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THIS WEEK, A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT OVER UMKC'S PLANS TO MOVE ITS MARQUIS ARTS
PROGRAMS DOWNTOWN. I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE TO YOU TODAY THAT THE MURIEL
MCBRIAN KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION HAS COMMITTED A 20 MILLION-DOLLAR LEADERSHIP GRANT TO UMKC'S
CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC AND DANCE TOWARDS THE DOWNTOWN CAMPUS FOR THE ARTS PROJECT.
(APPLAUSE). PHILANTHROPIST JULIA IRENA KAUFFMAN ANNOUNCING THE
20 MILLION-DOLLAR CHALLENGE GRANT THAT SHE HOPES WOULD JUMP-START WHAT WOULD BE A 19
MILL -- 90 MILLION-DOLLAR PROJECT. THAT'S $70 MILLION MORE TO
RAISE. WHERE IS THAT MONEY COMING FROM, KEVIN?
WELL, THE STATE OF MISSOURI, TWO YEARS AGO, THE LEGISLATURE APPROVED LEGISLATION THAT
AUTHORIZED MATCHING FUNDS FOR A UNIVERSITY BUILDING, WHICH THIS WOULD BE.
SO REALLY THE NUT THAT THEY HAVE TO GET IS 20 TO 25 MILLION IN PRIVATE FUNDING.
THAT IS, OF COURSE, IF THE STATE OF MISSOURI FOLLOWS THROUGH ON THEIR PROMISE.
THEY DIDN'T ALLOCATE ANY MONEY FOR THIS. A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT JULIA --
THEY NEEDED A MAJOR DONOR TO BREAK THE ICE. AND JULIA STEPPED UP, WHICH SHE
DID FAMOUS WILL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, AND THIS DOES HAVE A LOT OF SYMBIOTIC
BENEFIT TO BOTH FACILITIES. THE HOPE IS NOW THAT JULIA HAS SAID, HERE'S THE FIRST
20 MILLION, THAT SOME OF THE OTHER MAJOR DO NOTERS IN OUR COMMUNITY WILL -- DONORS IN OUR
COMMUNITY WILL SAY, OKAY, IT'S GOTTEN THE STAMP OF APPROVAL, IT'S WORTH INVESTING IN.
THE FOLKS AT UMKC SAY THEY'VE HAD SOME SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS WITH POTENTIAL DONORS WHO WERE
GOING BACK TO THEIR, QUOTE, BOARD ROOMS TO GET AUTHORIZATION TO GO AHEAD, NOTHING ON THE
MAGNITUDE OF WHAT JULIA DID, BUT CERTAINLY THIS PROJECT NEEDED A PATRON, AND AS SHE DID WITH THE
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, SHE'S COME THROUGH, AND SHE IS THE FIRST TO ADMIT THIS WITH THE
INCREDIBLE RESOURCES SHE INHERITED FROM EWING KAUFFMAN AND THAT WHOLE LEGACY.
THIS IS ONE OF THE BIG 5 IDEAS OF THE GREATER KANSAS CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
THIS IS ONE OF THEIR BIG IDEAS, THAT THEY WANTED TO HAVE IT MOVE DOWNTOWN.
WHY WOULD THIS BENEFIT DOWNTOWN? I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS JULIA IRENA KAUFFMAN IS
INTERESTED IS BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO SEE THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, AND
THE ARGUMENT, OF COURSE, WOULD BE, IF YOU MOVE MUSIC EDUCATION DOWNTOWN THAT IT WOULD GIVE MORE
USE TO THE CENTER AND REALLY CREATE MORE OF AN ARTS COMMUNITY, WHICH I THINK I BEEN
ARGUED ABOUT IN THIS AREA FOR DECADES. YOU KNOW, IT IS MOVING IT A
LITTLE BIT AWAY FROM THE ART INSTITUTE AND SOME OF THE OTHER NONPERFORMING ARTS CENTERS IN
KANSAS CITY, AND YOU ALWAYS DO SORT OF WONDER WHETHER ANYONE SITS IN A ROOM AND SAYS, WHERE
IS THE BEST PLACE FOR ALL OF THIS STUFF TO GO? WE DO TEND TO MOVE AROUND A
LITTLE BIT IN KANSAS CITY. SHE OBVIOUSLY, I THINK, WANTS TO BOOST THE POTENTIAL FOR SUCCESS
OF THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, WHICH IS REALLY HER SIGNATURE ACCOMPLISHMENT.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE COMPARED -- I'M SORRY -- TO HOW THE JULLIARD SCHOOL HAS DEVELOPED A
RELATIONSHIP WITH LINCOLN CENTER, WHERE YOU BRING IN THESE GRATES STUDENTS, THAT YOU HAVE
THIS WONDERFUL FACILITIES, BRINGS IN BETTER FACULTY, BETTER STUDENTS, AND AGAIN, YOU BRING 6
OR 700 PEOPLE INTO AN AREA AROUND THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.
