In The Loop: March 2024
Publishing until next month — thank you for your support
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As you’re reading this (assuming you’re reading it the morning it’s published), we are on our way to the True/False Film Festival in Columbia, Mo. I’ve raved about this nonfiction-only film showcase before, but with this being the second-to-last issue of The Loop, I want to share my enthusiasm for this event.
Besides, despite sharing my opinion below about the Crossroads stadium proposal, it’s disappointingly not my favorite topic right now.
So, for now, allow me to veer off topic a bit to something more inspiring….
Most Kansas Citians are unaware of this internationally renowned, cultural event happening annually only two hours east of here. USA Today even included True/False among 10 film festivals around the world worth traveling to see.
But wait — you consider Tiger Town to be the domain of your bitter enemy? Fear not: During these few days of the festival, the “M-I-Z” mentality is diminished, the city turns from college town to festival burgh, and all are welcome. Even one of the busker duos, Sweeping Promises, is from Lawrence, Kan.
Among our favorite festival companions are a couple who graduated from K-State and KU. They love it. It really doesn’t even feel like to Columbia to this Mizzou grad. It completely transforms the city.
True/False is four days of workshops, parties, buskers everywhere, public art exhibits, a wacky parade, and — the ultimate draw — the greatest eye-opening, heart-warming/breaking, infuriating, inspiring, mesmerizing documentaries from all parts of the world.
It’s the kind of event where people catch up with fellow festival-goers whom they see only once a year — at True False. A friend who lives in New York has joined us several times. Hallmark has sent its employees to the festival. We also see friends from Columbia, St. Louis, and Kansas City — often only at this event.
It’s a place where anyone with a festival lanyard around their neck is a friend for the long weekend. In bars and restaurants, on the streets, at the ice cream shop, or in line at the shows, there are no strangers at True/False.
We’ve struck up conversations and sometimes gotten to know people from all parts of Missouri, of course, but also from Austin, Chicago, Seattle, North Carolina, Los Angeles, Canada, and London, among other places.
One year, because the restaurant was so crowded, we were asked to share a booth at Ernie’s Cafe with a director who was a nominee for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. His friend who joined us was a North Carolina news reporter who grew up in Paris, France. Tonight, we’ll dine at Sycamore restaurant in Columbia with old friends and people we’ve not yet met, mostly from the KC area, including our friend Joe Heyen, director of Cowtown Ballroom … Sweet Jesus.
But what’s the cherry on the Sparky’s ice cream? It’s all in the downtown area of Columbia called The District.
And you know how I love a good downtown.
Okay, for real, on to the The Loop….
No prizes or praises (for now), just a trivia question to test your Downtown knowledge….
Q. The five-day Big XII Basketball Tournament begins Downtown on March 12 at T-Mobile Center. All of the previous Big 8 tournaments, and most of the Big XII tournaments, have been held in Downtown Kansas City. Do you remember the year of the first Big 8 post-season tournament, the venue where it was played, and — extra credit — who won?
A. See the answer near the bottom of this issue.
March 3, 1902: Sarah Rector, first black millionairess, born
It was 122 years ago this month that Sarah Rector, sensationalized as “the richest black girl in America,” was born in Oklahoma.
Because she was a descendant of slaves freed from the Muscogee Creek tribe, as a child she and some of her siblings were given land as part of a treaty settlement.
Sarah’s relatively worthless, rocky, riverside parcel was 50 miles away from her family’s home in Taft, Okla., and it is said that she never visited it, before or after an oil gusher was unearthed on her land in 1913.
Soon after, the royalties on the oil were earned the 11-year-old $300 a day (more than $9,000 a day in today’s dollars). Her total total earnings from the oil proceeds would have equaled approximately $14 million today.
For numerous and unspecified reasons — likely to escape concerns that accompany overnight wealth and notoriety, among other things — the Rector family moved to Kansas City four years later.
