Crossroads Arts District

Kansas City's Creative Neighborhood

Proposed Baseball Stadium

Crossroads Community Association Moves Forward Following Termination of Stadium Agreement

Kansas City, MO – The Kansas City Royals exercised their option to terminate their Agreement with the Crossroads Community Association (CCA) on Wednesday, April 3, after the failure of Question 1 on Tuesday, April 2.

“We view this moment as a crucial opportunity to reinforce and celebrate the defining aspects of the Crossroads,” said CCA President Robert Harris. “From our vibrant arts community, to the unique locally-owned small businesses, the beloved First Fridays tradition, the rich contributions of local artists and arts organizations, and the neighborhood’s celebrated walkability.”

Effective immediately, the CCA will begin a strategic planning and engagement effort to prepare for any future consideration of an East Crossroads stadium.

CCA will host a community discussion dedicated to creating a strategic plan that reflects our collective commitment to the cultural and economic prosperity of the Crossroads Arts District, in all its forms. The focus will include:

  • Crossroads Community Improvement District: We are committed to completing the process of establishing the CCID to ensure the sustainability of the CCA’s goals and objectives.
  • Attracting and Retaining Locally Owned Small Businesses: Formulating strategies to nurture and retain the small businesses that contribute to our district’s unique charm and economic health.
  • Elevating First Fridays: Strengthening our iconic event to further spotlight our artists and small businesses.
  • Empowering Artists and Arts Organizations: Building support systems for local artists and the organizations that back them, affirming the Crossroads as a leading arts hub.
  • Enhancing Neighborhood Walkability: Emphasizing the importance of pedestrian-friendly spaces to maintain and enhance the area’s accessibility and allure.
  • Restoring and Repurposing Historic Buildings: Initiatives to preserve the architectural heritage and cultural identity of the Crossroads.

Strategic Planning Session Details:

  • In Person Engagement: The date for this strategic planning session will be announced in the near future. We are committed to selecting a time that encourages broad community participation. Please indicate your interest in participating, preferred day of the week and time in this form.
  • Online Engagement: Every effort will be taken to ensure those who are unable to attend at a specific place and time will have their voices heard and viewpoints captured for the strategic planning process.
  • If there are topics we should address that aren’t referenced in the list above, please share them at contact@kccrossroads.org. 

The CCA invites Crossroads residents, artists, businesses, property owners, and all friends of the arts to join in this pivotal discussion.

Stadium Community Meeting Interest Form

CCA Signs Agreement With Royals – April 2, 2024

The Crossroads Community Association (CCA) and the Kansas City Royals (Royals) have signed an Agreement regarding the Royals proposal to construct a baseball stadium and related development in the Crossroads Arts District.

If voters approve Question 1, this Agreement will serve as the foundation for CCA’s relationship with the Royals and the small businesses that will be relocated, disrupted, and financially impacted by the development of the project and future operations of the stadium – as well as the neighborhood as a whole as it navigates change. 

The Agreement addresses many neighborhood concerns, including small business support. We were disappointed that some commitments to small businesses were weakened in the version received on April 1 after weeks of productive negotiations. Regardless, our focus now transitions to ensuring promises made to the community are kept. We trust the City of Kansas City, Jackson County, and the public will help us in this effort.

We would like to thank Josh Douglass and the law firm of Mickes & O’Toole for their assistance in our negotiations.

Read the full agreement here:

CCA / Royals Agreement

CCA Board Update Regarding Crossroads Stadium Proposal – March 20, 2024

The Crossroads Community Association (CCA) Board of Directors acknowledges we have fallen short on our promise to communicate the status of our negotiations with the Royals in a timely fashion. 

We remain focused on protecting our members and community. We thank the Crossroads community for their ongoing feedback and patience while we navigate this process. 

The list below summarizes some specific and measurable commitments proposed to the Royals with the goal of reaching a legally binding document to protect our community. 

Please review the commitments below and submit your feedback to contact@kccrossroads.org. 

We look forward to continuing this process with you as we formalize the full document. 