THEY'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT STUDENT HOUSING AS PART OF THIS WHOLE THING.
IT ADDS A VIBRANCY, THE STAR BEING RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CROSSROADS AREA.
I CAN ATTEST FIRSTHAND THAT IT DEFINITELY COULD USE A LITTLE MORE LIVELINESS DURING THE
DAYTIME. YOU KNOW, IT CERTAINLY JUST BRINGS MORE ENERGY TO DOWNTOWN.
THE NEW SOFTBANK CASINO COULD ALSO DO THAT. REALLY, OTHER THAN THE
STUDENTS COMING THERE AND THE SYNERGIY WITH THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER ITSELF, I DON'T KNOW
THAT IT DOES BENEFIT THAT PART OF THE CITY A WHOLE LOT. ARE YOU SAYING THERE ARE GOING
TO BE MORE COFFEE SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, MORE TRAFFIC INTO THAT AREA OTHER THAN STUDENTS?
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT IS. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYONE SAYING THAT THAT IS SOMETHING IT'S
GOING TO DO OTHER THAN INCUBATING THE ARTS, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THE ARTS BRING A WHOLE
LOT OF ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE CITY. HOW ABOUT FROM AN ECONOMICS
POINT OF VIEW, CHRIS KUEHL? GENERALLY THERE ARE THREE THINGS THAT DRIVE DEVELOP,
SPORTS, AND WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT A DOWNTOWN STADIUM, THERE'S THE ARTS, AND THEN SOME
KIND OF BUSINESS HUB. WE'VE TRIED THE BUSINESS HUB. NOT REALLY GOING TO HAVE A
MOVEMENT OF LARGE CORPORATIONS TO THAT DOWNTOWN LOCATION. SPORTS AGAIN, WE'VE KIND OF
PASSED ON, SO I THINK WE'RE DEALING WITH NO. 3. IT CAN BE A VERY DYNAMIC
DEVELOPMENT FOR A CITY, BUT IT HAS TO BE LARGE. IF YOU HAVE IT BROKEN UP THE WAY
IT IS IN KANSAS CITY, YOU DON'T GET THAT CONCENTRATION OF ACTIVITY THAT STACEY WAS
REFERRING TO. VERY QUICKLY, IT MAY BRING COFFEE SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS,
BUT IT MAY TAKE THEM AWAY FROM THE PLACE WHERE THE CONSERVATORY IS NOW.
IT MAY BE A ZERO SUM GAME, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT SOME PEOPLE IN KANSAS CITY ARE WORRIED ABOUT.
KEVIN, THEY ALSO DIDN'T ANNOUNCE THE ACTUAL LOCATION. WELL, THEY'VE GOT TWO
LOCATIONS. ONE IS DIRECTLY TO THE EAST, WHICH BY THE WAY JULIA OWNS A
GOOD TWO-THIRDS OF THAT. IT'S A NICE GREEN FIELD, AND THEN ALSO TO THE SOUTH, WHICH
ACTUALLY ANOTHER GREAT PATRON OF THE ARTS, SHIRLEY HELZBERG, OWNS A LOT OF THOSE PROPERTIES.
A LOT OF FRIENDLY OWNERS AROUND THERE. BUT BOTH LOCATIONS ARE RIGHT
NEXT TO THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. I BEG TO DIFFER.
I DO THINK IT WILL BRING MORE ENERGY, ACTIVITY. I THINK THE CITY NEEDS TO BE A
BIT MORE PROACTIVE ABOUT ENCOURAGING THIS BOTH WITH INCENTIVES AND ZONING.
AND THERE IS THE HITCH FOR KANSAS CITY TAXPAYERS LIKE ME. THE MAYOR SAID THE CITY WOULD DO
WHATEVER IS REASONABLY POSSIBLE TO HELP. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
IT MEANS MONEY, AND IT'S WHAT THE CITY LIKES TO DO. WE LIKE TO SPEND MONEY ON NEW
SHINY THINGS, AND THEN THE TEXT PAYERS GENERALLY REAP NO BENEFIT.
