Apparently, everyone aknowledges that it currently functions well for passengers but for the business of airline travel, from the standpoint of baggage thru security, it does not function well. Additionally the existing structure needs repair and maintence due to neglect. Thirdly, there is lost revenue on account of the inability to secure more airline business.
Change is difficult but often does open up new possibilities that are unseen. Probably it is inevitable that change will come to MCI. I agree with Robert MacRae having traveled to cities with rail systems that link airports with intended destinations.
Folks in PV upset about a development of property that doesn't necessarily meet with their uppity sense of aesthetics for their personal properties - SHOCKING!!!...not.
Would these be all the same people who tried to cause a major traffic jam at Indian Hills middle school when the the closing of MV was being discussed by asking EVERYONE (whether a parent or not) to drive through the drop off area at Indian Hills to clog up the process? Heaven forbid a school be closed to help the district survive, even though was not even close to attendance capacity.
Who really goes to an airport for fine dining and high end gift shops?? Get me on and off the plane as quickly and with as little hassle as possible. I travel extensively for work and live in the KC area and even if i park in the KCI Economy parking lot i know that once i step off the plane with my carry on, i will be in my car in about 20 min or less. @justmywords----What exactly is it about KCI that doesnt work??
For all the lip service about security and enhancing the customer experience, it's ultimately about squeezing more dollars out of passengers on their way through.
Most airports today are shopping malls with planes parked out back. The reason KCI feels old-fashioned is that it was designed to take you from curb to plane as quickly as possible. I guarantee you the new design will make sure passengers have to walk past as many shops as possible.
My only gripe about the airport is that it's too far out of town. I'd rather see money spent on a light rail system linking the airport with downtown.
A BILLION DOLLARS Yikess! On something that does not need to be done at all! This is a resume' stuffer idea. Air travel get more expensive every year = less who want to use it.
NO BILLION DOLLAR BOON DOGLE THANK YOU.
Nonsense.
The layout at KCI as it is now not only works but nearly everyone who uses it--whether a lot or a little--like it and like its convenience and accessibility.
There's no reason in the world we can't take Terminal B, make it the security clearance terminal, as either wanted or needed, and then run enclosed walkways out to Terminals A and C, thereby getting everything needed--security, convenience, additional concessions (if they come) and cost savings. To a) throw away an airport and then b) build an extremely costly new one is both financially and environmentally irresponsible to the point of stupid.
Mo Rage
JustMyWords hit it dead on the head. I'd love to hang out at the concessions prior to the gate but I won't because the expense and the risk of missing my flight is greater if I'm on that side of the glass. It's just not worth it.
"But Ford says the concession argument is dead on arrival for local travelers, who typically migrate beyond security before they have a need for nice restaurants and bars." I think Ford is missing the point. Local travelers 'migrate beyond security' not because they just love the options on the other side, or even prefer them. They do it because they don't want to risk being stuck on the wrong side of security, fighting a long line when their plane is boarding (or worse, departing).
No matter how you try to spin it, the layout at KCI stinks. A new, single-terminal airport would be outrageously expensive, but so are repairs, maintenance, and work-arounds at the existing airport. It seems like it would be six of one, half dozen of the other in the long run, or even the not so long run. Why not move towards getting rid of an annoying, clunky design in the process? Sure, from the outside, KCI looks great on paper - beautiful curved lines, a theoretically sleek flow from one terminal to the next - but it doesn't work.
PV Fam, thank you for providing a response. It's sad that MVNA will continue to rant about what they don't like but not provide details on what they do like and would find acceptable. I've said it several times already, I would be shocked if the current proposal made it past the council. So what next?
Kansas City, missouri:
1) around downtown, there are some "downtown ambassadors",
some liar hater criminals of "banana chief" mr. Tubss, harassing me.
2) THE MAYOR DON'T EEVEN HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT WHAT A POLITICIAN IS,
I KNOW HIS BOSSES MIGHT BE JUST RACIST HATERS, BUT politicians
should have sense of the honor and defend the poor and vulnerable
people, not the powerful haters, as A GOOD MENTAL SLAVE.
