My opinion: the Dubai Islands had mistake written all over them

I predicted--and, I have to admit--even hoped these artificial "Dubai Islands" they created over there would fail.

It's not like I wanted to wish ill on anyone, either.  It's just that it made no sense. It goes against nature and it does so on far too grand a scale.

And here it is, proof positive, it seems:

According to evidence presented to a property tribunal, the World islands off the coast of Dubai are sinking.

The "Dubai World Tribunal" was set up to hear cases arising out of the multiple problems that the outlandishly ambitious scheme has faced since it started in 2003. Evidence brought by Richard Wilmot-Smith QC, representing Penguin Marine, the company holding the rights to provide transport to and from the islands,  showed "erosion and deterioration of The World islands." So, in a nutshell, "the islands are gradually falling back into the sea."  As well as the foundational sands of the islands sinking there is also evidence that the navigational channels between the islands are silting up.

The development, consisting of 300 islands, was designed to look like the countries of the globe when seen from above (or from the top of Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building onshore in the city). The islands were intended to become luxury hotel complexes and private properties, each tailor-made to suit its owners. According to the developer, Nakheel, 70% of the islands have been sold. However, only one of the islands has completed development: 'Greenland' is owned by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Emir of Dubai, and is a showpiece for the scheme.

Remember the old saying, the old advertisement?  "It's not nice to fool Mother Nature..."  BOOM

Mission, Ks aquarium still going forward

Or so reports Fox News, locally:

Mission Officials Say Aquarium Plan Still on Track

Mission, Kansas — The lot at the former Mission Mall site has been empty for years, but developers say it's long talked about saltwater tank continues to be the focus of it's new project.

Since 2006 the lot where the old Mission mall used to sit has sat dead. Promises of a new mixed use development called 'The Gateway' has been the buzz for years. And now it looks as if those plans are about to come to life.

"A project of this magnitude with so many pieces, with a health club, 400,000 feet of office space, a grocer, a 140 luxury apartments units, all those things coming together, it's not uncommon for these projects to take 4 to 5 years," said Tim Schaffer, Executive VP Red Brokerage, who is leasing the space for the developer.

These are the latest revised plans proposed by the developer for the nearly $1-million square foot project. The new plans include less retail space and more offices.

"We're out there talking to companies about re-locating their company to this location, so getting that first office building off the ground is really what is going to set this whole thing in motion," said Schaffer.

But the city says all anchor tenants including the two and a half million gallon salt water aquarium remain part of the projects concept. The state of Kansas authorized $63 million in star bonds for the gateway. Redevelopment for the $180 million dollar project can't come soon enough for some.

Link to original post with video here:  http://www.fox4kc.com/news/wdaf-crown-center-isnt-the-only-one-talking-aquariums-20110210,0,5123263.story?track=rss

So you wanted to build an aquarium in Mission, Kansas, eh?

I was just on Facebook (yeah, so what?) and a "friend" out there (actually the photographer Roy Inman) just made an excellent point about the announcement that Crown Center and Crown Center Development had just inked a deal to put in a $15 million aquarium in that same Crown Center location.

Anybody rememeber the aquarium that is supposed to be going into the old Mission Mall location, once it's developed?

How would you like to be the ones behind that development now?

I can tell you I wouldn't want my money in it, that's for sure.

How does this seemingly much smaller Mission, Kansas location compete when going up against Crown Center, Union Station and all that is there and downtown?

Sure, I guess people could and would just come in from Kansas and stop right there but can this city really support two thriving, successful aquariums? 

I'd say it's doubtful, at best.

The downtown plan, I'd say, just shot a huge hole in the old Mission Mall's plans.

And check this out: 

The announcements come two weeks after Kansas officials approved extending a deadline the developer must meet to retain $63 million in sales tax revenue bonds for the project, which will be anchored by a 75,000-square-foot aquarium and include 140 market-rate apartments, an eight-screen movie theater and a boutique hotel.

So it brings up a very good question.  That is, since there's state tax money being used for the Mission development, shouldn't all those crusty, Conservative, Republican Kansans be cheering for the KCMO downtown plan, since it doesn't use any government tax money?

Or so one might think, anyway, eh?

Links:  http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2010/12/03/mission-gateway-developer-prepares-to.html
http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2011/02/09/halls-crown-center-will-get-15m.html?ana=RSS&s=article_search&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bizj_kansascity+%28Kansas+City+Business+Journal%29
http://www.fox4kc.com/news/wdaf-crown-center-diving-into-aquarium-project-20110210,0,1141757.story

Action on the West Edge Project??

Holy cow, wouldn't that be great news? The Kansas City Star reports that "A federal bankruptcy judge has agreed to an Aug. 26 auction of the unfinished West Edge project, concluding an eight-month effort to market the forlorn development." For those of us who have lived (me, mostly, anyway) through the original construction and now, nearby, as it sits not even half-completed, this would be great news, indeed. It's sat empty through two winters and more. What a mess. And check this out: Debts totaling $120 million were listed when the project developer, Trilogy Development Co. LLC, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May 2009. Trilogy was established by advertising mogul Bob Bernstein to build a 203,000-square-foot headquarters for Bernstein-Rein advertising and a 131-room boutique hotel at 48th Street and Belleview Avenue. The developer spent $100 million on the project before filing for bankruptcy with work about two-thirds complete. It will cost an estimated $40 million or more to complete the project. But wait--there's more: Major creditors include the primary lender, BB Syndication Services, a Wisconsin banking consortium, which lent $61.5 million; M&I Bank of Kansas City, which funded the $31.9 million tax-increment financing loan; and J.E. Dunn Construction Co., the general contractor, $13.87 million. CB Richard Ellis began actively marketing the property in January. Last spring, the real estate brokerage firm had identified a potential buyer, a “stalking horse” whose offer would have set the floor for other bidders, but a final deal couldn’t be completed. I think this means we--the citizens of KCMO are just about to "eat" $31.9 million in a TIF loan, but I'm not sure. Here's the big kicker: Several people familiar with the discussions said that offer was about $12 million. Looks like somebody's going to get themselves one heckuva bargain. Sorry 'bout that, Bob! Anyway, here's hoping someone buys the thing and gets the completion of it going. And as soon as possible. It is one big eyesore. Link to original post: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/08/11/2144283/judge-approves-auction-of-west.html