Relocating to KC - KS or MO (Kansas City, Blue Springs: houses, neighborhood)

[Samantha S]

Originally Posted by kcmo

The city is the city. KC is not the only city that has strip clubs. I actually can't think of a major city that isn’t' going to have stuff like that.

Agreed. But it isn't exactly a plus when a new area is trying to appeal to families.

[Johnny Bananas]

Originally Posted by Samantha S

Then on the way through downtown, on Grand avenue, smack in between the new Sprint Center and Crown Center, my young daughter has to ask me, "Mommy? What does 'Totally Nude' mean? See it says that in lights on the side of that building!"

So I got to explain that to my child! THANKS FOR THAT KC!!!

Haha... I saw that too when I was walking to the Sprint Center for the KU game (whatta loss). Although I didn't have a daughter to explain to what it meant, my friends almost made a beeline to the place. A few parents were appalled that it was that it was the close to the S.C. Some even closed their kids eyes for them lol.

On the other hand, I don't go down there a lot. I volunteered at Children's Mercy Hospital for 4 years but never got to see the KCP&L district or the Sprint Center til today. Nice place. I'm a little more open-minded about the area now.

[northbound74]

It's fascinating to me how Johnson County people make such an issue of going downtown, as if they were going to some far-away exotic place. I've known people who had businesses in JoCo, then moved them downtown. They lost many of their customers, because those people apparently were afraid to drive to the Crossroads district. My goodness. The Crossroads district???? Don't they have better things to be afraid of?
To me, the scariest place to drive through in the metro isn't even east Kansas City, it is a Johnson County freeway. No speed limits, no turn signals, no common courtesy.... some of the absolute worst and rudest drivers I've ever seen in my life. You people are freaks when it comes to operating an automobile.

I live in a suburb on the Missouri side, and my wife and I spend most of our weekends in the downtown-midtown corridor. Sure, we can get everything we could ever possibly need without ever leaving a 30-block radius of our house, but that would be boring, wouldn't it? Why live in a big city? Why not live in a place like Springfield? It's just one big suburb without the hassle of having to deal with a big city, and all the things that go bump in the night.. and all the spooky things that go along with that.

The only part of KC that is truly isolated is not the airport. It's Johnson County, Kansas.

[Samantha S]

Originally Posted by northbound74

It's fascinating to me how Johnson County people make such an issue of going downtown, as if they were going to some far-away exotic place. Blah Blah Blah ....

Again with the mischaracterizations.

Anyone from JoCo is afraid to leave the county. We are scared of the "big city" so we've never seen all the wonders of the world that make up Kansas City, Missouri. In fact, most of us have never been to MO. We don't work there, None of us have clients all over the metro area and beyond with whom we do business every day. We don't shop there, we don't go to any of the cultural events, we don't associate with anyone who lives there - why would we? We are all too good for that. If only we weren't so closed minded and scared, we'd see the great and wonderous beauty and we'd shut down Kansas altogther. Because you see, it's impossible to appreciate KCMO, while still preferring to live on the KS side.

Originally Posted by northbound74

I've known people who had businesses in JoCo, then moved them downtown. They lost many of their customers, because those people apparently were afraid to drive to the Crossroads district. My goodness. The Crossroads district???? Don't they have better things to be afraid of?

Right. They must all have been afraid. It wouldn't ever have anything to do with the possibility that they might have been able to buy what they needed from another business that was 5 minutes from their house.

Originally Posted by northbound74

To me, the scariest place to drive through in the metro isn't even east Kansas City, it is a Johnson County freeway. No speed limits, no turn signals, no common courtesy.... some of the absolute worst and rudest drivers I've ever seen in my life. You people are freaks when it comes to operating an automobile.

I've seen crazy drivers on both sides of the state line. JoCo's got no monopoly on that.

Originally Posted by northbound74

The only part of KC that is truly isolated is not the airport. It's Johnson County, Kansas.

Very few places are isolated at all. People are isolated and only if they choose to be. Such people live on both sides of the state line of our metro area.

[northbound74]

[quote=Samantha S;6554841]

Again with the mischaracterizations.

Anyone from JoCo is afraid to leave the county. We are scared of the "big city" so we've never seen all the wonders of the world that make up Kansas City, Missouri. In fact, most of us have never been to MO. We don't work there, None of us have clients all over the metro area and beyond with whom we do business every day. We don't shop there, we don't go to any of the cultural events, we don't associate with anyone who lives there - why would we? We are all too good for that. If only we weren't so closed minded and scared, we'd see the great and wonderous beauty and we'd shut down Kansas altogther. Because you see, it's impossible to appreciate KCMO, while still preferring to live on the KS side.

