In The Loop: June 2023
Your connection to Downtown Kansas City
For the second summer in a row, The Loop is pleased to have Hannah Schuh working with us. She’s already knocking it out of the park at the University of Missouri where, as a freshman, she won the Visual Staff Member of the Year Award for Mizzou Student Media. With Hannah’s help, through July we will boost our content — and even our frequency — publishing mid-month stories in addition to our monthly “In The Loop” email newsletter. We hope you enjoy!
And now, on to the The Loop….
No prizes or praises (for now), just a trivia question to test your Downtown knowledge….
Q. In 1899, the Heim family decided to build a streetcar from the City Market area to their East Bottoms brewery in order to bring more customers to their hard-to-reach location. It didn't significantly boost sales, if at all. So, what did the Heim Brewery try next in the attempt to boost traffic and sales in the East Bottoms?
A. See the answer near the bottom of this issue.
June 24, 1927: Plans announced for Pla-Mor recreation project
It was front-page news in the Kansas City Star on June 24, 1927, when it was announced that the Pla-Mor center would be built on the southern edge of modern-day Downtown. Not only was the Pla-Mor a massive, ambitious project, but it was also newsworthy that the entertainment center would incorporate parts of the short-lived Stop and Shop Market at 3142 Main.
With a a name like “Stop and Shop Market,” one might assume the business was a convenience store, but in reality the Stop and Shop was, as businessman Tom Evans described it years later, “a gigantic, big building with all kinds of merchants under one roof — the first of its kind in Kansas City.” The Stop and Shop included a grocery store, a haberdashery, a drugstore, and a hardware store. But it only lasted two years before it was decided that such a massive piece of real estate needed something that would create more revenue.
And thus, the Pla-Mor.
The Pla-Mor contained so many differing elements of recreation and entertainment that it’s hard to encapsulate the myriad activities, events, and historical moments that happened on the northwest corner of Linwood and Main from late 1927 into the late 1950s.
The Pla-Mor Ballroom was the first piece of the complex to open — on Thanksgiving night of 1927 — with more than 4,000 people in attendance. The ballroom was certainly no cookie cutter venue: The 14,000 square-foot dance floor was patterned after some of the most magnificent ballrooms in New York, Chicago, and Detroit, and contained springs underneath that allowed up to 3,000 dancers to whirl and twirl on a floor that could flex up to 1/4 inch.
In the 1940s, the Jay McShann Band performed at the Pla-Mor, including Charlie “Yardbird” Parker, who as a child lived in the neighborhood just a couple blocks south. Other performers at the Pla-Mor Ballroom included Louis Armstrong, Hoagy Carmichael, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Guy Lombardo, Lawrence Welk, Harry James, Woody Herman, Lionel Hampton, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Kenton, Andy Kirk and the Twelve Clouds of Joy, and Frank Sinatra. Legendary ice skater Sonja Henie skated there, too.
As a whites-only facility for much of its history, legendary singer and bandleader Cab Calloway was assaulted and kicked out of the Pla-Mor in December 1945 while attempting to see Lionel Hampton perform at the ballroom. Hampton, who had invited Calloway to his show, refused to perform a second set, and the Pla-Mor was forced to issue refunds to ticket holders. The incident created national headlines.
After closing in 1957 and reopening as Freedom Palace in the early 1970s, the former Pla-Mor building hosted bands such as Canned Heat, Grand Funk Railroad, and — on the blistering hot night of July 2, 1970 — The Who.
Through the years, other parts of the Pla-Mor amusement center included a billiards room, bowling alley, indoor swimming pool, outdoor artificial beach, outdoor dance pavilion, a restaurant, and an ice skating rink/hockey arena — home to the Kansas City Pla-Mors of the American Hockey Association from 1928 through 1933. The Kansas City Hi-Spots, a National Professional Basketball League team, called the Pla-Mor home for one season in 1950-51 (they actually folded before the season ended).
The Pla-Mor complex was torn down in 1972 and today is a car dealership.
The tallest hidden-gem in Kansas City: City Hall’s Observation Deck
Story and photos by
If you’ve seen any Kansas City merch for sale, you’ve seen the classic design of the downtown Kansas City silhouette. The Power and Light Company Building, Oak Tower, and the twin spires of 909 Walnut can often be found neatly standing next to each other in this classic design, together symbolizing the heart of our beloved city.
However, Kansas City locals and tourists alike are often left wondering how they can experience this skyline for themselves. It can be difficult to find ways to enjoy the full sight of Downtown without those same buildings obstructing your view.
But viewing the classic horizon is much more accessible than you may think. In fact, all it takes is a visit to City Hall.
