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Sunday, June 25, 2006
History vs Progress (?)
The original Stroud's, dating from 1933, has been demolished in favor of a new bridge and wider road. Sounds familiar in Eddy-land. While the 'historic' Red Bridge bridge will not be demolished, it will be sidelined in favor of, you guessed it, a new bridge and wider road. It's interesting that Chuck Eddy pushed for the 'Grandview Triangle' to be renamed '3 Trails Crossing' because of the trails' historical significance; yet, actual historic physical structures seem to have no meaning to him.
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26 comments:
It's truly astonishing, isn't it? Strouds was one of Kansas City's great cultural landmarks. If you disagree, argue with Calvin Trillin.
So, what is to be put in there? Wider roads never bring the good things developers promise. Like they want to turn the 85th & Troost area into Overland Park...shaw, right!
I'm afraid our councilman is more interested in showing the construction industry how much work he can bring them than in saving anything cultural or historical. I pity the City's rich past should he actually get elected Mayor.
Isn't Chuck Eddy a member of MidAmerica Regional Council? Aren't they the ones that keep supporting things like Smart Moves? How can they promote people using public transportation at the same time they're adding more lanes to enable people to more easily use their cars?
That's easy, anonymous!
Smart Moves, the Rain Gardens, the Global Warming Resolution and etc. are all just window dressing. (Makes for good PR while not costing much or upsetting the status quo.)
But it's pork barrell stuff like giant construction and road projects that bring home the real bacon. Never mind how it totally undercuts what all those progressive-looking policy initiatives are trying to do. They don't care!
So, shut up and enjoy your pork with window dressing. It's the only thing on the City's menu.
You know what they say about why men drive big cars. Maybe it's the same thing with building big bridges.
Roundabouts can carry a lot of traffic. If one were put in at Blue River and Red Bridge, there might not be a need for a wider road. Maybe someone should get Chuck's pal, Lou Austin, to suggest that.
That is so right. It seems Mr. Austin is getting at least 3 roundabouts in the CID area. He thinks progressively. Maybe he would make a better mayor than Chuck.
Why can't you just come out and admit that the only thing "confidential" about this blog is that it is a shill for Stan "The Sham" Glazer?
We get it. You like Stan because he tells you everything you want to hear. Forget the fact he's bankrupted more businesses than I can count. Solicited prostitutes. Assaulted employees. Is he still claiming he's best buds with the owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Last time out I sat and listened to The Sham claim that one phone call from him would bring 55 Million in investment from his millionaire buddy(s). I'm still waiting.
I may not like Eddy as a mayoral candidate either, but good god. Get over it. Write something of substance instead of complaining like a bunch of 5 year olds that didn't get to go out to recess.
Is anyone criticizing the K.C. government automatically a shill for Stan Glazer? Because that's the only connection I see between this blog and the Glazer campaign.
This blog has criticized Chuck Eddy and John Fairfield. You have links to KCMO Hotline and KC NAG. Both run by staunch Glazer supporters.
Criticizing the government is one thing. Constant whining is another. You'd think the only issue in the world is Red Bridge. Why not call this blog Red Bridge Confidential and spare the rest of us the bandwidth? There's more going on in Kansas City than your bridge.
You're going to sit there and tell me that as the race draws closer this blog won't be backing Glazer? Spare me.
Tell Stan "The Sham" when he brings in the $50 million in downtown investment from his Tampa Bay owner pal he can have my vote. Of course I told him that 4 years ago when he was blathering around about it and I still haven't seen anything.
I'll give him one thing. He does tell a really good "N" joke. That's what I want in my mayor!
I see where MARC is now offering a service called Carpool Connection where commuters can search for others with similiar schedules and needs. It's ironic that they would be promoting this idea and at the same time approving projects like Red Bridge Road which only serve to make singles driving easier.
I'm confused. I've re-read the blogs, and yes there is criticsm of Eddy and Fairfield. How does that make any of this pro-Glazer? Are there only 3 candidates running for mayor?
I don't know that much about Glazer, but neither Fairfield nor Eddy deserve to be mayor since neither understands representative government.
