena and stadiums). Also, get a few $M from the Glass family for the TERRIBLE decision to redo the Royal's in the east hood.
ReplyDeleteClark Hunt and the Hall's have a ton and their BENEVOLENCE might come through. and last but not least a $1M or so from all of the political consultants earning a small fortune in the current local campaign.
ALL OF THESE PEOPLE SHOULD STEP UP AND GET THE FUCKER BUILT!
I think it's a great, can't-lose idea to build the hotel. Therefore, I think private money can be used to build it without fear of loss. Go for it!
ReplyDeleteKim Carlos wants this done so we should just do it ... after we pay her.
ReplyDeleteTKC FAILS!
ReplyDeleteYes Tony....people who live in family basements are usually pretty un-ambitous and not much into personal or municipal "elevation".
ReplyDelete"Wish" is right...this city needs to "nut up" on the Hotel and make it happen. BUILD THE FUCKING THING, IF THE CITY GOES BANKRUPT WHO GIVES A SHIT!
but....i wanna $6 an hour job cleanin rooms!!!!!
ReplyDelete