The owners of Gigi's Wigs and Beauty Supplies -- one of the few small businesses in downtown Kansas City's South Loop to avoid the wrecking ball -- have lost an appeal of the city's decision to condemn their building.
The Kansas City Tax-Increment Financing Commission offered the shop's owners, Chung Hoe Ku and his wife, Myong Suk Ku, $335,000 for their land in 2004. The TIF Commission sought the property in order to accommodate Copaken White & Blitt, a company that manages Town Pavilion, 1201 Walnut and other downtown properties. Copaken lost parking when the TIF Commission assembled land for the Power & Light District. (Barbecue man Danny Edwards, the Kus' neighbor, was also told to skedaddle.)
The Kus fought the condemnation. Their lawyers argued that the use of eminent domain was improper, since the city hadn't clearly identified a public purpose.
The TIF Commission later approved a Copaken-submitted plan to build
parking and retail and office space on the site. (The commission also agreed to assist the project with $48.7 million in incentives.) Their original objection no longer available, the Kus took a different tack, arguing, among things, that the city had failed to act in good faith.
On Tuesday, the Missouri Court of Appeals put an end to the fight, as the judges sided with the city. Next a commission will set a price the Kus are to be paid. If the Kus believe it is too low, they can appeal to a jury.
For Gigi's patrons, the decision may not bring drastic change. Property records indicate that the Kus own a building on Grand Boulevard a few blocks south of their current location.
UPDATE: After this post went live, Rhonda Smiley, the Kus' attorney, said that in all likelihood an appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court would be filed..
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