Even Kansas City Star Questions UNDERCAPITALIZED 'South Loop' Scheme

Here's something more important to understand than newsie screeds or development hype . . .

THE DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY SOUTH LOOP DOES NOT HAVE THE FUNDING IT NEEDS TO START CONSTRUCTION ON THE PROJECT!!!

There is no significant government funding yet AND private funds are just for a marketing campaign.

Translation . . . All the "news" locals read on Friday was a lie.

Now the newspaper, thankfully, is jumping back on the right side of this issue . . .

Would other Kansas Citians use the park? Doubtful, and it’s hard to escape the queasy feeling that some of that money could be better spent on more pressing city problems, including violent crime and substandard housing.

It isn’t as if Kansas City has neglected its downtown — far from it. It has subsidized downtown hotels, bars, restaurants, a performing arts center, the T-Mobile Center, office buildings, apartments and the streetcar. Will enough ever be enough?

This is an important discussion, because the rumbling surrounding downtown baseball grows louder each day (and escalated yet again Friday.) While details regarding downtown baseball remain fuzzy, a significant public investment would almost certainly be required.

Will Kansas Citians (or Jackson Countians) be asked to provide a venue that baseball fans will enjoy, and the Royals will endorse, but that does little to improve the quality of life for the rest of the city, or county? The south loop link project may provide interesting, and unsettling answers.

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

Oh good, a lid on Kansas City's south downtown loop - and even more developer subsidies

OPINION AND COMMENTARY Word that Kansas City is closer to building a park on top of the south downtown loop will be exciting news to the usual suspects: downtown boosters, business tycoons, and political figures who enjoy cutting ribbons. But we're not sure who else would benefit.