Naked City - Volume 1 Issue 3 - (Page 21)

>muse Let’s face it, there are a lot of similarities between Wichita and Kansas City. Besides being full of mid-westerners, both cities have adopted similar plans for smart urban development which focus on bringing people back into the downtown areas. In many ways, Kansas City seems to be a step ahead of us, foreshadowing the future of our quaint little city. So here’s a simple look at where Kansas City has been and where we all could be headed. vision for a beautiful city written by > della p. photographed by > landon taylor Kansas City’s downtown renaissance has seen hot-and-heavy growth over the past ten years, all thanks to smart investing. With a slated $850 million on the table, Kansas City hired development company Cordish inC. of Baltimore, md to help bring back some of the vibrant night life that Kansas City was known for in the days of jazz. Taking nine city blocks as their playground, Cordish inC. has helped the city bring in businesses, restaurants, art galleries and housing- all the things necessary for happy living. Add to this the already-built arena (ahem, sprint Center) along with the performing arts venue, expanded convention center and Kansas City live! (a one block area devoted to music and entertainment venues) and you’ve got yourself the biggest development project in the Midwest. Jealous yet? Don’t be. This didn’t exactly happen overnight. In 1993, thousands of Kansas City citizens got together as FoCUs, a group which called on the city government to restore the city’s historical monuments and revive it’s cultural heritage (such as the 18th & vine jazz district and Union station). In some ways, FoCUs is akin to our own visioneering WiChita that began more than a decade later—in 2004. visioneering WiChita solicits community participation in city planning and has numerous strategic alliances such as economic development, education and quality of life. Perhaps most pertinent to folks of our generation are the fruits of investment in doWntoWn WiChita. From the glorious river Corridor improvement projeCt which attempts to connect us with our natural (yes, those are native BUtterFly milKWeed plants!) and cultural (see: WiChita indians) heritage to the newly-built City arts building and Kansas sports hall oF Fame, not to mention the numerous converted lofts which have come available over the last few years. Although prohibitively expensive for most of us bohemian-artsy-fartsy folks, they give me hope for a new generation of upper-middle class who are more aware of the benefits to buying locally and investing in the community where they reside. Living and breathing the same air as independent business owners does wonders for one’s perspective. >continued on page 46 21 nakedcitymag.com > volume 1 issue 3 nakedcity http://nakedcitymag.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Naked City - Volume 1 Issue 3

Naked City - Volume 1 Issue 3 Contents Muse - A Walk Around the Block Terrain - Geocoaching Uncommon Threads - Stylin' in Doodah Iconology - Illustrated Man Babble - Reporter's Journal Noise - Hearts and Bondage Cake - Road Trip Grub Juiced - Death to Analog Muse - The Art of Emprise Muse - Vision for a Beautiful City Muse - Hand2Hand Uncommon Threads - Matt Egan Male Model Spin - It Never Came Here: Brick Street - A Piece of Americana Noise - Metal Engagement Spin - Road Trip 10 Noise - Jason Aldern Spin - The Need to Read Make Me Blush - Personal Landscaping Lip Service - Ask the Ass

Naked City - Volume 1 Issue 3

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