JUST LOOK AT 18th AND VINE. JUST LOOK AT THE CROSSROADS AREA.
JUST LOOK AT THE POWER AND LIGHT DISTRICT. WE SPEND OUT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
AND GET VERY LITTLE IN RETURN. I THINK BEFORE THIS GOES FORWARD I'D LIKE TO HEAR A GREATER
ASSESSMENT OF WHAT TYPE OF OUTPUT IS THE CITY GOING TO DO WITH THIS.
INFRASTRUCTURE, TAX INCENTIVES AND JUST SIMPLY CASH THAT'S GOING TO HELP THIS MOVE ALONG.
THERE ARE SOME INFLUENTIAL BASKETTERS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THIS DOES TO THE UMKC
CAMPUS. THEY TRIED TO ADDRESS THAT IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
FIRST, THE FACILITY OF THE CONSERVATORY ON THE CAMPUS IS OVERCROWDED.
OTHER DEPARTMENTS COULD FILL IN THAT SPACE. ONE QUICK FRONT ON THE CITY, THE
STREETCAR LINE THAT'S STARTING UP SUPPOSEDLY THIS SUMMER COULD BE EXTENDED OUT TO UMKC, WHICH
WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO LINK THE CAMPUS AND BRING THOSE STUDENTS BACK AND FORTH.
BANNISTER MALL IN SOUTH KANSAS CITY WAS CLOSED IN 2007 AND DEMOLISHED IN 2009.
FOUR YEARS LATER, IT REMAINS A FLATTENED WEED-FILLED LOT. NOW, THE SECOND LARGEST MALL IN
OUR METRO WHEN IT WAS BUILT, METRO NORTH MALL, IS BARELY HANGING ON FOR LIFE.
BUT DEVELOPERS ARE HOPING TO AVOID BANNISTER MALL'S FATE. THEY HAVE NOW PROPOSED TO
DEMOLISH THE MALL ON NORTHWEST BARRY ROAD NORTH OF THE RIVER AND REBUILD A BRAND NEW
200 MILLION-DOLLAR MALL ON THE VERY SAME SITE. NOW, WHY WOULD THEY WANT TO DO
BÑteCñPgIaéñ DEMOGRAPHICS UP THERE ARE TERRIFIC.
THE NORTHLAND IS THE FASTEST GROWING AREA IN THE COMMUNITY AS FAR AS HOMES BEING BUILT AND
PEOPLE MOVING THERE. IT'S EVEN FASTER GROWING THAN SOUTHERN JOHNSON COUNTY.
THE PROBLEM IS THE MODEL OF THE OLD ENCLOSED SHOPPING CENTER THAT -- I HATE TO DATE MYSELF.
IT WAS SO NEW AND COOL WHEN I WAS A KID. IT'S JUST NOT HOW SHOPPERS WANT
TO DO. IT ALSO METRO NORTH GOT HAMMERED WHEN ZONA ROSA OPENED UP, WHICH
IS THE NEW COOL THING, THE OPEN AIR. WHICH IS NOT THAT FAR AWAY.
NOT FAR. THEY LURED A LOT OF TENANTS AWAY.
THE IDEA IS WE'VE GOT THE POPULATION BASE, GOT THE DEMOGRAPHICS, BUT WE'VE GOT THIS
MODEL T OF A SHOPPING COMPLEX. LET'S MOVE A NEW VERSION IN. I THINK THE BODIES AND
EVERYTHING ARE THERE TO SUPPORT IT. SO PEOPLE DON'T LIKEN CLOSED
SHOPPING CENTERS, ANYMORE, CHRIS KUEHL? THEY DON'T NECESSARILY
DISLIKE ENCLOSED SHOPPING CENTERS, BUT THEY REALLY WANT A DESTINATION.
THEY WANT AN IKEA, AN REI, SOMETHING THAT IS UNIQUE AND COMPELLING AND IS ACTUALLY
ENTERTAINMENT IN ITS OWN RIGHT. THE CHALLENGE WITH A LOT OF THE OLD STYLE MALLS IS THEY EXPECTED
PEOPLE TO COME AND SHOP. PEOPLE DON'T GO AND SHOP NOW. IT IS ENTERTAINMENT.
THEY WANT A MALL OF THE AMERICA EXPERIENCE FROM OUTSIDE MINNEAPOLIS.
