Midwest Voices

Yael T. Abouhalkah

The Kansas City Star

Mission Mayor Laura McConwell has worked hard to redevelop the big hole in the ground at the Gateway Center location off Shawnee Mission Parkway.

On Tuesday she found out the long-planned aquarium and a hotel would not be coming.

Her comment?

“We didn’t count on the aquarium to begin with…I think the council is excited about the mixed use and the residential component.”

I’m sure they are.

But McConwell and other Mission officials were plenty excited about the aquarium a few years ago, especially when they thought it might get them state STAR bonds to get the project off the ground.

In fact, back in early 2008, McConwell and a few other Mission city officials spent taxpayer dollars to go to Guam to see a similar aquarium there.

An excerpt from The Star at the time:

“Mayor Laura McConwell, Councilwoman Debbie Kring and Community Development Director Martin Rivarola traveled to the U.S. territory earlier this month to see the island’s aquarium and talk with local business owners and government officials.

“The trip cost an estimated $8,600 and was paid for by the city.

” ‘The place looked awesome,’ Mayor Laura McConwell told council members last week.

“In explaining the justification for the trip, McConwell said Tuesday:

” ‘I felt that if this is going to be a project that the city is going to be behind and go and ask the secretary of commerce to share STAR bond funds…then I wanted to make sure this was a viable, quality project.’

“She added that the trip allowed her to see the facility first-hand to confirm what the developer and U.S. Aquarium team staff had told the city.

“‘It actually exceeded my expectations,’ she said.”

It’s true that the aquarium was not part of the original redevelopment in Mission. But it’s also the part that gave the Gateway Center some oomph.

Now Mission officials basically are left trying to steal a Wal-Mart from nearby Roeland Park to make the Gateway project a success.

Comments

1. 

   John W Mack Jr.

   11 months, 1 week ago

   This project is an unfortunate victim of the Great Recession. There is nothing to grind on Mission about. Do you think they intended to have it go this way? Instead of pointing out their miscalculation, why don’t you generate a few hundred thousand subscribers out of thin air so your newspaper can avoid its slow demise? Has every expenditure of your employer been perfectly thought out and executed with no unintended outcomes? I didn’t think so.

   Those that work in glass buildings should not cast aspersions.

2. 

   Tom Crawford

   11 months, 1 week ago

   To be completed in Summer/Fall 2008. The following information is available.

   One and two bedroom floor plans with optional den Private secure garage parking with Private residence access to units One parking space per bedroom wth option to purchase additional space Square foot range 600-1850 Standard and upgrade interior finish selections available Ceiling height in tower condos around 9‘5” Ceiling height in flats over retail around 12’ Open floor plans Balconies for all units except 6 Possession Summer/Fall of 2006 We’re estimating prices to range from 180K to 550K

   We should have final floor plans and pricing available in 30 to 45 days. If you want to be on the list for pre-construction sales/pricing let me know.

   this email is dated 09/17/2006…

   my how time flies.

   i guess the city hasn’t needed the tax money that the OLD mall would have generated over the past years.

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