Highwoods Properties plans for what they call "A GREAT INFILL OPPORTUNITY" could leave our Country Club Plaza looking like this:
OMG The Country Club Plaza would become another generic, cloned, Corporate 'Office Park'.
When J.C. Nichols developed the Plaza in the 20's, he modeled the architecture after that of Seville Spain. All of the buildings from the 20's and 30's have tile work and architectural detail that could not be replaced. The art, fountains and statuary that line the streets would be lost.
Did you know that the Country Club Plaza was the first shopping district in the United States to be designed for automobiles? It's one of the first places I take people when they visit Kansas City. There is something unique to see at every turn. Each building is an exquisite work of art in itself. I do not take people to see Corporate Woods - they can see that anywhere.
What about the people who live in the Condos and Apartments on the south side of Brush Creek? (Behind the clock tower in the photo)
What will happen to their quality of life? Do you think they will want to live next to the horror Highwoods plans?
What will happen to property values at the Sulgrave, The Walnuts, The Robert Louis Stevenson, The Hemingway, and the many other condos on the Plaza?
Did you know that Highwoods plans to destroy 96 homes?
That's just phase 1.
Check out these pictures of the changes planned:
This is the plan for the building to go in at Broadway - the one Highwoods wants to build for Polsinelli.
The yellow area is the existing buildings. Do you think the big gray thing towering over the existing buildings fits in with the design of the Plaza?
Highwoods proposes putting this in at 47th and Broadway. It is 176 feet tall.
176 feet tall.
The building will be a football field in length. Isn't a football field about 300 feet long? Do you count the end zones?
Most buildings on the Plaza are one, two or three stories tall. The taller condos and hotels are on the outer edges of the Plaza, allowing all to enjoy a pleasing view.
Polsinelli also wants to convert 600 taxpayer supported parking spaces to its' own private use. These are the spaces you park in when you come to the Plaza to eat at Houstons, O'Dowd's, Churchills, Brio, and the many other restaurants on the Plaza.
These pictures show 47th Street as it is now (left side) and 47th Street with the new addition.
Do you find the addition charming?
The Plaza, as we know it, is threatened. It is under attack.
The City Council has the power to put into place an ordinance restricting the height of buildings on the Plaza. They could do this right now, today.
In 1989, when Miller (J.C. Nichols' son) sold the Plaza to Highwoods, a Bowl Plan was put in place but never finalized into an ordinance. Right now, the voters of Kansas City still have a say in what happens to their Plaza.
Here is the Bowl Plan in a picture: The inner circle limits building height to 1-3 stories. That's where they want to put the Big Gray Monster.
See how the inner area allows shorter buildings?
The light gray area allows building 4-10 stories.
The dark gray area allows buildings 9-12 stories on the north and 10-19 stories on the south.
Lighter gray areas moving away from the Plaza into single family home neighborhoods reduce the height so that everyone can get a little sun.
Our Plaza is truly threatened by the proposed building.
Highwoods does not have the community's best interest in mind. Highwoods is traded on the NYSE under the call sign HIW. In 2002, the stock was at $27.32/share; today, it is trading at $32.10/share.
Highwoods pays dividends to their stockholders in February, May, August and November. The yield is around 8.6%.
Highwoods CEO, Edward J. Fritsch pulls an annual salary of $540,750. He holds options in excess of $5 million dollars in addition to his annual salary.
All well and good for Ed and the shareholders but they have no incentive to preserve the beauty of the Plaza and the lifestyle of the people who live on and near the Plaza. Are any of the Highwoods officers or directors even from Kansas City?
The unique beauty of the Plaza in Kansas City is under threat by those who wish to increase their profit margin.
'...a great infill opportunity' indeed! Did anyone watch the movie 'HOOK' with Robin Williams as Peter Pan? What is the name of the character who says "Why Peter, you grew up to be a pirate!"?
Friends of the Plaza is dedicated to 'preserving and enhancing the Plaza for generations to come.' If you want your children's children to enjoy the beauty of our Country Club Plaza, you can help by speaking up, signing the petition, and spreading the word. If you know someone on the City Council, please tell them how you feel.
To me, the Plaza has always been a magical place in all seasons. Please enjoy these photos of the Plaza Lights while they are still here.
Would you really rather see a generic Office Park?
Please tell me you said 'No.'
Sincerely,
Maria Morton
All photos of the real, beautiful, magical Country Club Plaza as it is today by Maria Morton. Pictures of the horror planned by Highwoods provided by Walter Guth and Friends of the Plaza.
Comments (3)Subscribe to CommentsComment