As one of the tallest buildings in Kansas City, there are few better places to climb above the hustle and bustle of the street and overlook everything. From the 30th floor Observation Deck, you will have no trouble seeing the famous Kansas City skyscrapers and snapping the perfect picture.
City Hall offers free tours of their Observation Deck on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Reservations must be made via email (security@kcmo.org) at least 5 days in advance. Be sure to follow their instructions on scheduling a tour to make sure your plans run smoothly.
Once it comes time to visit the 1937 Beaux-Arts and Art-Deco style building, be prepared: No weapons are allowed inside the Hall, security will check any bags and purses before you enter the building and you may want to bring a camera to capture the amazing views you’re going to see.
After entering, let a security guard know you’re there for a tour. They will help you take an elevator to the lower lobby of the building. From there you’ll sign in with the front desk and they will alert your security guide that you are present and ready to begin.
Your guide will bring you to another elevator, this time quickly taking you up 28 floors. From there you will walk up two flights of dimly lit stairs before reaching the door to the Observation Deck.
Now you’ve reached the top! Your guide will take you to the door, and from there you’ll have a clear bird’s-eye-view of the city’s historic landmarks and famous buildings. You can walk entirely around the Hall to see every side of the city and enjoy a long look at some Kansas City icons.
During the visit our guide shared a couple of facts about the building with us, my favorite being how the crew of “The Last of Us” filmed some scenes of the show from the very deck that we were standing on.
After you’ve had your fill of the amazing cityscape, your guide will take you back down. Our guide was kind enough to also show us the Council Chamber before we left, since they weren’t in session.
Not only is this tour free, but there’s a RideKC stop just across the street and plenty of parallel parking opportunities surrounding the building. Although scheduling a tour may seem a little difficult, making the appointment ended up being swift and easy. Whether you’ve lived under to the Western Auto sign for years or you’re just visiting for the first time, cut out a 30-minute block to visit the deck and see the city in a new light.
PortKC and MARC: Give your input on Riverfront connections
The Kansas City riverfront has new apartments, a planned beer garden, a soccer stadium opening next year, and a streetcar extension and pedestrian/bike bridge opening in 2025. Now, how to connect it more directly to Columbus Park, Pendleton Heights, and other nearby neighborhoods? PortKC and the Mid-America Regional Council want your ideas….
LINK: Riverfront Connectivity Study (provide your input through a survey and more)
LINK: Study Looks at Reconnecting Berkley Riverfront to Columbus Park (CitySceneKC)
Yahoo! News: NLBM plans construction, move to Paseo YMCA site
From its beginnings as a one-room office to a nationally revered collection of baseball and civil rights history, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum now has its sights set on building a 30,000 square-foot complex next to the Buck O’Neil Education and Research Center at the Paseo YMCA campus.
LINK: Negro Leagues Museum starts drive for new $25M facility (Yahoo! News)
LINK: New Museum Will Further Tell the Powerful Stories of the Negro Leagues Baseball Players (NLBM)
Visuals: Two new apartment-hotel towers proposed
They are both a long way from becoming reality, but two proposed towers in Downtown Kansas City could have a significant effect on our skyline in the next few years.
Lux Living of St. Louis is pursuing a 27-story apartment-hotel structure on the northeast corner of 14th and Wyandotte. It would be situated just west of the iconic Power & Light Building. This structure would replace a surface parking lot.
Nearby, at the site of a former Denny’s restaurant across from the Kauffman Performing Arts Center, developers EPC Real Estate Group and Dan Carr are awaiting word from the Federal Aviation Administration: They are proposing an apartment-hotel that would reach 500 feet tall if the FAA approves and the plans proceed.
LINK: Lux Living: 14th and Wyandotte information page
LINK: Flatland KC: Developers Pursue Skyscraper Next to Kauffman Center
KCMO City Communications: KC South Loop Project presentation
In this YouTube video, Nathan Elliott of OJB Architecture’s San Diego office presents the details of two early design possibilities for the South Loop project, both of which closed a road that currently spans the proposed park site. A third design has since surfaced (see below), which keeps all roads open and chops the park into four or more isolated pieces.
Northeast News: First Jazz Hill apartment buildings to open in June
This month, the Twelfth Street Heritage Development Corporation plans to open the first of 11 buildings that it is renovating along The Paseo as part of a total 197-unit project. The buildings include some classic Kansas City colonnaded walk-ups, along with other unique and historic architecture.
LINK: Affordable units coming to historic Paseo buildings
Bringing you some of the most interesting properties for sale or lease in and around Downtown Kansas City….
