Just puttering around KC on Google Maps and came across this beauty. Consider me jealous. Not only does with probably produce a lot of power but having an array that size is a baller move. I can think of 100 parking lots (and garages) in the city alone that can use a similar treatment. Plus shady parking spots are always a plus!
It isn't in KC, but the VA did numerous projects like that. The VA in Little Rock, Arkansas has (I believe) a larger solar array.
BJC built a giant one on their biggest CWE garage (and a couple nearby buildings):
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Ameren has constructed one solar array at Lambert and I think is working on another. They’re building an even larger array in Montgomery County. Just west of STL. They also just finished closing on two large wind farms. Doesn’t IKEA have a giant array on its roof too?
Ameren has constructed one solar array at Lambert and I think is working on another. They’re building an even larger array in Montgomery County. Just west of STL. They also just finished closing on two large wind farms. Doesn’t IKEA have a giant array on its roof too?
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Yes.sc4mayor wrote: ↑Jul 25, 2021Doesn’t IKEA have a giant array on its roof too?
The city should really mandate it for all parking structures, and preferably all parking lots as well.
It kinda does. St. Louis City has a Solar Readiness Ordinance mandating that new construction is built in a way that accommodates the addition of solar panels, even if solar energy isn't a part of the initial construction.
Information here: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/d ... e-city.cfm

-RBB
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Yeah, i know that they've had the solar-ready mandate for all new construction, but that's not the same as an actual requirement mandate. Parking seems like the low-hanging fruit for that; honestly surprised Ameren hasn't covered their enormous swaths of parking with panels already.
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KC in top 20 again for commercial and multi-family construction starts according to Dodge Data, first half of 2021. Only 3 in Midwest. Not bad for about 30th largest market. KC hovering around MSP last several years and often exceeding some larger southern markets like Orlando, Tampa, Charlotte as well as Portland and San Diego on W Coast at times. Austin, Nashville, Denver, Orlando and KC are the only markets under 3M pops typically in top 20.
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There must be a lot of commercial activity, or starts from projects that were permitted last year because it looks like there have only been 151 total multifamily units permitted this year for the whole metrohobo digitale wrote: ↑Jul 27, 2021KC in top 20 again for commercial and multi-family construction starts according to Dodge Data, first half of 2021. Only 3 in Midwest. Not bad for about 30th largest market. KC hovering around MSP last several years and often exceeding some larger southern markets like Orlando, Tampa, Charlotte as well as Portland and San Diego on W Coast at times. Austin, Nashville, Denver, Orlando and KC are the only markets under 3M pops typically in top 20.
https://kchba.org/wp-content/uploads/20 ... 5-2021.pdf
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^There's a good amount of KC multi-family permits as well this year, your source is incomplete. But the post 2 back are construction starts, not permits so correct it is what broke ground up to end of June, which could involve older permits. But yeah commercial does seem to be hotter than multi-family overall in KC.
Permits...
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https://www.nahb.org/news-and-economics ... Metro-Area
https://www.recenter.tamu.edu/data/buil ... y%2C_MO-KS
Permits...
https://www.nahb.org/news-and-economics ... Metro-Area
https://www.recenter.tamu.edu/data/buil ... y%2C_MO-KS
^Oddly, KC also has over 7K hotel rooms in pipeline for metro, only Chicago has more in pipeline in Midwest...
https://www.nmrk.com/insights/market-re ... et-reports
Most may not happen and/or older hotels may close/repurpose when these open but another sign developers/lenders have a lot of confidence in KC market. Might contribute to keeping KC in top 20 for next few years if many happen, as well as the massive data center complex breaking ground in Jan. Indy/Columbus are relatively hot and might appear on list as well, perhaps knocking KC off.
edit: And here are multi-family projects in pipeline for both KC/STL, Q2 reports should be coming out soon..
https://www.berkadia.com/research-and-r ... leadership
edit: Indy is on fire with industrial/warehouse construction, though KC pretty hot too...
https://www.cbre.us/research-and-report ... ot-Q2-2021
https://www.nmrk.com/insights/market-re ... et-reports
Most may not happen and/or older hotels may close/repurpose when these open but another sign developers/lenders have a lot of confidence in KC market. Might contribute to keeping KC in top 20 for next few years if many happen, as well as the massive data center complex breaking ground in Jan. Indy/Columbus are relatively hot and might appear on list as well, perhaps knocking KC off.
edit: And here are multi-family projects in pipeline for both KC/STL, Q2 reports should be coming out soon..
https://www.berkadia.com/research-and-r ... leadership
edit: Indy is on fire with industrial/warehouse construction, though KC pretty hot too...
https://www.cbre.us/research-and-report ... ot-Q2-2021
Ascend River Market:
First 3d renderings. 12 floors, 232 units new construction. Zoning and planning commission meeting in mid-August.
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First 3d renderings. 12 floors, 232 units new construction. Zoning and planning commission meeting in mid-August.
The Edison (Crossroads KC): 228 units by LuxLiving. Demolition is well underway.
The Tracks (Crossroads KC): 193 units by Milhaus. Grading permit is in review. Construction should start soon after an approval is received.
Freight House District (Crossroads KC): Existing lowrise slated for new construction apartments has been converted to a dog park/daycare until a permanent facility can be built to the north. The permanent facility looks to have some early work ongoing and will be completed within 12 months at the latest.
