South I-670 + Stockyards
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When creating an initial concept for the stockyards region of the West Bottoms, there are two aspects that stand out the most: the history of the structures that once stood there, and the vast open space that remains in their wake. Through our analysis, we have understood that in the late 1800s the two elements of the railroad and stockyards formed the economic foundations of what would become Kansas City. Their built structures were fascinating examples of “form follows function.� Even though their function does not exist today, there is an order to be found in their old forms that should not be forgotten. Rail lines ran along the east bank of the Kansas River, and stockyards pens and ramps ran adjacent to them. This affected the growth of three different grid systems in the West Bottoms: one perpendicular to the river; one in a typical north-south city grid, and a third irregular condition where these two grids intersect each other. This understanding aided us in finding some sort of order amongst the disorder of this site. The stockyards and rail yards were huge systems which spread across much of the West Bottoms; Even in their absence, their scale can be understood by the sprawling areas of vacant land where they once stood. We identified three such areas south of I-670: the riverfront, where the stockyards once were; the area along the bluff, where rail yards once stood, and the vast parking lot in front of Kemper Arena, where buildings once were. We recognize the unique situation of having this large amount of open, relatively flat space, so near to the downtown of a large city. We view these spaces as possible assets to the city, and rather than trying to infill them in a traditional way, we have chosen to infill around them, and define them. We chose to identify programs that could benefit the city, and require large amounts of land. For the riverfront, we propose a recreation zone, with pedestrian river access including well defined trails, boardwalks, and parks. The centerpiece for this development will be a soccer/football facility with eight outdoor fields, and approximately 260,000 square feet of indoor support and recreation space. The facility has a sloping green roof which connects it with street level on the west, and allows for audience viewing of athletic events. The form of this facility was informed by the gridded system of the stockyards as explained above. This riverfront zone will connect via pedestrian bridge to the new Kemper outdoor amphitheater. By removing the walls, and retaining the iconic trusses, Kemper could provide a unique venue from Sprint Arena, and attract more events to the West Bottoms. Also, money and energy would no longer be wasted on air conditioning a largely unused indoor space. The parking in front of Kemper would be consolidated in a parking garage, and the remaining space could be used as a large urban plaza served by new shops and restaurants. This space would lead finally, to the area along the bluff, just west of Liberty Street. This area would serve as an urban farming zone for the city, on a much larger scale than the typical community garden, and would serve the West Bottoms and provide agricultural, community, and educational opportunities for people all over Kansas City.