Kansas City #1 - Downtown

[James Bond Agent 007]

This is the first in what will be an occasional and ad-hoc tour of various parts of Kansas City and environs.

I'll start out with various photos I've taken since the beginning of the year. This thread, in particular, I'll probably add to once in a while.

This first batch I took in late January.

The one and only downtown Starbucks.



Various shots of the Power and Light District.











This was a sort-of food court thing in an office tower kitty-corner from the Power and Light District. While the PLD is a great boost for downtown, it seems it's really killed this and maybe some other food/retail nearby. This thing was really dead.



Several blocks to the north was another one. This was a nicer one and wasn't so dead, though it's probably hard to tell from this picture.



Various shots of skyscrapers.















Courtyard of the UMB building. No restaurants or stores, but kind of an interesting courtyard anyway.



One Light

[James Bond Agent 007]

From several days later.

Here's an old building (The Argyle) near City Hall and the County Courthouse they were renovating.



Same thing from a different angle.



City Hall. Would be a good setting for a Batman film.



County Courthouse.



Plaza between the 2 buildings above, and the police headquarters.



Federal building just next to the county courthouse. Have mixed feelings about modernist buildings like this. On the one hand they're sorta ugly Brutalist things, but on the other hand for some reason I kinda like the "Brave New World" feel to things like this. Don't ask me why, I just do.



On the north side of City Hall there's another plaza surrounded by government buildings. The curvy one on the left is (I think) the Federal Courthouse? Someday I'll learn the names of all these buildings.



A few blocks to the west away from the gov't district is the old Federal Reserve building.



A nifty old building waiting to be renovated.



Skyscraper shot. One good thing about having a downtown with lots of open parking lots is, it gives you ample opportunities for skyscraper shots like this.



Another.



Another old art deco building renovated into apartments.



Ditto. This pic came out a bit blurry.



And still more lofts on the way.

[James Bond Agent 007]

From early March. A few duplicates of the stuff above, but the weather was nicer this time.













More ...

[James Bond Agent 007]

... Cont'd.

[Murphy de la Sucre]

DTKCMO, I definitely been there in 2011.

[Murphy de la Sucre]

And walking around in DTKCMO is not a set of pleasing experience as shown in the photos.

[James Bond Agent 007]

It's a pretty ordinary American city downtown. Some nice spots, plus many areas that are really "meh." But there's a good deal of construction activity so it's definitely looking up.

[xzmattzx]

Nice pictures so far!

[Centropolis]

this kind of shot reminds me that i always compare kansas city to a healthier, less industrial, smaller detroit, and nobody ever really gets it (because it has nothing to do with the decline of detroit).

[SPonteK]

Originally Posted by Centropolis

this kind of shot reminds me that i always compare kansas city to a healthier, less industrial, smaller detroit, and nobody ever really gets it (because it has nothing to do with the decline of detroit).

I get it. KC looks a great deal like Great Lakes cities, especially Detroit.

[The North One]

Damn nice looking city! I love the older buildings.

[soulard&como]

Nice! Definitely looking up and with some exciting towers to boot!

[Serenade]

Always imagined KC to be very flat. Guess not.

[Centropolis]

Originally Posted by Serenade

Always imagined KC to be very flat. Guess not.

it's at the confluence of the kansas (kaw) river and the missouri river. the missouri river valley is lined with bluffs and various undulations up to the rockies, and kansas city is perched on one of these bluffs. the topography appears more dramatic when you are crossing this valley and can see downtown on top of the bluff.

[MplsTodd]

KC has an incredible collection of pre-war skyscrapers! The City Hall/courthouse is one of the best in the country IMO. But some of the more recent buildings are just odd--especially that highrise with a confused facade of reflective glass at corners and polished stone(?) in the center, with a peaked rooftop--what is that building anyway?

Thanks for the tour!

[SPonteK]

Originally Posted by MplsTodd

But some of the more recent buildings are just odd--especially that highrise with a confused facade of reflective glass at corners and polished stone(?) in the center, with a peaked rooftop--what is that building anyway?

It's an early 80's office tower. Town Pavilion.

[BigKidD]

Originally Posted by MplsTodd

KC has an incredible collection of pre-war skyscrapers! The City Hall/courthouse is one of the best in the country IMO. But some of the more recent buildings are just odd--especially that highrise with a confused facade of reflective glass at corners and polished stone(?) in the center, with a peaked rooftop--what is that building anyway?

Thanks for the tour!

That's post-modernism for you, MplsTodd.

Great photos, James Bond Agent 007.

Downtown is an enigma, you will be been down there one day and it's quite sleepy. Hours later, tons of people out. I'm hoping you were able to experience the streetcar opening and First Fridays, James Bond Agent 007 the other day? I didn't have my camera with me, but it was a great experience if you love vibrant urban environments. I mean, we got 24,000 people to ride the starter line in a two day period...

[Jaborandi]

I love the older high-rises. There are some real gems there. Thanks for the tour.

[Murphy de la Sucre]

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1501/...4b650b60_o.jpg

I believe I was at that exact spot in May 2011.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

I like it!