Power & Light:
The new head of the district comes from Sporting KC. It was reported by the Star that the current stadium has been paid off. KCRAG discussing a potential move downtown. Frmr head, Nick Benjamin, will now lead Cordish Midwest and residential. Cordish has proposed 3 high-rises and 1 historic renovation to be underway by Q4 2022. Nick Benjamin told the Biz Journal that 4 Light will be announced in the next few months so it could end up being 4 high rises underway.
An 18-month crane permit was applied for on the east side of Sprint Center. Could be an unannounced project or a long-term renovation of a building over there.
KC Streetcar Expansions:
Riverfront: Options for Phase 2/3 expansions are being studied. Phase 1 riverfront extension is in design with funding approved.
KC streetcar by Chris Stritzel, on Flickr
The Tracks (Crossroads KC): 193 units by Milhaus. Grading permit is in review. Construction should start soon after an approval is received.
Freight House District (Crossroads KC): Existing lowrise slated for new construction apartments has been converted to a dog park/daycare until a permanent facility can be built to the north. The permanent facility looks to have some early work ongoing and will be completed within 12 months at the latest.
Power & Light:
The new head of the district comes from Sporting KC. It was reported by the Star that the current stadium has been paid off. KCRAG discussing a potential move downtown. Frmr head, Nick Benjamin, will now lead Cordish Midwest and residential. Cordish has proposed 3 high-rises and 1 historic renovation to be underway by Q4 2022. Nick Benjamin told the Biz Journal that 4 Light will be announced in the next few months so it could end up being 4 high rises underway.
An 18-month crane permit was applied for on the east side of Sprint Center. Could be an unannounced project or a long-term renovation of a building over there.
KC Streetcar Expansions:
Riverfront: Options for Phase 2/3 expansions are being studied. Phase 1 riverfront extension is in design with funding approved.
KC streetcar by Chris Stritzel, on Flickr- 2,634
I've been saying it for years, KC is perfectly poised to become the next Nashville-esque boomtown. They are expecting tourism to explode (it already is)^Oddly, KC also has over 7K hotel rooms in pipeline for metro, only Chicago has more in pipeline in Midwest...
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I doubt KC will become a boomtown to level of Nashville/Austin (and would hope not) but on a path to maintain a hot streak relative to most of Midwest. Solid steady growth/infill sometimes better than booms, which can ruin a city. Ideally KC achieves smart growth via infill on level of Portland, not Austin.
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KC is not going to become a boomtown on the level of Nashville or Austin, considering we are watching both of them blow past KC in real time.
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Agree and agree. Is the nature of the booming south and what has happened to STL over the last 30 years with several markets passing it up. KC has passed Cleveland, might pass Cincy within a decade or so depending and perhaps Pittsburgh at some point if it continues to shrink. Indy and Columbus very well may pass KC as they get more of the rust belt exodus and probably helps to have state capitols.
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^I would guess not. To quote a friend from Texas "We do have air conditioning." But it might make portions of the west too dry and portions of the coasts too underwater and too stormy.
"There's water here. When the South burns, this place will rise".
- A character in the Jim Jarmusch film Only Lovers Left Alive, referring to Detroit.
- A character in the Jim Jarmusch film Only Lovers Left Alive, referring to Detroit.
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Just cool it off by making it rain.
Dubai making its own rain to beat 120-degree heat
https://nypost.com/2021/07/21/dubai-mak ... mVl4GO7E-0
Dubai making its own rain to beat 120-degree heat
https://nypost.com/2021/07/21/dubai-mak ... mVl4GO7E-0
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KC doesn't need to be a boomtown. As you said, steady growth that leads to infill is much more beneficial. At least in the slow, but steady category, you can get visually interesting looking buildings. Austin and Nashville are throwing up buildings that have little architectural significance. They're all glass boxes similar to what you'd find in Miami, Vancouver, and so on.hobo digitale wrote: ↑Aug 06, 2021I doubt KC will become a boomtown to level of Nashville/Austin (and would hope not) but on a path to maintain a hot streak relative to most of Midwest. Solid steady growth/infill sometimes better than booms, which can ruin a city. Ideally KC achieves smart growth via infill on level of Portland, not Austin.
If people have managed to live in the deserts of the Americas and Middle East for as long as they have, I think people could be able to adapt to increased heat in the South. Just certain measures would have to be taken (have trees on the streets for shade and awnings). Coastal cities and towns may feel the effects more so than places like Nashville and Austin, but we'll see. If things go very badly very quickly, at least Midwestern and inland cities and towns have the benefit of being able to grow and fill back up pretty easily.ldai_phs wrote: ↑Aug 06, 2021Will climate change make the south too hot to handle?
And to tie this comment into climate change and what not, let me sprinkle in an opinion. Cities in the desert seemed like a dumb idea and still seem like a dumb idea. Places that are already naturally hot and dry are now home to millions of people who now face water rationing because they don't have enough. Well duh. What'd you expect from moving to a DESERT? I get that natives and ancient civilizations made it work in the desert, but they didn't have millions of people living along a single river. They also surely didn't have fancy lawns and bushes to keep watered for looks and property values. They lived more simple lives and made things work with what they had. So living in the desert then, even though it was hot, was maybe more manageable than it is now.
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People will still live in the desert, but once the aquifers deplete and the water wars start, so will the general exodus of people.







