KANSAS CITY QUESTION: WILL CONNECTING CROSSROADS TO 18TH & VINE CREATE PROSPERITY OR FINANCIAL DISASTER?!?!
As an encore performance to the debatable Downtown Hotel, once again the current political administration at City Hall plays developer with taxpayer cash.
And so . . . Because Kansas City didn't get to vote on this double down for an entertainment district which has hosted a spate of shootings and no viable biz model . . .
Here's the question . . .
WILL MAYOR SLY AND COUNCIL CONNECTING THE CROSSROADS TO 18TH AND VINE WORK TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT OR IS IT JUST MORE WASTED MONEY ON TOP OF $100 MILLION?!?!
Just a bit of perspective on this from the Westside has shown us that The Mattie Roades Cultural Arts Center hosts a great many Latino themed events to coincide with First Friday but that crowds are REMARKABLY different with very little crossover out of anything but curiosity. First Friday has inspired growth that wasn't there but this institution had to do its own heavy lifting in attracting crowds. Neither proximity nor affiliation with the Crossroads is guarantee for success given so many businesses in this district that have failed over the years.
Even worse . . .
COULD 18TH & VINE INNER CITY CROSS-OVER RUIN THE CROSSROADS IN MUCH THE SAME WAY THAT THE PLAZA NOW STRUGGLES TO MAINTAIN ORDER AMID VIOLENT TEEN FLASH MOBS EVERY SUMMER?!?!
But I digress . . .
To better inform locals, check this post from a Kansas City jazz blogger who does a better job than any media outlet sorting through the deets and framing the topic . . .
KC JazzLark: 27.6 Mil for 18th and Vine
Money line . . .
"The 18th and Vine district will never thrive as an oasis surrounded by an urban moat. It must connect in a welcoming way to the Crossroads area. People who know the area and who are comfortable in the city recognize there’s nothing to fear. But that excludes a substantial number of area residents. The surrounding corridor looks more inviting than it did twenty years ago but it’s not inviting enough. Few improvements will boost 18th and Vine more than extending its welcome mat at least to the Bruce R. Watkins overpass . . ."
Read the whole thing for a comprehensive round-up . . .
Financial disaster is a bit harsh.
ReplyDeleteMore like good money after bad.
Politicians have try and try to create businesses where they have no real experience. Sly is a lawyer, a lot of the council are lawyers. What do they really know about entertainment? These deals might look good on paper but if they can't get crowds to buy into the idea, they're just throwing away money.
If all of that money hasn't made 18th & Vine viable? Why should this work?
It will work. I will make it work.
ReplyDeleteI'm the only one who can break the curse, Sergio will make the difference.
The biggest issue IS AND WAS the Black Economic Union.
ReplyDeleteThey single handedly destroyed a promising venue.
The biggest problem was allowing inexperienced vendors and resterantuers to dominate the area .Originally Silvia 's out of Harlem was going to be the Anchor, instead we got "Strange Fruit "an horrendous name anout bodies hanging from trees.
They also kept tbe general public away for months, opting for wealthy hipsters .
Now the area has been plagued by rolling gun battles and mismanaged entertainment venues
Prosperity for the BEU, lawyers, developers, grifters, consultants, scammers and anyone else who can get their hands in this cookie jar.
ReplyDeleteFinancial disaster for the taxpayers.
The cost keeps creeping up. At first it was 18mil, then 27mil, and now its 27.6mil... following the pattern of the East Patrol scam.
ReplyDeleteDamn! It is one coon project after another in Kansas Shitty. Too bad the peckerwoods are so gullible as to be paying for most of it.
ReplyDeleteOnly a streetcar line between the districts will save 18th& Vine. This saved the Downtown neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteWill connecting your elbow to your knee cap, make your knee more functional? Nope. Didn't think so!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteGive up now....put that money towards KCMO infrastructure. White people and their money are never going to go there again, can't they seem to figure that out by just looking at the last 20 years? Intelligent White people and their entertainment dollars are not going to be in the jazz district, ever. No matter how many faggot dance recital halls they build down there.
In less than five years, they will want another 20 million.
Isn't anybody curious to research the lifestyles of the GIMME's that have their hands out? Bet they're living fine and high. Bet they are driving new cars.
Another reason this piece of shit hasn't worked is that the homies don't want to work with white people towards any positive outcome. Whites are not welcome there, in any capacity. I know so many people that feel this way.
FINANCIAL DISASTER
ReplyDeleteThey're building something " nice" for teens to go to and hang out in "their" own part of town...to tear up and tear down and stay the hell out of the Plaza. Can't you see? What's wrong with that? NIMBY or in an area close to you? Segregation to help everyone out. Got to control these young minds. Just till they calm down a bit. Isn't it worth it to keep them in their part of town like
ReplyDeleteNichol s' Plan?
^^^ That's a really good point.
ReplyDeleteIt's just crazy enough that it might work, time will tell. It's hasn't been done yet but one thing's for sure is that the Jazz district is isolated. Pouring more money into the Jazz district but keeping it isolated would be a disaster. Need whites to keep it running
ReplyDeleteThought about alternatives and directives to benefit from the sources are right in front of them. Everyone has their own agenda or is pissed at this one or will never work with that asshole so nothing gets done. Same as it ever was...
ReplyDeleteThis is such bullshit. The Crossroads started organically by artists and places like Grinders. None of them got shit for the amount of risk they subjected themselves to whereas the goddamn jazz district has got millions plus the under the table money unaccounted for. Things like this can't be forced, throwing money at it does not make it cool or safe. All black people from East of the Crossroads will do is ruin Crossroads. Not another penny should go to 18th & Vine. The fucking grifters have stolen more than enough.
ReplyDeletePoint taken. Grinder's was on its own way before it got hip from hype.
ReplyDeleteIt will fail just like the Beacon Hill scam. Once all of the blacks have foreclosed and/or gone bankrupt, the whites will come in with their own development plan. Gotta love this little town.
ReplyDeleteForgot about that one....
ReplyDeleteThe Lyric Opera is down that way and Ailey. Got to drop some legit cash that way.
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't Ailey take over the Gem?
ReplyDeletesame reason nobody wants to take over one of my saturday morning turds,i reckon
ReplyDeleteLol, very funny. I've never been to the Gem. The side with Grinders...I had more art shows. So I would agree to founding that side versus 18th Vine soon much. They tore down all
ReplyDeleteThe buildings that gave it character not a mini mall mentality. Remember Bannister?