No, it's not impossible at all. I like much of Johnson County, even if it is a bit bland, but it's the condescending attitude towards us poor souls who have to endure living in Missouri that I get sick of.
I know there's a lot of people who live in JoCo that have no problem with crossing the state line, but there's a disproportionately large number of people who must be dragged kicking and screaming to cross over the state line for anything.
My wife is in a situation where she deals with people from all over the metro. Sometimes, they get together for a meeting. That meeting is held in several places around the area. She doesn't flinch when she has to go to OP, but if someone from over there has to go to Independence, they come up with all sorts of excuses not to. People from the northland are much more cooperative. It's always the Johnson County folks that never want to leave their bubble.

Right. They must all have been afraid. It wouldn't ever have anything to do with the possibility that they might have been able to buy what they needed from another business that was 5 minutes from their house.

I know it sounds crazy, but the business I was talking about just happened to be the only place in Kansas City that sold certain items. They are now out of business, no thanks to the people who wouldn't go to the Crossroads to shop. Their JoCo location was in extreme northeastern JoCo, so moving to Crossroads didn't change the drive time much, I'm certain. The owner of the business was the one who told me that they lost customers because they didn't feel safe going into that part of town.

I've seen crazy drivers on both sides of the state line. JoCo's got no monopoly on that.

Very few places are isolated at all. People are isolated and only if they choose to be. Such people live on both sides of the state line of our metro area.

True and true. Again, it's just seems like JoCo has the largest percentage of such people. I don't understand completely why.

[kcmo]

exactly northbound74,

It's nice to see somebody else step up and tell it like it is.

Samantha,

We don't have anything against JoCO or the people of JoCo personally.

We really don't. But there is a snobby, arrogant attitude that seems to come out of just about everybody that lives over there if you dig deep enough. You and others on this forum and many other internet forums are a good example of this.

Your first few post seem like you are just a normal metro kc resident, but after a dozen or so posts, the condescending undertone will eventually come out that you really honest to god think that JoCo is simply superior to the MO side in every way possible and the MO side is only there for your entertainment and other than that, the area is looked down on for many reasons.

I work downtown, have worked downtown for 15 years. Even the JoCo people that work downtown and see what it has to offer think of the area differently than MO residents. They look down on it. They don't think about how cool the P&L district is, they make fun of the metal plates. It's like in their culture to make fun of the MO side.

That's the people that have exposure to the city. There are far more people that never, ever ever go into the city. If you live at 151st and Nall and don't work downtown, chances are you never go there or take the kids there. Maybe a concert once every couple of years???

But if you live at Congress and Barry Road, or even at Douglas and 470, for some reason you are MUCH more likely to have a positive opinion on the city and visit it more often. Those same people will also visit Oak Park Mall, the Legends, Leawood, Great Mall etc and not think twice.

You NEVER see JoCo plates at Independence Center, Summit Woods, Barry Woods etc. I'm amazed that I have seen a few JoCo plates at Zona Rosa, they must see it on the way to KCI, because if Zona Rosa were over near Metro North, they wouldn’t go there either.

I know people from JoCo that have lived in there for decades that have no idea what is east of the stadiums. They think the stadiums are in eastern jackson county when they are much closer to Downtown than Blue Springs or Lee's Summit.

I don't know what the deal is, but I'm sick of it myself.

I was just out at Crate & Barrel yesterday. I enjoy JoCo and think it really helps make our metro a desirable place to live.

But we just don't get the same in return. I think most JoCo people would just assume not visit the MO side but have to for most entertainment and culture.

But I WILL NOT sit here and let people from JoCo diss the MO side on the internet, especially when they have almost no idea what they are talking about.


Northbound,

I think metro KC drivers in general are the WORST big-city drivers in the nation, by a very long shot.

Both sides of the state line. I have never seen a major city where people can't get up to speed to merge onto a freeway, people that don't move over from the left lanes when being passed on the right, people that are just on cell phones at a rate that has to be tens times what you normally see in a major city. Get off the cell phones people. Where the JOCO people are the worst are in the city. When I see a car drive aggressively through areas with a lot of pedestrians like the plaza, westport, crown center or downtown, 9 times out of ten it's a JoCo car. But those are probably the same people that get on I-35 going 45mph and fly over into the left lane.

Seriously worst big city drivers ever. I think it has to do with so many people in KC being from rural areas or small towns.

[Samantha S]

Originally Posted by northbound74

No, it's not impossible at all. I like much of Johnson County, even if it is a bit bland, but it's the condescending attitude towards us poor souls who have to endure living in Missouri that I get sick of.

I know that attitude exists - I don't deny it. But all too often I've seen (and this thread is an example) people from the MO side who assume that because I live in JoCo, that I must look down on them. So they treat me as though I do look down on them. And I get sick of that. Then they assume that I have never been to their part of the metro and that I must live a sheltered, bland life in my little JoCo bubble.

I'd just prefer people get to know me rather than making such assumptions. Because I have no choice but to conclude that these people are as closed-minded as they are assuming me to be.

I know it sounds crazy, but the business I was talking about just happened to be the only place in Kansas City that sold certain items. They are now out of business, no thanks to the people who wouldn't go to the Crossroads to shop.