THEY ARE WANTING SOMETHING THAT INTIEWTS FOR SUBSTITUTES FOR GOING TO THE MOVIES.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FUN. THE OTHER BIG CHALLENGE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH IS
PEOPLE SHOP ON THE INTERNET MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVELY THAN THEY USED TO, AND A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE
THAT MIGHT HAVE RUN TO THE MALL IN THE PAST JUST TO GET A FEW ITEMS, THEY'RE LIKE, WHY SHOULD
I DRIVE? I'LL JUST ORDER MY UNDERWEAR ONLINE.
THE OTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS, WHEN YOU HEAR A LINE LIKE, WE WANT TO TEAR DOWN THE
MALL AND PUT SOMETHING IN ITS PLACE, WE HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THAT.
THE FIRST PART IS EASY. THEY TORE DOWN THE MISSION MALL, BANNISTER MALL.
THE SECOND PHASE, BUILDING SOMETHING IN ITS PLACE, HAS BEEN MUCH MORE PROBLEMATIC, AND THAT
MAY TURN OUT TO BE THE CASE HERE. I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH
YOUR PERSONAL LIFE, STACEY, BUT YOU'RE NOT THE KIND OF MAN WHO WOULD ORDER YOUR UNDERWEAR
ONLINE. YOU LIKE TO GO TO LOCAL RETAILERS?
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. MY BOXERS WOULD TELL THAT STORY. HERE COMES THE PROBLEM WITH THE
MALL THERE. I THINK CHRIS IS RIGHT. IT HAS TO BE SOME TYPE OF
DESTINATION. THERE IS SOME TYPE OF ENTERTAINMENT, AND THE
DEVELOPERS HERE ARE SAYING AND THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY NOW THAT THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE YOUR
GRANDMOTHER'S MALL. SO THE REAL CORE PROBLEM RIGHT NOW IS WHO IS THE SECOND ANCHOR
TENANT. WE HAVE MACY'S UP THERE RIGHT NOW, BUT WHO ARE THEY GOING TO
BRING IN? I COULD SEE MAYBE A TRADER JOE'S GOING UP THERE OR MAYBE AN REI,
SOMETHING THAT THE SHOPPERS HAVE TO GO CLEAR TO JOHNSON COUNTY FOR.
THAT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT. THERE IS ALSO SOME ASPECT THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME PUBLIC
FINANCING THAT'S GOING TO NEED TO GO HERE. THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME
BEAUTIFICATION ISSUES, SIDEWALKS, SIGNAGE, VEGETATION AND STUFF, AND THAT'S GOING TO
PUT THE CITY, ONCE AGAIN, ON THE HOOK. SOME ESTIMATES ARE AS HIGH AS
$4 MILLION TO DO THAT. BECAUSE THIS IS STILL IN THE BOUNDARIES OF KANSAS CITY,
MISSOURI? ABSOLUTELY. SO KANSAS CITY TAXPAYERS ARE
GOING TO BE ONCE AGAIN ON THE HOOK FOR SOMETHING NEW IN KANSAS CITY.
YOU KNOW, AGAIN, AND YOU BROUGHT THIS UP WITH THE CROSSROADS, WHEN YOU THINK --
TAX INCENTIVES ARE NOT CASH COMING OUT OF CITY HALL. TAX INCENTIVES ARE NEW VALUE
THAT'S BEING CREATED WHEN SOMETHING THAT IS FALLING APART AND IS GIVING NO PRODUCTIVE
VALUE TO THE CITY GETS REINVESTED IN AND SOME OF THAT GETS PLOWED BACK INTO IT.
IT'S NOT A NET LOSS. THE ONE OTHER THING I WAS GOING TO MENTION IS, THE OTHER STORY I
KEEP HEARING THAT WOULD BE A GREAT FIT IS VAN MAUERS. YOU DON'T PUT TWO OF THOSE IN
THE SAME MARKET. LET'S TURN OUR ATTENTION TO BANNISTER MALL FOR A MOMENT IN
SOUTH KANSAS CITY. DEMOLISHED IN 2009, AS I MENTIONED.
IT'S NOW JUST A FLATTENED WEED-FILLED LOT. IT WAS THE HOPED FOR SITE OF
SPORTING KANSAS CITY STADIUM BEFORE THEY JUMPED THE STATE LINE TO WYANDOTTE COUNTY.
WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR BANNISTER MALL? IS THERE AN ANSWER TO THAT?
THE BUZZ IS EARN CERNER OWNS A LOT OF THAT PROPERTY. THEY HAVE HOPES OF DEVELOPING A
CAMPUS AS THEY CONTINUE TO GROW. THAT'S THE LATEST FLOATING AROUND OUT THERE.