3) THE GOVERNOR? THAT IS An inept MORON ROBOT.
4) DOWNTOWN COUNCIL? A BUNCH OF CORRUPT IDIOTS, FIRST
THEY SHOULD LEARN WHAT A DOWNTOWN IS...WELL, AS I ADVICED THEM,
RENAME THIS AS "KANSAS SHITTY, MISERY"...INCLUDING SPRIRITUAL
AND HUMAN MISERY...the real misery is being an ignorant mental slave hater...
I tried the porchetta at Pigwich outside of the Local Pig butcher shop recently--highly recommended. I plan on working through the rest of the sandwiches on the menu soon!
I'll comment on what I'd like to see on this property. I don't mind retail, but I want it small, primarily-local, and something that works within the existing community.
I also don't mind a senior center, but not a taking-up-every-square-inch-of-the-property kind. The Tutera group, if feels to me, wants to build too far into the corners of the property, when most of us in PV moved here bc of the green space. How about encompassing a public-friendly green space/trail that could be used by the seniors AND the public?
REgarding this property, I am mostly (and hugely) disappointed the now retired (thankfully!!) Gene Johnson, SMSD superintendent, forbid the property from being sold to other schools, to prevent competetion with SMSD. That is ridiculous and self-serving, but water under the bridge. That would have been the absolutely BEST solution for this property.
MISSION VALLEY DEVELOPMENT – Update since May 7th Planning Commission Meeting
“Mission Chateau will be just like Santa Marta (Olathe, KS),” stated John Peterson, attorney for the Tutera Group (Mission Chateau proposed beds for 450 on 18 acres, whereas Santa Marta has 342 beds on 45.48 acres).
DENSITY and BULK
*The proposed Mission Chateau is 387,244 square feet of building on 18 acres. This is 42% larger than what is allowed in a medium density apartment complex in Johnson County (220,600 square feet).
*The Proposed Mission Chateau is 21,122 square feet per acre. In comparison, Corinth and Corinth South are only 11,902 square feet per acre.
*The proposed Mission Chateau would have the second largest single residential building in Johnson County nearly the length of two football fields laid end to end - facing Mission Road.
SKILLED NURSING FACILITY
*The proposed 100 bed Skilled Nursing Facility proposed on this site has 20% fewer beds than St Luke’s South Hospital. In comparison Santa Marta, has only 32 skilled nursing facility beds.
*A Skilled Nursing Facility is a non-acute care hospital with physicians and nurses caring for patients of all ages that aren’t able to stay in the hospital but cannot return to their own home. A skilled-nursing facility is not a nursing home.
AGE AND POPULATION
*Only 4% of the age and income qualified population ever move into a CCRC (Continued Care Retirement Community).
*Only 25-30% of the current PV retirement facilities are PV residents.
*Greater Prairie Village would have 22 residents for every senior bed available; Johnson County has 68 residents for every senior bed available.
DEPRECIATION IN HOME VALUES
*Depreciation occurs within a several block radius of a project. Those property taxes total $406,000 a year combined. A professional real estate appraiser has determined that home values would fall at least 10% which would equate to a loss of property taxes greater than $40,000 to the City.
*The complex is estimated to generate only $112,000 a year in property taxes at the current density. With extra city expenses expected to be incurred, there would be minimal monetary value to the city funds (this is assuming they don’t apply for a not-for-profit status).
GOLDEN FACTORS: The Supreme Court of Kansas decided in 1978 - Donald Golden v. The City of Overland Park; eight factors a zoning body must consider when hearing requests for change.
1)The character of the neighborhood; 2) The zoning and uses of properties nearby; 3) The suitability of the subject property for the uses to which it has been restricted; 4) The extent to which removal of the restrictions will detrimentally affect nearby property; 5) The length of time the subject property has remained vacant as zoned; 6) The gain to the public health, safety, and welfare by the possible diminution in value of the developer's property as compared to the hardship imposed on the individual landowners; 7) The recommendations of a permanent or professional planning staff; and 8) The conformance of the requested change to the city's master or comprehensive plan.