Again -- you cannot expect a customer base to be loyal to you simply because you are you. You have to give them what they want or they will find it elsewhere.

I would venture a guess that perhaps the internet played a role in lost business. Is that possible?

If the location to get what I want is no longer convenient, and I can get it delivered to my house instead, I may well opt for that. It honestly sounds like the business owner made a poor strategic decision. That's business. It's a gamble.

[Samantha S]

Originally Posted by kcmo

We don't have anything against JoCO or the people of JoCo personally.

We really don't. But there is a snobby, arrogant attitude that seems to come out of just about everybody that lives over there if you dig deep enough. You and others on this forum and many other internet forums are a good example of this.

So you have nothing against us. And yet you know that "if you dig deep enough" we are all snobs.

Thank you -- you just made my point in my prior post.

Your first few post seem like you are just a normal metro kc resident, but after a dozen or so posts, the condescending undertone will eventually come out that you really honest to god think that JoCo is simply superior to the MO side in every way possible and the MO side is only there for your entertainment and other than that, the area is looked down on for many reasons.

So rather than consider what I am actually saying in my posts, you are just waiting for the other shoe to drop and my true JoCo nature to come out.

You make my point again -- thank you.

There are far more people that never, ever ever go into the city. If you live at 151st and Nall and don't work downtown, chances are you never go there or take the kids there. Maybe a concert once every couple of years???

And so there are people whom you will never meet. And yet you are sure you know them and how they feel about you and it offends you.

Again -- thank you for making my point.

You NEVER see JoCo plates at Independence Center, Summit Woods, Barry Woods etc. I'm amazed that I have seen a few JoCo plates at Zona Rosa, they must see it on the way to KCI, because if Zona Rosa were over near Metro North, they wouldn’t go there either.

Why should people drive 30 minutes when the exact same retail chains are within 5 minutes of their house??? Just to see you? And hear remarks like "Ooohh, Johnson County!! Whatta ya slummin' today???"

I was just out at Crate & Barrel yesterday. I enjoy JoCo and think it really helps make our metro a desirable place to live.

But we just don't get the same in return. I think most JoCo people would just assume not visit the MO side but have to for most entertainment and culture.

But I WILL NOT sit here and let people from JoCo diss the MO side on the internet, especially when they have almost no idea what they are talking about.

I don't believe I have done that.

I am getting a little tired of your whining though. Get over yourself.

[kcmo]

Go grab 100 random people from the MO side. From Liberty to Belton and Midtown to Blue Springs.

Put them in a room and ask them what they think about JoCo and tell them that what they say will remain confidential and is simply for an internal study.

I think the vast majority of the comments from such a pool of people would mirror much of what I (and others) on this thread have said.

The resentment is there for a reason.

We don't mean to take it out on people and I don't either, but it's so easy to do.

Like I said, I like JoCo, I just wish more of the people that lived there had the same respect for the MO side, especially since the MO side is probably the only reason JoCo is not just a farm field.

Sorry to take this frustration out on you…

[northbound74]

Originally Posted by Samantha S

I know that attitude exists - I don't deny it. But all too often I've seen (and this thread is an example) people from the MO side who assume that because I live in JoCo, that I must look down on them. So they treat me as though I do look down on them. And I get sick of that. Then they assume that I have never been to their part of the metro and that I must live a sheltered, bland life in my little JoCo bubble.

I'd just prefer people get to know me rather than making such assumptions. Because I have no choice but to conclude that these people are as closed-minded as they are assuming me to be.

I apologize.
It is easy to make assumptions, and I'll consider that in the future.
I'll still need more convincing for my overall opinion of JoCo to change drastically, because there are sooooo many people in JoCo that fit the mold of what we who live on the Missouri side complain about.
I go over there at least a couple of times a week, and I know there are good people that live in JoCo.

Again -- you cannot expect a customer base to be loyal to you simply because you are you. You have to give them what they want or they will find it elsewhere.

I would venture a guess that perhaps the internet played a role in lost business. Is that possible?

If the location to get what I want is no longer convenient, and I can get it delivered to my house instead, I may well opt for that. It honestly sounds like the business owner made a poor strategic decision. That's business. It's a gamble.

They came into being long after the internet did.
Yes, moving from JoCo to the Crossroads is a risk, but it's no reason for 'loyal' customers to abandon you. It only added maybe 5-10 minutes to their drive, if coming from JoCo.
For instance, if that business moved from Johnson Drive to 135th and Black Bob, their customers in Prairie Village would have no problem driving the extra distance for the specialty items they sold. Move it to midtown? Forget about it, even if it is fairly close by.
The business in question made a lot of bad choices in my opinion, but that shouldn't have been one of them, from the perspective that it shouldn't have been a reason for their customers to completely abandon them.
Yes, I realize the same thing could have happened in Lee's Summit, so JoCo isn't the only place around here that is like that.