Via The Star came news today that Kansas City’s OG entertainment district is about to see some hefty changes. “The number one goal” of Westport’s redevelopment is to create a more family-friendly atmosphere, Dr. Ahmed Awad essentially announced to the Planned Industrial Expansion Authority earlier today. Parts of the 40th & Broadway area will see a variety of new restaurants and businesses, including an apartment complex which is reported to host over 100 units. Nearly 300 parking spaces will be added to the area, mostly for the apartment complex and “other businesses”. Once again, CLICK HERE for The Star’s full story. What do you guys and gals think? I do not live in Midtown, but I mainly go there for live music. Just please, no ultra lounges.
Chris Mills
Editor-in-Chief at Demencha Magazine LLC and Demencha.com. Send music and event submissions to chris@demencha.com. LOCALS BEFORE LEGENDS.
Sean Malone (11 months ago)
The city appears to be mismanaging the area in the same way it did Power and Light, although to a lesser degree. The area in question is mostly just blight now, but it could be developed with more respect to midtown. Trying to attract families from the suburbs shouldn’t be the goal of every area in the city. The restaurants will most likely fail (as Oven Fire pizza is currently doing) and the apartments will either be over priced for most area residents or will conflict with the culture already in place. Inviting out of town corporations in to KC with tax breaks is what doomed P & L from the start. Westport is primarily a non-corporate zone which is why Starbucks failed, Chili’s failed and Hooters never moved in. We need a city council that has more respect for the diverse neighborhoods of our city and upholds those identities rather than trying to cash in on a quick buck by bowing to people from the suburbs with no taste and no understanding of what it means to live in an urban environment.
E (11 months ago)
Well, Chili’s wasn’t a total failure since its was there for a good decade. But it was always a piece of shit. What is nice about Westport is it has music/entertainment venues within close proximity of each other, which provides a sense of community. And Kansas City needs more places that do this! Its also close to the hood and people go there to get drunk., which creates a lot of opportunity for bullshit behavior.
You know, it would kind of be nice to not run into bums, heroine bitches, religious zealots, and drunk violent buffoons in the area all the time. But don’t worry midwest suburbs they’re in you too. Westport just has a higher concentration that gets reported.
I really can’t see the whole extremity of the P&L thing happening in this area since it has maintained strong local support for several decades. What I can see is a lot of potential for more unique local businesses to move-in and be successful! Maybe the allies and the rape lots will get better lighting! Maybe, they’ll even put some new flooring in a few of the bars so they don’t smell like puke all the time too.
Oh my! Who knows, what will they do with $21 million dollars?! Even though The Star article doesn’t provide much info, I’m curious what improvements will happen first over the course of 25 years. Hope it doesn’t go over like the desegregation project did…