Minnesota Avenue's stupor is being jolted
By VERNON SMITH
Staff Writer
Whatever happened to Minnesota Avenue?
During its heyday it was the upblow and downtown shopping district of Kansas City, Kan.
More than 150 five-and-ten stores, jewelry shops, fashion boutiques, movie theaters, bars and grills and car dealers lined the busy east-east thoroughfare.
A 1986 ECONOMIC study prepared by the Metropolitan Planning Commission found that downtown Kansas City, Kan., had the second greatest dollar volume of sales in the metropolitan Kansas City area—second only to downtown Kansas City, Mo., and even more than the Country Club Plaza.
Springtime on the avenue was the place for girl watchers, and at night the bright flashing neon lights of the three movie theaters beckoned to the waiting crowds.
Today, however, much of Minnesota Avenue—particularly the 600 and 700 blocks that were once the city's main thoroughfare—is still unpaved.
ALTHOUGH NO ONE seems to know for sure why that happened, many speculate that a combination of "white flight" and the recent trend of middle class families, both black and white, to pull up stakes and head west has had something to do with the down-town's death.
At any rate, the familiar Saturday morning showing crowds have all but disappeared.
The businesses that chose to stay downtown rather than move west to the new shopping centers are in many instances surrounded by vacant store fronts and empty littered lots.
Automobile tires and batteries have replaced the smartly dressed mannequins that once stared blankly at passersby from the window of the old Leder clothing store, where a club in hand strolls through the deserted street.
in the midst of the vacant lots and empty storefronts is the $23 million Center City Mall, which covers the 600 and 700 blocks of the avenue. Initially, it was hoped that with the mall's construction in 1969 businesses would remain downtown. Because the architectural plan emphasized people rather than cars, shoppers were expected to be more inclined to shop on the mail.
But the mall's architectural design also tried to symbolically emphasize the landscape and nature of Kansas by incorporating such features as a walk-through mount, sloping ramps and 26-foot stainless steel pylons. Those were the aspects of the mall that the buildings were not able to understand or accommodate.
"they messed it up," a young elementary school-age girl complained at the mall's public opening in
1973. Apparently, it seems, many of her elders agreed with her. In 1977, the nebulous force of public opinion had forced her to abstain from voting.
The construction of the mail ball in 1869 and for almost two years Minnesota Avenue between Sixth and Eighth streets.
ACCORDING TO **Bill Little**, president of the Kamala State, Kan. Chamber of Commerce, closing
"The mail designers didn't know or care about business," be said. They were concerned only with the aesthetics. Unfortunately, however, cosmetic approaches to economic problems just don't work."
But Chris Vedrus, who was director of the Urban Renewal Agency during the mall's construction, maintains that all is going as planned, although more support is needed by the business sector of the community to be helpful.
"The market studies and analyses that were taken before the mall's construction showed that downtown Kansas City, Kan., would become a governmental, professional, cultural and entertainment center, and not the major shopping district it once was," Vedros said.
"The basic steps have been taken and the overall shape of the master plan as dictated by the preconstruction market studies is beginning to unfold." He said one of the objectives of the agency had been
to try to create a different atmosphere, thus improving the city's image. He said that had been accomplished, despite the criticism the agency had received for its construction ascribed to the urban renewals' "boulder mentality."
The lack of support from the public and private sectors, in addition to delays in getting rehabilitation and c-instruction started, also caused some problems, be said.
BECAUSE MAYOR Jack Reardon's administration emphasizes economic development, a second big attempt at revitalization seems to be taking place.
Dean Katerndahl, director of the city's economic development department, said recently that a market study report in April showed that the direction of the downtown area was changing and that it would not compete with the Indian Springs shopping center in terms of sales volume.
Katerndahl said the study showed that downtown Kansas City, Kan., would in all likelihood become the site for various governmental and professional office buildings.
He and others suggest that the catalyst for this second phase of revitalization will be the construction of a $1.22 million convention center complex on the 500 block of Minnesota Avenue.
book no. 652081 for Minneapolis Avenue
He said the convention center, of which $2.5 million
will be funded by a federal Urban Development Action Grant, will accommodate 1,300 to 1,500 people and supposedly would help the city compete for about 40 percent of the state's conventions.
It also will generate $40 million worth of private investment, he said.
