We Should All Worry About Overland Park Building New Westport

An upcoming development signals that Kansas City is quickly losing influence and attraction to party people.

On the other hand . . .

Our friends in Overland Park might not be ready to cope with the reality of their own destination entertainment district in the aftermath of an American cultural shift.

Here's a preview of what could be a really cool hangout or a disaster in the making . . .

"Launch Development plans six pickleball courts in a 14,520 square-foot building, plus two more courts outdoors; a 5,185-square-foot dining area; seven shipping containers with food and retail operators; a performance stage; and large TV screen. An earlier plan iteration called for more residential and commercial spaces on the 25-acre site near 91st Street and Metcalf Avenue."

It sounds kinda nice but this type of development is not without its challenges.

For instance . . . Let's not forget that Westport was pretty much Kansas City's "date rape" destination during the 80s & 90s. We hope that our society has evolved from that point but those kind of complicated charges might be tough for a suburban police department, prosecutor's office and court to confront . . . Especially every weekend. 

Gun play and fighting is a constant in Westport. Drunk people tend to make dumb decisions and right now smaller venues in JoCo are more easily able to control their patrons . . . Putting people in the open air offers a new dynamic wherein crowd control comes into play. 

Our Kansas City "problem patrons" have easy access to cars and would love to visit new venues in Overland Park. This party "spillover" might be a great example of regionalism but also holds a new threat for the suburban party crowd. 

As always, we hope for the best and we're eager to see how this good time plan develops.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . .

Promontory development in Overland Park planning pickleball, shipping container restaurants

The next chapter of Promontory, a $97.5 million mixed-use development in Overland Park, is in orbit, on a path toward clearing city approval and breaking ground in the near future. Launch Development Inc. eyes a construction start as soon as Dec.