  1. Small Business Support
    • “Small business” as defined by the Small Business Administration
    • Financial support
      • 100% relocation assistance
      • Business disruption fund for businesses who wish to remain
      • Full buyouts for businesses who decide to close
      • Allocate a minimum of 20% of available lease space in the stadium to local businesses
      • Specific sponsorship and licensing opportunities for local businesses
  2. Implementation and Monitoring
    • Establish a nine-member CBA Advisory Board for monitoring and enforcement
  3. Clean & Safe / Community Improvement District (CID)
    • Donate $50,000 to support the formation of the Crossroads CID
    • Sales tax revenue from the stadium is expected to add $1 million to the CID annual budget, which will cover anticipated increased costs from hosting the stadium
    • Contribute annually to the CID for the lost special assessment revenue from parcels within the stadium footprint (estimated at $15,000 in year one)
    • Ensure the private developments participate in the CID
  4. Infrastructure & Parking
    • Support local infrastructure impacted by the stadium (stormwater management), green spaces (Crossroads Street Tree Initiative), and sustainability (target LEED Gold certification)
    • Establish parking and traffic solutions, including a parking app and permit parking for existing businesses to minimize neighborhood disruption
    • Evaluate proposed impacts to traffic and public spaces, specifically the vacation of Oak Street
    • Evaluate and prioritize the reuse of existing structures in the Crossroads for their development projects beyond the stadium
  5. Culture Fit & The Arts
    • Incorporate community art and cultural representations in the stadium design to reflect the neighborhood’s diversity, and support extension of the Arts District PIEA tax abatement program
    • Provide an initial $5 million for the acquisition and installation of art works in and around the stadium and private development
  6. Street Presence
    • Ensure street-level businesses within the stadium are operational year-round 
    • Promote and support local arts and cultural events, particularly First Fridays 
    • Provide usable art spaces within the stadium
    • Conduct no less than three architectural design charrettes with the community
  7. Construction Mitigation
    • Communicate bi-weekly updates on construction progress
    • Provide necessary parking facilities and shuttle services for construction workers
    • Assist small businesses by mitigating construction impact on their operations

CCA Board of Directors Statement Regarding Community Benefits Agreement – March 15, 2024

Update and Communications with the Royals

The CCA will not take a position regarding Question 1 this April, because we are focused on protecting the vibrant and diverse community that welcomes all walks of life and all forms of artistic expression.

Yesterday, the Crossroads Community Association Board of Directors voted unanimously to adopt a position to ensure a legally binding agreement between the CCA and the Royals before the April 2 election.

This step comes after productive and collaborative discussions with Royals representatives to develop the framework for a robust Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) that addresses these focus areas:

  1. Small Business Support
  2. Clean & Safe/ Community Improvement District (CID)
  3. Infrastructure & Parking
  4. Culture Fit & The Arts
  5. Street Presence
  6. Construction Mitigation

The first five focus areas served as the roadmap for our community survey and meeting. Based on community feedback, the CCA added Construction Mitigation as another critical component. We have identified specific and measurable actions for each focus area that will be incorporated into the final CBA.

The CCA also acknowledges that it does not represent every voice in the Crossroads. To ensure transparency, the CCA will release an agreement outlining the parameters of the community benefit agreement we have been negotiating with the Royals.

Additional opportunities for community involvement and commentary will become available as the CCA continues communications and finalizing details on a CBA.

Statement from Crossroads Community Association Board

On Tuesday, February 20th, we held a community meeting that was both animated and productive. There were approximately 200 community members in attendance including artists, residents, small business owners, and developers. Mayor Quinton Lucas and representatives from the Royals organization were also in attendance.

Discussions were organized into the five categories that the Crossroads Community Association (CCA) Board has identified as strategic priorities in the neighborhood should the royals continue to pursue this location:

  • Small Business
  • Clean & Safe / CID
  • Infrastructure & Parking
  • Cultural fit & the Arts
  • Street Presence

As committed during the meeting, we are sharing the rough notes of the output from those conversations. Our community response also included a survey. Of 145 surveys returned, 32% were in favor, 59% opposed, and 9% undecided to the East Crossroads stadium proposal.

As an organization, we feel that we can best serve our community going forward as the negotiating body for a potential Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) that upholds those five priorities and protects the fabric of our beloved neighborhood.

We look forward to continuing conversations with our community, and beginning concrete dialogues with the county, the city, and the Royals organization.

Have an Opinion?

Contact 4th District Representatives, Councilman Eric Bunch and Councilman Crispin Rea

Contact your Jackson County Legislators

Results from Online Survey

The results from the online survey are available to view. 

Online Survey Results

Priorities from February 20 Community Meeting

The following is a complete list of concerns and priorities brought up by attendees at the February 20 community meeting. For full transparency, this list has not been edited from the discussions of that evening.