More important than the 383 permanent jobs the convention center would generate, Katerndahl said, the second revitalization attempt would have a stabilizing influence on the inner city area. That influence would stop what he called the "Go West" psychology that had prevailed in the past decade.
"FORTUNATELY, WE don't face an urban crisis of the magnitude of such cities as New York or Chicago," he said. "Our plan is to try to turn things around before they get out of hand."
If an economic crisis existed in Kansas City, Kan., it probably could be attributed to the city's large number of deteriorating single family homes that surrounded World War II and that surround 4th downtown area.
Dennis Hays, assistant director of the department of community development, said his office had been working to link the city's economic and neighborhood development to alleviate the housing problem. The emphasis is being placed on citizen participation, he said.
See AVENUE page five
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
Vol. 88, No. 145
Lawrence, Kansas
Monday May 8,1978
Detection device could stop thefts
By CAROL PITTS Staff Writer
An electronic device could be the answer to a problem of disappearing books in Watson Library at the University of Kansas, associate dean of libraries, eaid vexetier.
Glinka said the system had been under discussion for more than a year by library officials and had been included on the fiscal 1980 budget request.
The detection system would be similar to a system manufactured by the 3M Company, Tattle-Tape Book Detect System. The cost for the initial equipment would be $10,000, which would include a metal strip placed in each book and a detection
THE STRIP WOULD be sensitized magnetically and unless the strip was desensitized before it passed through the detection system, it would trigger an alarm.
A similar system, which is soon to be installed in Mabee Library at Washburn University, would require all library users to purchase equipment before leaving the building.
If the equipment is triggered by a sen-
sory external exit gate will lock and an alarm will sound.
Glinka said it had not been decided exactly which type of detection device would be installed because there currently were five or six systems being sold.
"Whatever we choose, it will be a continuing cost," he said. "Each new volume will have to be treated with a sensitized strip at a cost of 10 or 12 cents a strip."
He said the $100,000 included the cost of treating books in the library now.
THE PROBLEM OF disappearing books has plagued the library for a long time. Roger Anderson, acquisitions librarian in Watson, said that money was automatically included in the budget to replace to replace books that had been cleaned out and never returned or had been stolen.
Anderson said Watson Library spent from $8,000 to $15,000 annually to replace books.
He said the money was supplemented by funds from the lost book fund generated from fines levied on lost books. However, the replacement of old books is a problem.
"We had a book on Danish pornography that disappeared," Anderson said. "Books like that are most likely to disappear over and again and they are hard to find."
HE SAID THE problem was spread
evenly throughout the entire collection.
A recent story in the Kansas City Star about disappearing books said there were specific kinds of books that seemed to disappear more frequently than others.
Books on automobile mechanics, self-
See BOOKS n five
oversize puddle instead of around it yesterday behind Deerfield Elementary School, Vaugha said that he hoped that his mother did not get mad when he got home.
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN-
Capsules From the Associated Press, United Press International
Compromise on jet sale possible
WASHINGTON—Sources in Washington say President Jimmy Carter and his opponents in Congress may be willing to compromise this week on Carter's proposal to sell jet fighters to Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Carter appears willing to add a commitment to give Israel more planes in the future, an unidentified administration source said. Sen. Jacob Javits, R-N.Y., says he thinks Congress is willing to accept Carter's proposal. See story page two.
Court to accept Berkowitz's pleas
NEW YORK—David R. Berkowitz, the man accused of being the Son of Sam killer who terrorized New York City for a year, goes to trial today. If, as expected Berkowitz pleads guilty to the slayings, an unusual plan will go into effect. Judges from the three districts in which Berkowitz is accused will be present in the courtroom prepared to accept guilty pleas to all charges against Berkowitz. See story page two.
According to the National Weather Service, the high today will be in the mid-to upper 60s and tomorrow in the lower 70s. The low tonight will be in the 40s.
SANTA CRUZ ISLAND, Calif.—In what has been described as perhaps the best land buy since the United States bought Alaska, a beautiful island off the coast of Southern California is being sold for only $50 an acre. Carey Stanton, who owns 90 percent of the 82-square-mile island, said he was selling to the animal developers from spelling it. A number of bird species, animals and plants live on the island, including at least 75 raidage species. See story page two.
Island sold to prevent development
The swamp weekend weather should be turning drier and warmer today as the skies clear.
Locally . . .
Weather...