Seems to me that Glazer's rivals in the Mayoral Horserace are Brooks and Nace more than Eddy and Fairfield.
Back to the original issue of Stroud's, and yes more criticism of Chuck Eddy. Why has he not been able to find a place in the sixth district for them to relocate? This is another example of his lack of vision and foresight.
Why is it a representatives responsibility to find a new location for a business?!? Seems he should have better things to do. If the people who owned Stroud's wanted to find a new location I'm sure there are dozens of places they could go. With such a strong name and following area businesses should be clamouring to get them close. That is how free market works, not having the government get involved.
The government is involved, like it or not: TIF developments, the Mayor lobbying business owners to come to K.C., or to stay here and not move to Kansas or whereever. There's a cornucopia of examples. But the opposite is happening with Strouds: You have a veritable historic landmark being demolished, and the business in effect being told to take a hike. Without government assistance, the Marlboro area will lose one of its greatest assets and the neighborhood, already blighted, will slip further into decay.
A representative is supposed to look out for his district. The sixth district continues to lose good businesses and our councilmen don't seem to care. Now we have one that could simply be relocated, yet they don't seem to care about that either. It creates a downward spiral. Businesses leave, aren't relocated, the schools lose tax dollars and struggle to make do, people don't want to move in because of the shape of the schools, more businesses leave because there aren't enough people to support them, the schools lose tax dollars.... Our representatives need to take responsiblity for what happens in their district.
You can't have it both ways. Do you want a sleepy little neighborhood with little traffic or do you want roads and bridges and the increased traffic that will bring business. If they came up with a plan to turn Red Bridge shopping center into the next Town Center there would be people fighting mad because of the traffic.
To the last commenter: We don't want it both ways. Red Bridge has been developed, it doesn't need re-development with bigger roads and more businesses. We don't need, don't want, and cannot sustain a Town Center type development. Town Center in 30 years will probably be a ghost town. Look at Metcalf South (big in the 70s) and Bannister mall (big in the 80s).
You just don't get it.
Then explain to me why Stroud's would want to relocate anywhere in the district. There is no redevelopment happening to spur traffic and business. Where would you put Stroud's? Red Bridge? Bannister Mall? Give me one place in the district that would provide Stroud's a viable location. Don't cry when they put it downtown or in the Town Center-type developments. I can hear the whining now, "We lost Stroud's. It's the politicians fault." We'll maybe, if you weren't living in the 70's when Red Bridge was some utopian jewel businesses wouldn't be making a beeline for Lee's Summit, or Leawood, or the new 150 areas. Enjoy your 70's nostalgia.
What you call whining is a legitimate criticism of a corrupt politician. And as for nostalgia: it seems to be doing Brookside some good. And they don't bring in traffic with new roads, either.
But it's the thinking from the 50s, 60s, and 70s that is still haunting us: build new homes and retail farther and farther away.
Where will it end?
For anon that wants one place that would provide a viable location for Stroud's, try the old Pennington's Chicken Farm Restaurant. The building is still there, so not only would Stroud's be back in an old building, but it would actually be in a historic building that was once a fried chicken restaurant. Not only that, but it would have great visibility for anyone traveling 71 Highway, and after Triangle construction is complete access would be unbeatable.
Maybe before disparaging those of us who live the area, the above contributor should study the history of Hickman Mills.
I remember that spot. What a perfect anchor it would be for the 'historic Old Hickman Mills'.
If the place and location were so great and viable then there would still be a restaurant there, wouldn't there? Why would Stroud's pick Hickman Mill's over Johnson County or Lee's Summit or even downtown?
For those obviously not familiar with the area's history, Pennington's was in business for 46 years. The owner and cook had a heart attack at the age of 86. Her sister tried to keep the business running, but was already writing a history book and also writing for a newspaper. The demise of the restaurant had nothing to do with the location, but rather age, health, and other obligations.
Hey,
I'm from Kansas City but don't get home often. What's happening in North Kansas City or on '85th St.' that's worth talking about? Just asking the question.
Left KC in '78
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