Small Business

  1. Is it a ‘done deal’? Vote pending
  2. Monetary & relocation assistance for businesses
  3. Build out funds, marketing funds 
    • Stipend re: 36 months to 5 years
    • Opportunity for rebuild and loss of sales
  4. Make CBA BEFORE the April vote?
  5. Does the vote matter or will it go no matter what?
  6. We need information if the vote is the key to the location of the project.
  7. Open Oak back up & make room for businesses
  8. Impartial business study conducted. Assess economic benefits long term to the neighborhood. Value per acre analysis.
  9. Put these businesses here on Royals vendor list: food, printing, etc.
  10. What is the real cost, not just moving cost? Punitive damages, stress?
  11. We want truth and transparency
  12. Instead of tearing down, incorporate current businesses.
  13. Must know the timeline..
  14. 20 – 30 year.
  15. If moving business, match them with realtors.
  16. Education & transparency
  17. Long term rent increases
  18. Why the ARTS District?
  19. Artist benefits?
  20. Rent impact for employees?
  21. Environmental impact study.
  22. Business Parking?
  23. Tailate culture, drinking in area?
  24. Product based businesses — exclusivity agreement, lower buy in.
  25. Resident parking sticker?
  26. Hospitality option or buy in with the stadium
  27. Thorough Parking Study. Where are those spots? Here? P&L? Downtown?
  28. Our concern is our own parking — employees and our clients.
  29. Royals — Specifically, paid security for multi-blocks.
  30. Invest in houseless population issues & solutions.
  31. Imminent Domain vs. Actual Value. Protection of real value?
  32. Legally binding FULL CBA PRIOR to the vote. Addressing 100% of this.
  33. Site specific analysis.
  34. Review the economic impact of stadiums in other markets.
  35. Meet with us. Come to these meetings.
  36. Owners of Royals must show benefit to the area if public funds will be raised.
  37. Commitment to the ARTS — artists, galleries, the crafts people.
  38. Repeated meetings with the Royals
  39. Hotline? Point of contact?
  40. Security for our clients, safety with people drinking and walking.
  41. Safety of women, LGBTQ clients.
  42. Big developers get more representation. We want small & artist businesses equally represented.
  43. Trademark rights to make Royals sellable items?
  44. Access to the airport’s CBA
  45. Why would this be different from the ‘in the hole’ Cordish arena?
  46. What’s the source of the ‘billions of $’ of positive economic impact or refuting it.
  47. Vote can’t happen before a CBA is settled. Fast tracking isn’t fair.
  48. Six weeks is not long enough.
  49. Public knowledge of these demands.
  50. What about small business people here who can’t vote in the county?
  51. Bookings are already being impacted for long term venues. Compensation for lost ‘fear’ bookings like weddings, venues?
  52. Explain why closing self-funded businesses w/corporate tax funded.
  53. This is propping up P & L losses.
  54. Cordish over-promises their revenue.
  55. The survey can’t be structured as if it’s a ‘done deal’
  56. Early voting started. This is being fast tracked.
  57. Publicly air concerns.

Clean and Safe / Crossroads Community Improvement District (CID)

  1. Work with Royals on Crossroads CID — A must
  2. Board has passed resolution requiring Royals to participate in CID
  3. Concerns:
    • Drunk people
    • Cans thrown everywhere
    • No parking, so how do we keep the Royals responsible for where everyone parks?
    • Events at T‑Mobile & Royals
    • Royals will benefit from Crossroads CID no matter what. How do they help pay for it?
    • How will the police interacting with the Royals crowd affect the rest of the neighborhood?
  4. CID Budget [proposed]
    • $1.2 — $1.4 Million annually for 10 years.
    • Royals Activities:
      • 81 home games, 34,000 seats
      • Concerts, events
    • Reconsider CID budget given huge visitor increases due to number of home games.
    • What is the operational plan for this? 
      • Startup $ from Royals to help kickstart the CID
      • Ongoing sales tax for the long term.
  5. Current need for a CID is obvious when you cross I670.
  6. Greater need if stadium is built. 
    • Clean
    • Safe
    • Green
    • Houseless population assistance to permanent housing
  7. Why should Royals participate in CID? 
    • Owners stated they will be residents of the Crossroads
    • Crowds will be active across the neighborhood. Clean & Safe are beneficial.
    • Sign on to the CID with purchase of properties. Losing tax from 80 properties.
    • Sign CBA agreeing to fund CID for 10 years. Have CID Board Membership. Fund CID formation.

