The open-air portion of the Power & Light District erupted into a sea of pumped fists and spilled beer when Landon Donovan booted a ball past Ghana's goalkeeper during the World Cup. The sweating mass testified to the tournament's appeal — and to the suddenly more viable future of American soccer. But the crowd at KC Live, estimated at 12,000, said something about downtown, too.
The flags and painted faces confirmed Power & Light's status as one of the area's prime gathering points. For the sports fan who likes to shout beer orders and hug strangers, no other place in town offers the same atmosphere.
The game ended in a loss for the Americans, but the cheers for Donovan's goal reverberated off skyscrapers — and even earned a place in ABC's final-round highlights package.
Yet just a couple of weeks after the celebration, a top man at City Hall says the Power & Light District will be a drag on the city budget for a generation. City Manager Troy Schulte said recently that the entertainment district could require an annual subsidy of $10 million–$15 million for as long as the debt remains on the books.
Schulte's budget made the news, but it barely was news. The numbers haven't worked at Power & Light since the drinks began to flow at the heavily subsidized funporium in 2007. The city issued $295 million in bonds to pay for the project. The creditors' payments were supposed to come from sales taxes and other monies generated at the site. But reality — pesky reality — has lagged behind expectations since day one.
City officials who support the Power & Light deal are less gloomy than Schulte. Though the margarita projections may have been a little wild, they say, a bona fide attraction now stands on ground once demoralized by seedy bars, haunted houses and crumbling parking lots. Below the surface, the sewer pipes are no longer made of wood. "We had basically Civil War plumbing under our downtown," Councilman Ed Ford says.
Replacing 19th-century plumbing is usually a good idea. And the Scooby-Doo argument also has merits: Haunted houses (the commercial kind, not buildings with paranormal reputations) belong in the West Bottoms, away from the central business district.
But the story of the Power & Light's taxpayer burden is even more aggravating than it appears on the surface.
When the city started planning the Power & Light District in 2004, it hired C.H. Johnson Consulting Inc., in Chicago, to whip up sales projections for the shops and restaurants that would create the entertainment zone. In the consultants' estimation, the district was going to perform like a symphony of cash registers.
Still, city officials winced when they sold the $295 million in Power & Light District bonds in 2006. Even with the $15.6 million in tax revenue that the consultants projected for the first year, the officials knew that they could barely cover the mortgage payments. A former finance director, Deb Hinsvark, called the margin "very skinny."
Proponents of the deal acknowledged the risk. But even then, they had no idea how loosely they were playing with the city's credit, because C.H. Johnson's forecasts were junk. In the first full year of operation, the tax revenues fell $11.4 million short of that $15.6 million projection.
It's no secret that the Cordish Co., the city's private partner in the Power & Light District, has had trouble finding and keeping tenants. The spiraling economy has only added to the challenge.
But it's the consultants at C.H. Johnson — and the city officials who believed them — who now look unfit to mop the floors at Johnny's Tavern. Now 85 percent leased, the district is hardly a ghost town. The thousands of people who went to the district to watch soccer during the World Cup attest to its brand recognition. Power & Light isn't everyone's favorite destination for every occasion. But no one can call the concept a failure.
Showing 1-12 of 12
You didn't mention that the KC Police set up checkpoints when leaving this area. Patrons have become accustomed to going nearer to home to finish off the evening just to get away from Corwin's boys. I don't want anyone to drive while drunk, but, the real cash cow for the city is fines for the people that patronize the P & L. Slowly customers will not visit this area because of legal fears.
You didn't mention that the KC Police set up checkpoints when leaving this area. Patrons have become accustomed to going nearer to home to finish off the evening just to get away from Corwin's boys. I don't want anyone to drive while drunk, but, the real cash cow for the city is fines for the people that patronize the P & L. Slowly customers will not visit this area because of legal fears.
Now I see everyone calling this Power & White... And we all know that if someone made up a name regarding blacks in this...the entire city would be up in arms... so please stop calling it that.. yes the place is full of preppy 3 collar popped white kids that don't know any better... but really Power & White... yea that's dumb... I will stick to my hole in the wall bars anyways...I am just a country boy that likes whiskey...
Now I see everyone calling this Power & White... And we all know that if someone made up a name regarding blacks in this...the entire city would be up in arms... so please stop calling it that.. yes the place is full of preppy 3 collar popped white kids that don't know any better... but really Power & White... yea that's dumb... I will stick to my hole in the wall bars anyways...I am just a country boy that likes whiskey...
Boycott Price Chopper because of their misleading points program that only benefits large families. Before you'll ever get free groceries, your points will start over. What a scam. Let them know what you think by calling 1-877-233-9072 or 913-749-1500.
Boycott Price Chopper because of their misleading points program that only benefits large families. Before you'll ever get free groceries, your points will start over. What a scam. Let them know what you think by calling 1-877-233-9072 or 913-749-1500.
I have to agree. Power and White is not my favorite place to go (hence the name). Its funny cause i have lived downtown for the last 2 years now and have only gone there about 5 times total (with people I work with). Instead I go to westport (and any other place) because it does not seem to feel right for those
I have to agree. Power and White is not my favorite place to go (hence the name). Its funny cause i have lived downtown for the last 2 years now and have only gone there about 5 times total (with people I work with). Instead I go to westport (and any other place) because it does not seem to feel right for those
And we need a new downtown hotel for what? How many beers will that take to pay off?
How about getting new businesses to relocate downtown and fill up all the loft space with actual tax paying, grocery buying, walk to a local bar people. Then dynomite Kaufman and get 80 sure fire bar filling dates to anchor the downtown scene in the summer with a new ball park? New ball park might get KC a new owner and we can get rid of scrooge MC GLASS. Anyone have a problem with this?
The Power and "White" district is a huge waste of money and time. I have lived in KC area most of my lfe and I have no desire to even go to this area.The city and the planners made a huge mistake listening to all of the inflated numbers,how could anyone actually believe any of the numbers that were furnished.5 years from now this area will not even exist and it will become another blight on the downtown KC skyline.People have no desire in going to the Power and Light district,if they go out at all they will go to places closer to where they live.The people living in downtown KC do not have the financial capabilities to back the financial needs of the Power and Light district, The city expected the people from the suburbs to vist this area and spend their money downtown. huge mistake,doomed to fail from the start. if they would have given the Westport area the same tax incentives and law changes that were enacted for the Power and Light district,this problem would never have happened.Westport would be booming and the Power and 'White' district would not exist.
And we need a new downtown hotel for what? How many beers will that take to pay off? How about getting new businesses to relocate downtown and fill up all the loft space with actual tax paying, grocery buying, walk to a local bar people. Then dynomite Kaufman and get 80 sure fire bar filling dates to anchor the downtown scene in the summer with a new ball park? New ball park might get KC a new owner and we can get rid of scrooge MC GLASS. Anyone have a problem with this?
The Power and "White" district is a huge waste of money and time. I have lived in KC area most of my lfe and I have no desire to even go to this area.The city and the planners made a huge mistake listening to all of the inflated numbers,how could anyone actually believe any of the numbers that were furnished.5 years from now this area will not even exist and it will become another blight on the downtown KC skyline.People have no desire in going to the Power and Light district,if they go out at all they will go to places closer to where they live.The people living in downtown KC do not have the financial capabilities to back the financial needs of the Power and Light district, The city expected the people from the suburbs to vist this area and spend their money downtown. huge mistake,doomed to fail from the start. if they would have given the Westport area the same tax incentives and law changes that were enacted for the Power and Light district,this problem would never have happened.Westport would be booming and the Power and 'White' district would not exist.
like
dislike