Around 1920, Sarah’s mother — she managed Sarah’s money until her daughter was 20 years old — purchased a grand home at 2000 E. 12th St., just a few blocks east of The Paseo, which still stands today.
Despite being a millionaire family, the Rectors couldn’t shop in Kansas City’s Downtown department stores in the same way that white citizens could, due to the prevailing racism of the day. But money talks, so several stores would allow the Rectors to shop when the shops were closed to the public.
The stock market crash of 1929 put a halt to Sarah and her family’s free-spending ways, but she still remained financially comfortable. The family sold the Rector Mansion to a funeral home and Sarah moved to a house at 2440 Brooklyn Avenue.
Sarah Rector Campbell lived in Kansas City for 38 more years, dying in 1967 at the age of 65 after suffering from a stroke. Ironically, her body was sent from General Hospital where she died, to the C.K. Kerford Funeral Home — the former house that was once home to the Rector Mansion.
In stadium news…
Not much to report, really.
John Sherman and the Royals, who are all about “transparency,” haven’t revealed much of anything that would be helpful for a responsible voter to make an informed decision about the April vote.
Few financial details regarding the building of a new stadium. What is the total cost of the project, and what is included in those numbers? The Royals claim they will spend a billion dollars of their own money, but what will the $600 to $700 million in public funds actually get us? Who owns what (the team or the county)? Are we okay with a $2 billion development contributing no taxes? Who will pay for the extension of the South Loop Project? How much is the pedestrian bridge from the Power & Light District? Will there be a residential component to the plan and will it include any affordable housing? Will the Royals use eminent domain to force owners of buildings to relinquish their properties if negotiations stall? Oh, and what will the stadium really look like — will the renderings we’ve seen truly be the end design?
No third-party impact studies. In addition to displacing residents and businesses, will a new stadium raise or lower property values and lease rates? How will closing Oak Street affect drivers from Downtown, Midtown and further away who use that route daily? How will the stadium and ancillary buildings preserve the creative, entrepreneurial, organic, local Crossroads vibe? My guess is we either won’t see economic impact numbers at all from the teams, or we will see skewed or bogus numbers, because legitimate studies by third-party researchers have consistently concluded that pro sports stadiums do not provide economic benefits to their communities.
No lease agreements. Right now, the wording of the April ballot question allows a wide range of possibilities on how the Royals and Chiefs could spend public money. A Sports Radio 810 WHB report claims that under the current lease, where the current 3/8-cent tax is intended for maintenance and upkeep, the Royals have spent only 9% for those purposes and instead have used the public funds for salaries, taxes, utilities and other non-stadium costs. The county approved it.
No Community Benefits Agreement. The Royals are working on a CBA with local community groups. They seem to be in no rush however, even though early voting started last week. At least one group, KC Tenants, has chosen not to negotiate with the team in lieu of what they consider a lack of transparency. KC Tenants has chosen instead to oppose the stadium proposal.
No public announcement regarding compensation and support to displaced businesses and residents. Many, if not all, tenants of these buildings were not aware of the Crossroads proposal until immediately before or just after the Royals’ announcement. The building owners will likely (but not certainly) be rewarded handsomely for their structures, but what will happen to the tenants who inhabit these Crossroads shops, restaurants, offices, and homes? And, honestly, some of these early 20th-century buildings that were converted to amazing single-family lofts are irreplaceable (I’ve visited a handful of them — I’d be devastated if one were my home).
No announced plans for traffic, transit, and parking. I believe a stadium built Downtown with no significant new parking can work — and can be a good thing — but how will patrons with disabilities reach the ballpark? How close will ride-shares like Uber and Lyft be able to get to the stadium? Will there be dedicated bus and shuttle lanes and such? Will the Royals encourage and assist local bars and restaurants to sponsor shuttles to and from the stadium like is common in St. Louis and other cities? How will fans from all parts of the metro get into and out of Downtown on game day?
