urbanSTL

Route map of the proposed commuter rail

matguy70 wrote:This is a fetched dream and a waste/use of Fed monies that are use it or lose it. KC is a region that is an infrastructure cluster nightmare where urban sprawl and farm fileds unite. A 107 miles commuter train (most likely running 2 to 4 times a day) is going to not be cost effective for commuting much less... lengthy in commute times and using freight track. Look at Nashville Star or other commuter rail lines that just don't work in smaller cities.

I can only see the Johnson County KS lines making sense and only if they are accompanied by LRT and bus.

Looks like Lux Living's litigious ways are spreading to KC.

https://www.constructforstl.org/lux-liv ... ment-site/

PortKC issues an RFP for a large mixed use development for Berkley Riverfront parcel 9.



- a minimum of 350 residential units
- A 1500 parking garage
- 10,000 square-feet of retail space
- 100,000 square-feet of office and/or a 200-room, non-corporate boutique hotel.

The project will sit on 4.5 acres. Any projects of similar specs that could be used as a possible example? This is the type of development that we should be promoting throughout the city. Well done PortKC. Just hope KC Tenants doesn't try to derail it like they almost did with LuxLiving.


source: https://cityscenekc.com/port-kc-seeks-b ... r-stadium/

The city just released an RFP for a rapid transit system to be built between KCI and Downtown for the 2026 World Cup Games. It will be interesting to see how this turns out.

The City of Kansas City is looking for an innovative new way for visitors and residents to get downtown from Kansas City’s International Airport. On May 18, Mayor Quinton Lucas announced during a press conference for FIFA World Cup 2026™, the City would be opening a request for expressions of interest to create a robust rapid transit system. Responses should focus on the development of a rapid transit system to connect the Kansas City International Airport to Downtown Kansas City with an interim transportation plan for FIFA World Cup 2026™ transit.

“Kansas City is proud to boast a world-class downtown and a world-class airport—and today we take the next step in our new bold effort to better connect the flying public stepping off an airplane at Kansas City International to our City’s urban core. In conjunction with our zero-fare transit initiative and streetcar route expansions, we are committed to sustaining a transit system connecting people all over Kansas City for generations. Kansas City government will continue working to enhance Kansas City’s public transportation network, ensuring it is equitable, reliable, sustainable, and accessible to all our communities in all areas of our city,” said Mayor Quinton Lucas.

https://www.kcmo.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2054/1746

KC will never create a business ecosystem where an HQ’d company can acquire another company and create Fortune 20 firm revenue-wise. NEVER.

There is a 0% chance Kansas City will get a rail line built by the World Cup.

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Well let’s be nice for only them to talk down on us. Anything is possible


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From people I've talked to about this:
Short-term goal: BRT.
Long-term goal: Light Rail.

As a City of KC resident, I honestly think the money to be spent on a rail line to the airport is stupid. Focus on growing the streetcar/rail network in the denser parts of the city (where the concept has been successful so far). There are more important things to spend money on than building a rail line through peak suburbia and fields. BRT with 10-minute headways during peak times to the airport would be sufficient. Adding better bus services and frequencies in the most transit dependent areas would be a better thing to spend money on.

Personally, in addition to the North KC Streetcar and East-West line on 39th-Broadway-Linwood, I'd like to see the streetcar extended to 75th and Wornall (Waldo) with a branch to Downtown Overland Park via 75th Street. Another line would run 7th Street Trafficway-Rainbow Boulevard to Shawnee Mission Parkway and Johnson Drive to Shawnee via Downtown Mission. The only light rail line I'd support would be from Downtown KCK through the north loop and down Independence Avenue to Independence. Surely a fantasy, but those would be better fixed-rail lines than a route to the airport.

But for now, I'd prefer a better bus network + a commuter rail system (like was pitched by the ATA a few weeks ago).

I certainly enjoy having the opportunity to live in Kansas City, but the one thing St. Louis does better (despite recent service cuts) is transit service and location of routes.

chriss752 wrote: ↑

Jun 14, 2023

From people I've talked to about this:
Short-term goal: BRT.
Long-term goal: Light Rail.

As a City of KC resident, I honestly think the money to be spent on a rail line to the airport is stupid. Focus on growing the streetcar/rail network in the denser parts of the city (where the concept has been successful so far). There are more important things to spend money on than building a rail line through peak suburbia and fields. BRT with 10-minute headways during peak times to the airport would be sufficient. Adding better bus services and frequencies in the most transit dependent areas would be a better thing to spend money on.

Personally, in addition to the North KC Streetcar and East-West line on 39th-Broadway-Linwood, I'd like to see the streetcar extended to 75th and Wornall (Waldo) with a branch to Downtown Overland Park via 75th Street. Another line would run 7th Street Trafficway-Rainbow Boulevard to Shawnee Mission Parkway and Johnson Drive to Shawnee via Downtown Mission. The only light rail line I'd support would be from Downtown KCK through the north loop and down Independence Avenue to Independence. Surely a fantasy, but those would be better fixed-rail lines than a route to the airport.

But for now, I'd prefer a better bus network + a commuter rail system (like was pitched by the ATA a few weeks ago).

I certainly enjoy having the opportunity to live in Kansas City, but the one thing St. Louis does better (despite recent service cuts) is transit service and location of routes.