The names of those who wield power in Lawrence, as in most cities, varies continually, but some of those people have reputations as being more powerful than others.
n-year-old David Vaughn, 315 Homestead St., chose to ride his bike through this
A team of 10 reporters in the School of Journalism has compiled a study of the 20 people in Lawrence who are seen as the most influential in local decision-making. They are the key influentials. See pages six and seven.
Mental health insurance endorsed
By JEFF TEVIS
Staff Writer
"It's because hardly anyone has health insurance that allows for any mental illness benefits," Sydney Schroeder, a psychiatrist at Watkins Hospital, said last week.
Many of the 40 million people are poor, elderly or members of racial minorities. The problem also hits the middle class, though.
The President's Commission on Mental Health recently reported that many of the 40 million Americans who suffer from mental problems could not afford the health care
10m, a middle-aged Lawrence businessman who asked not to be identified, said his family had suffered because of the high costs associated with cover expensive mental health treatments.
nettly required hospitalization for a little more than two weeks. For the next three years she saw a professional psychiatrist twice a week at $40 a session.
FOUR YEARS AGO, Tom's wife, Betty, tried to commit suicide after an extended period of depression. Tom found her just days later and kissed her pills and rushed her to the hospital.
Soon one of the family's cars had to be
However, even with Medicare and Medicaid revisions, many persons still will lack sufficient coverage. Most of America's middle class is covered by private health
However, Tom regrets that there was no available insurance help from either private or public insurer.
Finally, she decided that it was time to handle her problem by herself and she quit seeing the psychiatrist. Betty now says she is completely cured.
sold to cover the additional expense. There were no summer vacations and very few
LAST WEEK the president's commission proposed changed in the federal health insurance programs. Medicare and Medicaid would provide help to low income persons.
see MENTAL page 11
That included changing the amount mental patient had to pay for his total hospital bill from 50 percent to 20 percent. Also, he should be able to receive two days of out-patient care for every day he is actually hospitalized.
The commission recommended that persons with mental problems should be able to receive the same benefits a person with physical ailments now does.
Firefighters say city must make its proposals
By JAKE THOMPSON
Staff Writer
Advance in the tug-of-war negotiations for next year's contract between city officials and the Lawrence firefighters will begin on Wednesday in a statement that could last until June 15.
Negotiations halted when firefighters said they would not further discuss their proposals until the city had made some of their own.
Mike Penner, president of Local 1596 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, said yesterday that the firefighters would wait until an impasse was declared, if necessary, before further negotiating.
IF NO AGREEMENT for next year's contract has been reached by June 15, an impasse would be declared and both sides would go before the City Commission.
The commission, after hearing debate on the proposals, would decide the specifics of the contract, which in theory both sides have to abide by.
have to abide by.
"We've done everything they asked."
Penner said. "We think the next move is up to them."
Kevin Burt, the city employee relations director, said last night that he hoped the firefighters would compromise on their proposals and that the city had done nothing
pass:
"ITS IMPORTANT to keep them talking," he said. "For the sake of the talks we might make counterproposals."
"If they're not going to be reasonable, they sort out things tied," he said. "I want you to understand what we're talking about."
He said the city might make 10 counterproposals in an effort to avoid the impasse.
Friday's negotiations, in which Penner presented a cost analysis of the firefighters' proposals, were marked by personal attacks and tense discussion.
Every time a fire department employee misses work because of illness he must go to a doctor, at his expense, and get a signed statement detailing his illness. Firefighters cannot report back to work without a doctor's release.
Eight of the 11 proposals, according to Penner's analysis, would cost $252.09. The three others—extended coverage for injury in the line of duty, alterations with policy and the abduction of doctor's leave — were indeterminable costs, Penner said.
This estimate concurs with the city's cost estimate, delivered to the firefighters two
HE ESTIMATED the costs, also for eight
of the 11, to be between $209,287 and $254,940.
He excluded the same ones Piller did.
Near the end of the meeting Burt asked Penner to cut proposals he thought were not important and to rank the most important ones.
Penner responded by asking Burt to list those he thought were not important. He said that, in his mind, all of them were equally important.
Burt apparently was upset at this suggestion.
"I can't believe you are serious about all 10 of your properties... don't feel pressured or uncomfortable about them."
The meeting ended when Penner requested the city's proposals and Burt
We've made our move and you haven't See FIREFIGHTERS page 11