I’m all for a Downtown stadium. Have been for at least 30 years. And I like nestling the ballpark adjacent to an existing entertainment, office, and residential district like the site proposed in the Crossroads area (instead of the barren East Village, where nothing short of a Power & Light clone would likely be built).
I also don’t worry about the stadium taking over the Crossroads. To me the Crossroads Arts District is centered around 18th Street from Wyandotte to Locust — not where the stadium would be built.
First Fridays, too, is not in danger in my opinion. Sure, it’ll be crowded on those first Friday nights of each month when there’s a ball game, but again, the art crowd will be in the southern portion of the Crossroads while the baseball crowd will be in the extreme northeast part of the Crossroads — with many of the baseball fans congregating in the P&L or farther north beforehand.
But frankly, my concern about the stadium proposal is this: I don’t trust the Royals or local government to be fair and honest and responsible, nor do I trust them to follow through on what they say they will do. The Royals couldn’t appear less competent in how they have managed the stadium process these past couple years, and Jackson County hasn’t looked much better.
With more answers and (binding) agreements, I could be persuaded to support this Crossroads location. But right now it’s a billionaire and his billion-dollar team asking us, the citizens of Jackson County and Kansas City, to provide three quarters of a billion dollars for his business without specifying exactly what the plans are, why he needs the money, how it adds significantly to our economy, and how he’s going to compensate those people whose lives and businesses are disrupted.
Meanwhile, at Arrowhead…
The Chiefs’ $800 million renovation is rumored to include a new concession stand in the expanded parking lots. (Can you sense from my sarcasm that I’m not impressed with the actual plans? Yeah, yeah, I’m throwing away whatever journalistic integrity I once had with these hot stadium takes.)
KC Streetcar: KC Streetcar riverfront extension groundbreaking today at 10 a.m.
Kansas City is invited to take part in the groundbreaking for the $61 million transportation project that will transform how the community connects to the Riverfront. Join project partners Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, Kansas City Streetcar Authority, PortKC, and the City of Kansas City, Missouri, as they celebrate the start of construction on the KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension.
LINK: Next Stop: The Kansas City Riverfront
kcirishparade.com: Kansas City St. Patrick's Day Parade celebrates 50 years
It’s not technically a Downtown parade these days, but it starts near the southern edge of Downtown, and much of the pre- and post-parade revelry will happen in the Crossroads, Central Business District, and River Market, among other areas.
This 50th year of the parade features the theme “50 Cheers to 50 Years,” and will commence at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 17.
LINK: Kansas City St. Patrick's Day Parade website
KC Downtown Neighborhood Association: Walking Tailgate offers free path to KC Current games
Since the streetcar’s riverfront extension is just breaking ground and KC Current’s first game ever at CPKC Stadium is March 16, a lot of folks have been upset at the lack of (and price of) parking. (Seriously, didn’t we already know there would intentionally be little to no parking at this venue?)
So, the DNA is hosting a “walking tailgate” from the Town of Kansas Bridge (accessible by walking from Main Street toward the Missouri River). Taking the Riverfront Heritage Trail from there is fully paved, well-lit, pedestrian/cyclist only path, and ADA accessible with ramps and an elevator.
LINK: KC Downtown Neighborhood Association Facebook page
Downtown Council: Jeff Speck to speak at DTC Annual Luncheon
The Downtown Council has announced that city planner and best-selling author Jeff Speck will be the keynote speaker for the group’s annual luncheon. With experience in city planning, urban design, and the impact of walkability on downtowns, Speck will share his knowledge about what makes downtowns unique and how cities can continue to make them vibrant and attractive destinations for all.