1715 Summit #204: A foodie’s dream at Westside North rental
In the same building as Chez Elle Crêperie and Coffeehouse, and just a few hundred feet from Blue Bird Bistro, Clay and Fire, Goat Hill Coffee and Soda, Los Alamos Cocina, and Westside Local, this apartment is close to some of Downtown’s best dining options.
1715 Summit St., Apt 204
Property presented by: Boveri Realty Group
3 BR / 3 BA; 1,232 square feet
Rent: $2,500/month
See the property online here
Homes and buildings featured in The Loop are not necessarily recommendations or endorsements, but rather illustrations of interesting properties for sale or lease in the vicinity of Downtown. Properties may or may not remain available at time of publishing.
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Who are all these people?
Answering the question “Who are all these people and where are they going?”, The Loop brings you a list of some of the biggest events happening Downtown each week. Please give a friendly Downtown-Kansas City welcome to audiences and attendees of….
MAY
TODAY
Celebration at the Station with the Kansas City Symphony plus Memorial Day activities at Union Station and the National World War I Museum
Cirque du Soleil Corteo at T-Mobile Center
29th - 31st
Aladdin: The Musical, May 30 - June 4 at the Music Hall
JUNE
1st - 3rd
Miller Lite Hot Country Nights: Wade Bowen, June 1 at KC Live! Block
First Friday Weekend, June 1-4 in the Tower East KC neighborhood
First Friday, June 2 in the Crossroads Arts District
First Friday Weekend, June 2-4 in the West Bottoms district
Kansas City Symphony Presents Stern Conducts Mahler and Montgomery, June 2-4 at Kauffman Center
6th Annual JuneteenthKC Heritage Cultural Parade, June 3 at 18th & Vine Historic Jazz District
All Time Low, June 3 at the Midland
Fellowship for Performing Arts Presents C.S. Lewis On Stage: Further Up & Further In, June 3 at Kauffman Center
Trixie Mattel, June 3 at KC Live! Block
4th - 10th
Miller Lite Hot Country Nights: Joe Nichols, June 8 at KC Live! Block
11 - 17th
Future Stages Festival Celebrating 10 Years, June 11 at Kauffman Center
Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, June 12 at Kauffman Center
Nickel Creek with Special Guest Gaby Moreno, June 13 at Kauffman Center
Miller Lite Hot Country Nights: Priscilla Block, June 15 at KC Live! Block
Gov’t Mule, June 15 at Grinders KC
Pat Metheny: Side-Eye, June 15 at Kauffman Center
Coors Light Block Party: Dillon Francis, June 16 at KC Live! Block
Kansas City Symphony Presents The Rite of Spring, Ax Plays Beethoven, June 16-18 at Kauffman Center
JuneteenthKC Heritage Festival, June 17 at 18th and Vine
Impractical Jokers, June 17 at T-Mobile Center
Heartland Men’s Chorus Kansas City Disney PRIDE in Concert, June 17-18 in Kauffman Center
18th - 24th
Santa Fe Klan, June 21 at T-Mobile Center
Miller Lite Hot Country Nights: Tyler Hubbard
Miller Lite Hot Country Nights: Tyler Hubbard, June 22 at KC Live! Block
TRI.BE, June 23 at Folly Theater
Kansas City Symphony Presents Season Finale Broberg Plays Rachmaninoff, with Puccini and Tchaikovsky, June 23-25 in Kauffman Center
Bluey's Big Play – The Stage Show, June 24-25 at Kauffman Center
25th - 30th
Dirty Heads, June 27 at Grinders KC
Miller Lite Hot Country Nights: Hailey Whitters, June 29 at KC Live! Block
For a more exhaustive list of everything happening Downtown, go to the VisitKC events page and use the “regions” function to search for Downtown, Westside/Southwest Blvd, West Bottoms, River Market, Power & Light, Crown Center, Crossroads, 18th & Vine — or anywhere you want to go in the KC Metro
For live Kansas City Jazz performances, visit LiveJazzKC.com
Q. In 1899, the Heim family decided to build a streetcar from the City Market area to their East Bottoms brewery in order to bring more customers to their hard-to-reach location. It didn't significantly boost sales, if at all. So, what did the Heim Brewery try next in the attempt to boost traffic and sales in the East Bottoms?
A. The Heim Brewery opened Electric Park on June 3, 1900, an amusement park focused on music, drinking, a few amusement rides — and the relatively new invention of electricity. Because the park was so popular (and partly due to the flood of 1903 that affected the East Bottoms), by 1907 Electric Park moved to a space three times larger, near 46th and the Paseo. It was this second version of Electric Park where a young Walt Disney visited, and it is claimed that these memories later sparked ideas for the Disneyland amusement park and its famous Electrical Parade.
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