Well there is one legit entrepreneur.. a lone wolf amidst a pack of sheep who has in fact built and sold a company..
As for the rest of the KCSV?
Ehh, revenge of the nerds.. Bunch of the unpopular kids getting together to bask in their apparent mediocrity. Not quite a stage four support group but nowhere near a Silicon Valley genesis..
Are they sheep trying their hardest not to appear desperate as they clamor to an imprimatur that's run it's course?
Where to start..
The dad, a CFO at a big KC law firm, pays for the sons play time in one of the above mentioned startups.
Another dad, who inherited oil money, pays for another 40 something yo sons play time in another startup which attracted investment from a KC 'venture capital' firm probably because the dad is a limited partner in the fund.
[Ssshhh.. No one say anything about the sons previous endeavor, the startup that dare not speak its name (reference another Pitch article: a million little pixels).] Kinda like the dad who agrees to buy the little-league team jerseys if they put the son in center field.
Incidentally, this same fund supposedly 'sold' a company to a well known search engine, for how much? (Crickets chirping). So what, it was a mercy killing - way to save the day Mr. Silicon Valley search engine.
Yes, it was a mercey killing. Doesn't stop the former CEO of this company (former carpet salesman now an 'entrepreneur in residence') from running around the circuit playing Yoda - giving advice to would be founders. Founders who would do well to ask Yoda "how many companies have you personally started?" And "how many companies have you personally raised money for?" [and no, running to the ex-telecom execs (who hired you) for more tokens after getting rejected by a couple hundred venture capitalists doesn't count as a cap raise]
Btw, who's the cute one - the sausage king of the nerds? The dashing young prince from back east - the one who sent an email to "the village" along with a threat to pack up and leave unless several thousand dollars were deposited into his exchequer.
All the makings of a farce.. Three amigos comes to mind. Actors pretending to be real cowboys? Guess we'll see.
There is a reason the Z-Man is at the top of the article. Not saying these other sandhiches aren't good, but when you have had a Z-Man, you know that it stands above the rest. The perfectly smoked brisket, the smoked provolone cheese, the tangy sweet and spicy sauce, the warm bun, the cruchiness from the onion ring, and the bright acidity from the pickle. It is like bitting into happiness. :-)
Well I will just buy the property and put a small friendly neighborhood Drive In Theater there.
Here's one you or Charles need to check out:
La Hamburguesa Loca, 3009 Independence Ave, Kansas City, MO 64124
https://www.facebook.com/LaHamburguesaLoca
Everything we've had there has been good to excellent. First time I've ever had a burger with a slice of ham on it. I was a little skeptical, but it tasted really good. We try to eat there once a week.
Any sandwich from Orange Box, but for sure the Tenderloin
@Abe. You can find Pigwich's Philly in Charles Ferruzza's look at local renditions of out-of-town signature sandwiches. http://www.pitch.com/kansascity/favorite-r…
Re: “Does the city need a new, billion-dollar Kansas City International?”
Not everyone thinks KCI functions all that well for passengers. It only seems that way because they are the ones fighting the potential for change, and their voices are therefore loudest at the moment. I fly ~ 25 times a year, and KCI is barely adequate. It's definitely not some jewel worth preserving.
It seems those who complain compare their experience at KCI to some mega-airport like LaGuardia, Ohare, or Atlanta. Those are ridiculous comparisons. Most airports that handle about as much traffic as ours are just as easy--if not easier--to navigate with one central terminal. They all have parking at various price levels, from economy to terminal garages, and those garages are not usually full as KCI's Terminal B garage frequently is. Most of them have short walks from ticket counter to security to the gate.
What they also have are places beyond security to get a decent cup of coffee and adequate restroom facilities. KCI does not, and I dare you to spend a significant delay beyond security in Terminal B and not get frustrated. Other airports also have flexibility for carriers to add or subtract service; KCI does not.
Is a ten-figure project the only answer? Maybe not, but the status quo isn't a valid solution either.