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Kansas City Power & Light District facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Power & Light District
Power & Light District logo.png
Location 50 East 13th Street
Suite 200
Kansas City, Missouri 64106
Coordinates 39°05′52″N 94°34′56″W / 39.09778°N 94.58222°W / 39.09778; -94.58222
Owner The Cordish Companies
Type Mixed-use retail, entertainment, office, and residential development
Capacity nine city block area
Construction
Built 2005 - 2008
Opened First tenant opened November 9, 2007
Website
powerandlightdistrict.com

The Kansas City Power & Light District is a lively area in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri. It's a place where you can find dining, shopping, offices, and entertainment. This large district was created by The Cordish Companies and covers nine city blocks. It's located in the heart of downtown, near major streets like Baltimore Avenue and Grand Boulevard.

The Power & Light District is one of the biggest development projects in the Midwestern United States. It features popular spots like the renovated Midland Theatre, the Alamo Drafthouse Mainstreet Cinema, and the main office for H&R Block. In 2009, the district won an award from the Urban Land Institute. This award recognized its success in helping to bring new life to downtown Kansas City.

Exploring the Power & Light District

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Power & Light District in Kansas City, MO

The Power & Light District is right next to the T-Mobile Center, a large arena. The district got its name from the famous art deco Kansas City Power and Light Building. This historic building is home to the Kansas City Power & Light Company's headquarters.

A special part of the district is called Kansas City Live! This area is dedicated to entertainment. It has two floors filled with restaurants and bars. There's also a big outdoor space for concerts and events.

Kansas City Live! Entertainment Hub

PLD KCLive
The interior of the Kansas City Live! block of the Power & Light District features the stage.

Kansas City Live! is the heart of the Power & Light District. It's a whole city block focused on live music and fun events. This area has hosted famous shows like American Idol in 2008. It's also a popular spot for watching professional sports games with friends.

The roof over Kansas City Live! is special. It's made from a unique material called ETFE. This material is light and lets sunlight through. Building the roof started in August 2007.

On the ground floor of Kansas City Live!, you'll find many places to eat and drink. Some popular spots include McFadden's Sports Saloon and Johnny's Tavern. There's also Pizza Bar and County Road Ice House, which is a local favorite. The second floor is home to various nightclubs and entertainment venues. These include Mosaic Ultra Lounge, Howl at the Moon, and No Other Pub. No Other Pub is a partnership with the local MLS team, Sporting Kansas City.

Popular Places to Visit

The Power & Light District is home to several well-known businesses and attractions:

  • B&B Theatres Mainstreet Theater - This is a historic theater that has been updated. It shows new movies in six different screens. It opened in May 2009.
  • H&R Block - The main office for this large tax company is located here. It opened in October 2006.
  • Hilton President Kansas City - This is a refurbished hotel from 1926. It has 213 rooms and features a famous spot called the Drum Room. It reopened in January 2006.
  • Midland Theatre - This venue can hold 3,500 people. It hosts concerts and live music shows. It reopened in September 2008.
  • PBR Big Sky - This is a country and western bar. It opened in April 2008.

Living in the District

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One Light Luxury Apartments

The Cordish Company also planned to build several fancy apartment buildings in the Power & Light District. They started building the first one, called One Light Luxury Apartments, in April 2014. One Light opened in December 2015 and was almost completely rented out. This building is 25 stories tall. It connects to a grocery store and a gym nearby.

Two Light Luxury Apartments opened in May 2018. This building has 24 stories and 296 apartments. Each apartment has large windows that go from the floor to the ceiling. Two Light also includes a parking garage and spaces for small shops and shared office areas. The Three Light tower was finished in September 2023. It is 301 feet tall with 25 stories and 288 units.

See also