THE RETAIL IDEA JUST FLOPPED MISERABLY OR ELSE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SPORTING KANSAS CITY
STADIUM THERE. THIS GETS BACK TO WHAT CHRIS SAID.
YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A DESTINATION, WHICH THEY HOPED TO DO WITH THE STADIUM THERE, AND
YOU'VE ALSO GO THE TO HAVE DEMOGRAPHICS. THE NORTHLAND HAS A GROWING
DEMOGRAPHIC. THE AREA RN -- AROUND THE BANNISTER MALL HAS BEEN IN
DECLINE FOR QUITE SOME TIME. AND WE ARE, MANY SAY, OVERSATURATED IN THIS MARKET
WHEN IT COMES TO RETAIL. SO YOU REALLY DO HAVE TO INVENT A BETTER MOUSE STRAP IF YOU'RE
GOING -- MOUSETRAP IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET SHOPPERS TO SHOW UP.
THE BIG CHALLENGE, WE USED TO DRAW FROM A FIVE STATE AREA. WE DON'T KNOW.
WE HAVE SERIOUS COMPETITION FROM WICHITA, OMAHA, DES MOINES. PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO
COME TO KANSAS CITY FOR THOSE EXPERIENCES NOW, AND I THINK A LOT OF THE DEVELOPERS ARE STILL
LIVING IN THAT PERIOD WHERE THEY ASSUMED THEY WOULD DRAW FROM A 3 OR 400-MILE RADIUS.
THEY DON'T KNOW. AS WE MOVE ON, MISSOURI'S NEW MORE THAN 5 MILLION-DOLLAR
AIRPLANE USED BY GOVERNOR JAY NIXON WAS A WASTEFUL PURCHASE, ACCORDING TO A NEW STATE AUDIT.
THE KING AIR 250 IS NOT A JUSTIFIED GOVERNMENT PURCHASE, ACCORDING TO THE STATE AUDITOR'S
OFFICE, WHICH HAS JUST RELEASED A REPORT ON THE HIGHWAY PATROL. THE STATE ALREADY OWNS 5
PASSENGER PLANES, WHICH ARE ALREADY UNDERUTILIZED SAYS THE STATE AUDITOR, AND THE MISSOURI
STATE HIGHWAY PATROL DID NOT DO A FORMAL WRITTEN ANALYSIS BEFORE PURCHASING THE NEW AIRCRAFT LAST
DECEMBER. THE GOVERNOR HAS ALREADY TAKEN SOME HEAT OVER THIS, SO ARE THEY
GOING TO SELL THE PLANE NOW, DAVE HELLING? YOU'VE WRITTEN A STORY ON THIS.
THE HIGHWAY PATROL WROTE BACK TO THE AUDITOR AND SAID, NO, WE NEED THIS AIRPLANE.
WE NEEDED A NEW AIRPLANE. EVEN THOUGH THE OTHER FIVE WEREN'T BEING USED?
IF YOU READ THE ARTICLE, IT'S KIND OF A CHUCKLE. THE STATE OF MISSOURI OWNS 23
AIRCRAFT, FIVE AIR PLANES, A COUPLE HOT HAIR -- HOT AIR BALLOONS FOR ITS LOTTERY
COMMISSION AND SOME HELICOPTERS AND OTHER THINGS. THIS IS VERY POLITICAL.
TOM SCHWEICH IS A REPUBLICAN. HE WAS TRYING TO MAKE A POINT AGAINST THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR.
THAT'S PART OF WHAT WAS BEHIND THIS AUDIT RELEASED. PART OF THE MOTIVATION OF
THAT PLANE IS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. WE DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH WE
DEPEND ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF AIRCRAFT PARTS. ONE OF THE VERY STRONG LOBBIES
IN THE STATE IS TRYING TO PROTECT A SERIOUSLY DECLINING PRIVATE AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY.
ALL RIGHT. THAT IS OUR WEEK IN REVIEW, OUR THANKS TO OUR NEWS REVIEWERS
FROM KCTV STACEY CAMERON AND STAR DEVELOPMENT REPORTER KEVIN COLLISON.
STAR REPORTER, COLUMNIST AND BLOGGER DAVE HELLING AND ECONOMIST CHRIS KUEHL WHO WILL
BEYOND MAKING CELEBRATING MEDIA EXPERIENCES AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF ARMADA CORPORATE
INTELLIGENCE. I'M NICK HAINES FROM ALL OF US HERE AT KCPT.
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