Re-defining the edge of the City

Greetings from the KCDC studio! We've been busy since our last post, growing in numbers (we had 9 students join the studio!) and advancing the project based on recent feedback and insights. We recently had the pleasure of joining city planner Gunner Hand on a site visit and walking tour from Kaw Point down to Central Avenue. The visit provided an opportunity to discuss both the opportunities and challeges of Kansas City, Kansas; its extant connection to the river and amazing views of downtown KCMO being two of them.

During the site visit with Gunner, we had a great discussion about the edge of the city and how we can better define it. Currently, the city is defined by backyards, empty lots, alleyways, and the frontage of the buildings, which doesn't clearly define the edge. As the group focused on the Kansas City, Kansas riverfront area, our goal is to further define the edge of the city while encouraging circulation to the West Bottoms and investigating the potential connection of Kansas City, Kansas to the riverfront. KCK is just a few blocks away from the river, but the existence of Interstate 70 acts as a wall that blocks the city from the river, hindering many views of the downtown KCMO skyline. One of our primary goals is to mitigate this issue and explore ways to improve the urban fabric without hindering what's currently there.

Historic 1901 map of Kansas City, Kansas

As a result of these observations, the studio is proposing developments that increase a sense of community within KCK and focus more on the pedestrian experience. We plan to pay homage to the historic city grid of KCK in the development of the project, extending the present city grid closer to the river and connecting it down to where we are proposing riverfront development in our design scheme.
We're excited about the possibilities for this project and the opportunity to enhance the urban fabric of KCK. Stay tuned for more updates on our progress! 

I-70 as a connector and public realm amenity

The KCDC studio has now entered the preliminary design phase for each of the key areas of focus that were introduced in the previous blog post; these include the KCK riverfront, I-70, and the historic core of the West Bottoms. Today, we’ll be sharing more about the initiatives of the I-70 team.
One of the main findings from the studio’s analytical studies was that there was a disconnect not only between KCK and KCMO, but also the between parts of the West Bottoms. Currently, the main connection between the two cities is I-70, which also happens to be one of the major disconnections in the West Bottoms, as I-70 ignores the core as it flies over the area. This idea presents a unique challenge to the studio, and one that KCDC felt provided ample opportunity to strengthen the connection between KCK and KCMO and the Historic Core of the West Bottoms. The goal of the I-70 team is to rethink and repurpose infrastructure by capitalizing on underutilized space to create a destination that has a positive environmental impact and sparks surrounding economic growth. Primarily, the I-70 team is looking into design opportunities found on the underside of I-70. It is a vast space with beautiful linear views that is unfortunately unused. By understanding various factors of the space, such as the structure of the space, light conditions, wind conditions, the smell, spatial extents, and surrounding building use, the I-70 team has been able to determine prime programmable spaces. It is important to note that the program is informed by the existing conditions and will be primarily public realm including pedestrian paths, bike paths, spaces of gathering, and environmentally conscious water management systems.

The I-70 team has also started thinking about the possibilities of transforming the upper deck into public realm. This would include removing traffic along the South bridge of I-70 and turning the North bridge into two-way business only traffic. This would allow for continued service to the industrial areas surrounding I-70 but would involve some traffic rerouting, which the Studio is currently exploring. The North bridge was left alone as it is newer than the South bridge and it was noted that the South bridge has a poorly designed off ramp which eventually will have to be deconstructed. By doing so, it would free up the South bridge allowing for the possibility of extensive green space and public transportation, which is greatly needed. The team has proposed a streetcar that connects Strawberry Hill to the River Market across I-70, surrounded by trees and greenery to help reduce CO2 emissions and water runoff, while also providing various spaces for pedestrian trails, gathering spaces, parks, entertainment, and leisure. These design elements would shape I-70 into a destination point to strengthen existing connections and lead to future developments.

Three Key West Bottoms Areas

The KCDC studio initially studied the West Bottoms at three different scales during the analysis phase to develop a deep understanding of how the West Bottoms functions locally and regionally. The first team focused on the historic core and how we can begin to plan and design a complex urban fabric that balances a pedestrian realm integrated with an existing heavy industrial district. The second team focused from bluff to buff, understanding what role the West Bottoms plays connecting the divided downtown areas of Kansas City Kansas, and Kansas City Missouri. Lastly, the third team looked into how the West Bottoms interacts and makes an impact at a regional scale, drawing people to the area on the weekends, and acts as an industrial/ shipping hub. After weeks of analytical studies and three community meetings the studio has identified key issues and areas for improvement within the West Bottoms.

Overall Concept diagram

Connection to the River

Existing Problems

Upon completion of the overall analytical studies the studio took a step back to think about how these issues relate to the SomeraRoad development. In order to develop a successful overall vision for the West Bottoms the studio decided to focus on three key areas; the KCK riverfront, I-70, and the historic core. The overall goal is to create an idea of alternative and authentic urbanity that capitalizes on the found conditions of the place, embracing the extreme contrasts of its fabric, physical make up, and land use practices while embracing public realm and mixed-use infrastructure that binds it into a new whole. From the start of the semester, the studio has been engaging with the community through public meetings conducted by HOK and Burns and McDonnell. The community feedback is documented and helps drive our design as we move forward. Our ongoing process can now be viewed live on our website.

Mark Horne from HOK participates in KCDC’s second professional review

The Kessler Park Water Reservoir publication is HERE!

We have received our shipment of publication for the Kessler Park Water Reservoir Vision study and are thrilled to be able to share the comprehensive project with our partners and stakeholders. The book is available to purchase or view online here— take a peek and share with anyone that might be interested. We are so proud of the 2021-22 studio for producing such innovative design proposals and are immensely thankful to all of the community members, stakeholders, and area professionals that helped guide the design and provide their insight throughout the year!

KCDC Student Experiences the WB's in Action

This year, KCDC’s studio functions both at the downtown studio location as well as on the Manhattan KS Campus.During a weekend trip, the liveliness of the West Bottoms pulled KCDC student, Anne Pham, who is working from Manhattan, into the First Fridays scene. Pham was filling up on gas at Conoco off 12th Street, when she saw under the I-670 bridge the once vacant parking lot was populated with tents of vendors and consumers. Pham, not a Kansas City local, was surprised by the large, lively event on which what was before an empty pavilion. This was the Strawberry Swing Fall Fest, which brings hundreds of visitors to explore local makers wares as well as the unique architecture of the West Bottoms.

 The KCDC Studio went on a site tour with Professor Vladimir Krstic at the beginning of the school year, but during this mid-week day tour the West Bottoms was sparsely populated except for a few trains and freight trucks, expressing it’s important uses by shipping, manufacturing, and light industrial businesses. Yet, the feeling of the West Bottoms was perhaps better communicated by the overwhelming presence of those who love it. This weekend was eye-opening for this member of the Manhattan studio group as it was the first time Pham had seen the site in action to understand the importance of fostering spaces that can adjust to different uses, activities, and crowds.