Infrastructure, Parking and Traffic

  1. Enforcement of illegal [violations]
  2. Designated parking for small business
  3. Widening 18th Street
  4. UBER lot
  5. Parking app for availability
  6. Plan for additional parking
  7. Shuttles for parking away from stadium
  8. Enforcement of private lots
  9. Explanation of counted parking spots
  10. Payment of property tax while under construction
  11. Concern for water runoff
  12. Additional parking garages funded by taxes. Benefit community built on current surface lots.
  13. Limit creep of footprint
  14. Keep Oak open
  15. Parking & traffic flow during construction
  16. Knowing construction footprint
  17. Tools to offset parking costs.
  18. Area to unload people in [area?] around neighborhood.
  19. Parking study for multi-event evenings.
  20. Studies available before vote.
  21. Power, electricity, water concerns during construction
  22. Communication of utility testing
  23. Task Force from city
  24. Tax abatement / stabilization plan to offset impact on neighborhood
  25. Security around entire area on games day
  26. Sustainability plan during & after construction
  27. Trees are infrastructure
  28. Congestion with additional event traffic
  29. Impact of traffic on streetcar
  30. Parking study & traffic study
  31. Traffic control /direction
  32. Inclusion of local businesses in parking / traffic plan
  33. Lot Maintenance
  34. During construction — Off site parking for workers

Cultural Fit and the Arts

  1. Parking
  2. Reduce rate for marketing in Ball Park
  3. Compensation for employees that may lose their jobs
  4. Not a culture fit. There will be a shift if the stadium is built in the area
  5. Rent & stabilization
  6. Extend and expand the PIEA
  7. County vs city financial contributions
  8. Historic building concern. None of the historic buildings are registered. Not considered historic.
  9. Survey & concern about green areas.
  10. Recycle of materials
  11. Is there a chance that they can expand beyond original plan?
  12. Commit to prioritize local beer / wine / liquor / food at stadium
  13. Be specific about how the arts and KCI promotes arts within the community that ties into Crossroads Arts District.
  14. Local suppliers to restaurants & businesses
  15. Local labor support. Equipment sourced in Crossroads.- weighted advantage in procurement.
  16. Preventing expansion
  17. No home games on First Fridays
  18. Learn from KC Current / KCI concessions
  19. Public art must come from KC artists
  20. Create / Maintain space for arts to be proactive
  21. No 3am Liquor LIcense
  22. Must be member of the CCA — CID
  23. Ticket sales [1 night/month] go back to the Crossroads [clean, safe, infrastructure]
  24. Will property taxes go up if the stadium is built?
  25. Direct subsidy for artists / galleries to protect them.
  26. Impact zone for building maintenance [similar to MidTown TIF] Trades offer assistance to building [Can we trust? Make independent?]
  27. Email list

Street Presence

  1. 1% for art required?
  2. Promote Crossroads businesses inside stadium at reduced cost.
  3. 100% local art featured. Local must be defined
  4. Have a committee to select artists [CCA led]
  5. Gallery space. Local art featured in suites.
  6. Active beyond 81 days — on the street front.
  7. 17th Street related to current rendering
  8. Streetscape scale at human edge … stagger back before raising height. Opportunity for art
  9. 28,000 vs 34,000 seats
  10. Culture clash — tailgating on streets! Parking lots? Street cleanup after.
  11. No parking = people drinking on streets.
  12. Fund security / clean-up / maintenance
  13. Maintaining footprint of neighborhood without pulling people to concessions / amenities in stadium.
  14. How to participate in local neighborhood vs. stadium
  15. Appropriate wayfinding
  16. South loop extension — Who pays?
  17. Traffic improvements [foot / public / cars]
  18. Providing artist studio workspace
  19. Containment & Traffic Flows.
  20. During construction street presence. Art or other vs/ Tagging
  21. Funding study related to parking / access / traffic flow [people & autos]
  22. Public restrooms / trash cans
  23. Local food / drink vendors
  24. Royals app — Crossroads advertising / street car
  25. Lighting / trees:
  26. Who pays?
  27. Lighting for security as well
  28. Trees — replacement every 4 years as needed.
  29. Noise?
  30. Irrigation
  31. Sewage system
  32. Road closures during games?
  33. Stop self-containing opportunities for business
  34. Sidewalks / navigation should be open to all. Business points not just Royals specific
  35. Fountains
Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund
Crossroads Community Association

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