THE GREATER DOWNTOWN AREA PLAN, KCMO: A REVIEW.

KAYJATTA



PURPOSE AND VISION:

Kansas City has experienced an impressive economic growth, in excess of five billion dollars, since the year 2000. This increase in economic activity is owed largely to both private and public sector activities. During this period of growth, downtown has transformed as a place for employment (Kansas City Star newspaper, J.E. Dawn, H & R Block…), entertainment (Sprint Center, Power & Light district…), and residence (condominium conversions).
The Greater Downtown Area Plan, as the name implies, is an area plan. However, its focus appears to take on a regional dimension, extending to (the development of) the neighborhoods adjacent to the Downtown Core. These adjacent (satellite) neighborhoods may exercise their own spheres of influence as galactic cities or multiple centers of attraction in competition with Downtown.
This effort to develop Downtown alongside its surrounding neighborhoods derives from the concept that the fate of downtown is tied to the fate of its surrounding neighborhoods. In other
words, there is a connection (connectivity) between the health of downtown and the health of its adjacent neighborhoods. This argument, by extension, may have derived from the regional planning concept of Patrick Geddes (and Lewis Mumford) and even remotely from Ebenezer Howard. Yet the impact of the growth machine-the influence of powerful actors such as the wealthy local elites dealing with land as a commodity-may partly explain this broad ambition of the Greater Downtown Area Plan to include adjacent neighborhoods.
The Greater Downtown Area Plan was created by planners, hired by the Civic Council, and paid by the public (tax payers).
The Greater Downtown Area Plan is a retail implementation of the Focus Plan. It attempts to implement the Focus Plan on an area basis, over 18 areas.
The challenges facing downtown today include:
* need for development
* outdated plans, as earlier bemoaned by George Kessler (1917)
* economic distress
* inadequate housing and infrastructure
* pressure on the ecology
These challenges listed above are consistent with Hall’s contention that urban planning is a response to the woes of the industrial city.
Therefore, the Greater Downtown Area Plan hopes to address these challenges by focusing on the needs and hopes of neighborhoods and communities in Downtown and its surroundings; by:
* improving quality of life
* protecting precious natural resources
* protecting and improving economic vitality and competitiveness.



GOALS:

As Hall (2002; pg 19) observed a relationship between housing, transportation, and poverty; the goals that the Greater Downtown Area Plan sets to achieve are partly in response to (Hall’s ) observation, and include the following:
* Walkable downtown through the creation and improvement of pathways for pedestrians and options for transportation.
* Double downtown population through creating density, extending affordable housing to minorities and low-income residents, and attracting and retaining a diverse group of residents, although not necessarily creating ethnic enclaves as
would be observed in Dolores Hayden’s Streetcar Suburbs. Lawrence Veiller’s reforms in New York could be visited as well for ideas.
* Improving employment opportunities in downtown by attracting new businesses and retaining existing ones.
* Safe neighborhoods by repairing and maintenance of streets, sidewalks, and promoting compatible infill that enhance connectedness and does not negatively impact existing neighborhood.
* Sustainability by striking a balance between social, economic and environmental goals.
It is important to note that all the development projects set forth in the Greater Downtown Area Plan: transportation, recreation, industry, housing and others must conform to these goals outlined above.
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LAND USE PLAN:

The land use plan postulated in the Greater Downtown Area Plan promotes densest growth in the downtown loop, Crown Center District, and Main Street and Grand Avenue (dense transit corridor).
The building heights are recommended to protect key downtown views such as the Liberty Memorial, the Performing Arts Center; and in consideration of the Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport.
For planning purposes only, the following land uses are designated:
* Downtown Core (DC)-promotes high-intensity office and employment growth within the downtown core through business, communications, educational, entertainment, tourism and to a limited extent, residential.
* Downtown Mixed –use (DMX)-to promote lower intensity commerce, manufacturing, light industry, and residential development.
* Downtown Residential DR)-to promote residential development with small-scale commercial use.
* Industrial (I)-to promote manufacturing, warehousing, and wholesale. This regulation hopes to protect and sustain the industrial district through economic viability. This corresponds with the M1 and M2 zoning categories of the new zoning ordinance.
* Mixed-Used Neighborhoods (MUN)- promotes retail sales and services that serve the immediate neighborhood. It corresponds with the B1 and B2 zoning categories of the new zoning ordinance.
* Residential low (urban)- promotes single-family detached residential development with densities of 4 and 8.7 units per acre. This classification corresponds with the R5, R6, R7, and R10 zoning categories.
* Residential Medium- promotes varieties of residential building types with densities of up to 8.7 units per acre. This land use corresponds with R5, R6, and R7 of the new zoning category.
* Residential Medium-High –promotes single-family town homes, duplexes, and apartments on small lots with densities of up to 17.4 units per acre.


CONCLUSION:

Kansas City is a rapidly evolving city. Therefore its future development must borrow from the four responses identified with regards to the industrial city (Hall, 2002). Maintain downtown as the regional office and employment center, the seat of government, the primary cultural destination, and a center of entertainment, tourism and shopping. Increase density and development within the Downtown loop and the Crown Center and connecting with a dense transit corridor along Main Street and Grand Avenue.
Different types of transportation (pedestrians, cyclists, cars, buses, rail, etc…) must be created to connect various communities and neighborhoods with amenities. Limited
residential development must also be encouraged in heavily industrial districts. The ideal of sustainability-a balance between equity, environment, and economic development-must be pursued at all times. Historic buildings and monuments should be preserved whenever possible. Neighborhoods on the edges must be protected from encroachment and incompatible development which destroys their character and uniqueness.
Finally, the street grid must be preserved.

REFERENCES:

1. Cities of Tomorrow; Hall, P. (2002)
2. Suburbia; Hayden, D.
3. FOCUS Plan (KCMO)
4. Downtown Area Plan, KCMO
5. Master Plan, KCMO