Hooray for KC's new downtown apartment projects
Yael T. AbouhalkahYou can look at the planned $70 million investment in new downtown KC apartments two ways.
We’re digging an even bigger hole by investing more public money in the Power & Light District.
We’re going to turn the corner by adding more people to live and shop in the district.
I understand why critics of the district would choose the first option. But I actually see some legitimate reasons to believe the second one might come true.
Bottom line: As The Star reported, the construction of a new apartment complex and the renovation of the Midland office building will invest lots of private funds in downtown KC. That’s a good thing. Plus, it should add to the number of fairly well compensated people in the area; those apartments are going to be rather pricey.
The construction of a tall, glassed building will be a new icon in downtown KC.
And renovation of the now-vacant Midland is a victory for downtown, too.
Ah, but what about that public subsidy of at least $8 million into the project in the Power & Light District, which already sucks up around $12 million to $15 million a year in taxpayer funds to pay off the bonds that made the revival of downtown possible?
First, it’s a small percentage of the overall project.
Second, taxpayer incentives - which I have often opposed or questioned for many projects - should be reserved for urban areas. That includes downtown, at least in certain cases. And bringing in new residential customers, overall, is a good thing.
Kent Mueller
11 months, 1 week agoWhat about the property taxes of those who invested in downtown years ago and have stuck with it, paying taxes every year?
And if it is a small percent of the total cost, then let them figure out how to fund the entire project privately.
Seeking public money has gotten to be a habit, a bad habit.
Raymond East
11 months, 1 week agoI’m glad for the new development and believe the buildings will be a success. However, with the exception of the grocery store, the movie theater, and maybe a coffe shop, I do not believe the residents will frequent the power and light district. Maybe at first, but that’s it.
I have lived downtown for about 7 years. All of the other folks I know who also live here steer cleer of the p & l. The restaurants are over priced and not very good….which is a shame because all of us would love to be able to walk down to p & l and hang out — but we just don’t. It’s kind of lame over there, but we are glad the tourists and suburbanites seem to enjoy it. I feel sorry for those people as, apparently, they don’t have burger king and chiloltle where they come from…LOL
Rudy Gonzalez
11 months, 1 week agoI have a new bicycle courier service that aims to make downtown businesses more productive, as well as make living downtown attractive for residents. With my company downtown, residents can get anything from take out from local restaurants, to sundry items from the store, to gift delivery to friends all in a fast a green manner. I want to be a part of making downtown a great place to live and this building project will help foster more economic activity where we need it most.
You can check out my company’s site at cowtowncouriers.com.
George Hunsucker
Northland
11 months, 1 week agoanother subsidy to the well-to-do yuppies…
sure am glad the city, with its lib rulers, continue “taking care of the poor”…
Richard L Wagner
11 months, 1 week agoOf course YELL T. Abouhalkah will gush all over this new project. Everytime the developers say jump, YELL jumps. This is the REAL reason YELL went to bat for Mayor James. Funkhouser stood up to the out-of-town developers and the TIF money. Abouhalkah was thier attack dog. Of course Yell would fawn and gush over this latest project.
It is true, that local people are not comfortable hanging out at the P&L. Except for a few minor exceptions, Kansas City Live and the P&L District is poplated by yuppies and out of town conventioneers.
Michael Middleton
11 months agoI guess as long as they don’t have kids that need to be educated in an unaccredited shambles of a school system, then it’ll be a hit. If the taxpayers of KC don’t like it, they can thank the people who run the city for taking more of their tax money and giving the developers who stand to make millions off of it a huge tax break.