I actually want KC to get some kind of light rail system. That may help St. Louis at the state level get some sort of increased transit funding. With that said, KC is about 20 years from having anything resembling Metrolink, even if they started today. Look how hard it has been for boomtowns like Nashville and Austin to get anything going on the light rail front. Also, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Indianapolis (three cities that I think are more like Kansas City than St. Louis is on a lot of levels) are also a generation a more away from having anything resembling a regional light rail system. As much crap as we give Metrolink in St. Louis, it really is a fantastic and undervalued asset for our region. Think about it, only Chicago, Minneapolis, and Cleveland have anything in the Midwest resembling rapid transit and St. Louis is part of the club. In a decade or so, when the N-S Metrolink is finally completed (because I do think we will get it done this time around), St. Louis will be even further ahead many midsized cities in terms of rapid transit. 

chriss752 wrote: ↑

Jul 14, 2023

KC Current may buy most remaining Berkley Riverfront properties for $800M development
https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/ ... d-use.html

Key bits...

- The Port Authority of Kansas City on Monday will consider a measure that would authorize the sale of 10.71 acres to KC WFC StadCo LLC.
- The Current contemplates 1,038 multifamily residences, 210,000 square feet of office, 53,000 square feet of retail and multiple structured and surface parking spaces across five-and-a-half undeveloped riverfront parcels, according to Port KC documents released Friday afternoon. 
- The multifamily development would include 10% of units set aside for renters earning up to 50% of the area's median family income, or $1,025 per month for a one-bedroom apartment under 2023 federal standards.

This is a pretty big deal since it could change the direction of development at Berkley Riverfront. It's been mostly suburbs style development up to this point, and their scope of the Current's development plans make me believe this will drastically increase density and change development patterns. Hope some images of this are released soon.

While SportingKC lives out in the suburbs and does nothing, the Current is going all-in on the Riverfront Park.

The inducement approval of the bonds motion was approved by PortKC 7-1 today and will be up for final approval later this year.

The phased construction period will last from 2024-2034 barring any unforeseen circumstances. Renderings and specific plans for Phase 1 will be released in the coming months, but for now, we have a master-plan site plan.

KC developer proposes $224.9M remake of Hardesty Federal Complex

The 12-story Hardesty Self Storage building and smaller surrounding structures could be renovated with 587 mixed-income apartments, a daycare, food hall and other community-oriented uses under a $224.9 million plan

https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2023/07/17/historic-northeast-lofts-arnold-hardesty-complex.html

Hope this works out, would be a gamechanger for the neighborhood

Port KC plans to provide incentives for EPC's $90M apartment project in Waldo

EPC Real Estate Group secured Port KC's expression of intent to provide incentives for 74 Broadway, a $90.3 million, 278-apartment complex on a full Waldo neighborhood block.

https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2023/07/18/epc-port-kc-74-broadway-waldo-multifamily.html?cx_testId=40&cx_testVariant=cx_29&cx_artPos=6#cxrecs_s

1818 Main Street was redesigned. In my view, this is a better design than the original, but is still poor. 118 apartments, 93 parking spaces, and some retail space are planned here. Copaken Brooks (developed Arterra and Reverb) is the developer.






These pictures of 3 Light are from a few weeks ago. The "3" was placed on top and is lit at night.







Mac Properties' "Crosswalks" project at Troost and Armour.

KC Council Committee gave approval to split the Strata Office Tower incentive awarded to Copaken Brooks between 3 new highrises that Cordish is proposing in downtown. 1 would be at the Strata site and 2 would be in the Crossroads, an expansion for Cordish outside of Power & Light. Uses would be residential and retail with the potential for some office. This ordinance still needs full council approvals.

Coming to Kansas City: the first stadium built solely for pro women’s sports
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/aug/17/kc-current-womens-sports-stadium

In Kansas City, there is a debate going on about the Royals' two finalist sites for their new $2 Billion+ stadium and district. This past Tuesday, they revealed renderings of each vision. One in the long-rumored East Village and the other in North Kansas City. The announcement coincided with an odd poll being released showing lay County voters disapproving a new sales tax for a stadium 60-40, but the poll question din't specify whether a stadium would be in Clay County/North KC or remain in Jackson County/KCMO.

After the renderings were released, public officials (current and former) in Clay County plus the Clay County Republican Party and former Missouri GOP Chairwoman Kay Hoflander, shared their support for a new stadium and district in their county. Jackson County and KCMO officials have been silent.

My bets are still on the East Village being selected by the Royals (since the 3/8 cent sales tax renewal ballot measure would be linked with the Chiefs, who also want to overhaul Arrowhead). Sales tax approval has a higher chance of happening because of the connection with the Chiefs. East Village is also easier from a development perspective because there are a handful of buildings left to be demolished and it's just a wasteland. NorthKC, while the properties are under control by the Merriman family, would require a massive amount of demolition and waiting on existing businesses to vacate the spaces before demolition can occur. 

We'll know next month which site the Royals have chosen.

East Village...










North Kansas City...

My vote would be east village.

Gonna be really disappointed if they go anywhere other than east village. I'm from north of the river and NKC anit nothing to showcase on the national stage. This will bring life back to the east village and some density, looks great, easy highway access, hotels that can be used all year round, close to negros leagues baseball museum, and that pedestrian bridge just the icing on the cake.