LINK: DTC Annual Luncheon Keynote Speaker: City Planner and Author Jeff Speck
Art in the Loop: Deadline for 2024 submissions is Monday, March 18
The Art in the Loop Foundation (AILF) is in search of both visual and performing artists to bring their creativity to Downtown Kansas City for the 11th Annual Art in the Loop Project. Through a competitive, open-call process, AILF selects local artists to exhibit their artwork, create site-specific artwork, or perform along and near the KC Streetcar route as well as at other sites in Downtown Kansas City from May – November.
LINK: Art in the Loop announces 2024 calls for visual & performing artists
Bringing you some of the most interesting properties for sale or lease in and around Downtown Kansas City….
2BR/2BA on the entire 31st Floor of KC landmark skyscraper
909 Walnut St Unit 31, Kansas City, MO 64106
Property presented by: Dan Bohrer
Brokered by: Platinum Realty LLC
Price: $1,600,000
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.
1909
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….
MARCH
1st - 3rd
First Friday, today in the Crossroads Arts District
First Friday Weekend, today through March 3 in the Tower East KC neighborhood
First Friday Weekend, today through March 3 in the West Bottoms district
Kansas City Symphony presents Joyce Yang Plays Tchaikovsky March 1-3 at Kauffman Center
Drake, March 2-3 at T-Mobile Center
International Food Manufacturers Association (COEX), March 3-5 at Bartle Hall
4th - 10th
Youth Symphony of Kansas City presents KC Classic High School Band & Orchestra Festival, afternoon and evening sessions, March 4 at Kauffman Center
MAMMA MIA!, March 5-10 at the Music Hall
The Irish Tenors, March 6 at Kauffman Center
MIAA Basketball Championships, March 6-10 at Municipal Auditorium
Big XI Women’s Basketball Tournament, March 7-12 at T-Mobile Center
Park University International Center for Music presents Stanislav & Friends, March 8 at Kauffman Center
Planet Comicon Kansas City, March 8-10 at Bartle Hall
Kansas City Jazz Orchestra presents Iconic Masters: Bird, Weather Report and More Featuring GRAMMY Award Winner John Beasley, March 9 at Kauffman Center
Lyric Opera of Kansas City presents Roméo et Juliette
March 9, 15, and 17 at Kauffman Center
Kansas City Symphony presents Around the World in 80 Days, March 10 at Kauffman Center
11th - 17th
Big XI Men’s Basketball Tournament, March 12-16 at T-Mobile Center
Bruce Hornsby & yMusic present BrhyM, March 14 at Kauffman Center
KC Auto Show, March 14-17 at Bartle Hall
Kansas City Symphony presents Cathie Ryan With the Kansas City Symphony, March 16 at Kauffman Center
St. Patrick’s Day Parade, March 17 beginning at Broadway and Linwood
18th - 24th
NCAA D1 Wrestling Championships, March 21-23 at T-Mobile Center
NAIA Men’s Basketball Tournament, March 21-26 at Municipal Auditorium
Kansas City Symphony presents Matthias Pintscher welcomes Violinist Philippe Quint, March 22-24 at Kauffman Center
ASLRRA (American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association) Annual Convention, March 24-26 at Bartle Hall
25th - 31st
Bad Bunny, March 26 at T-Mobile Center
Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue, March 29 at Kauffman Center
ONGOING
Crown Center Ice Terrace 2022-2023 Season, through March 12
Maya: The Exhibition, extended through March 12 at Union Station
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. The five-day Big XII Basketball Tournament begins Downtown on March 12 at T-Mobile Center. All of the previous Big 8 tournaments, and most of the Big XII tournaments, have been held in Downtown Kansas City. Do you remember the year of the first Big 8 post-season tournament, the venue where it was played, and — extra credit — who won?
A. In 1977 the Kansas State Wildcats beat the Missouri Tigers 72-65 in overtime at the very first post-season Big 8 Men’s Basketball Tournament at Kemper Arena in the West Bottoms.
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Kevin Worley, Co-Publisher/Editorial
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Anonymous
Anonymous
Had to throw in Lawrence, KS, didn’t you? ;)