New 'Living Room' for Kansas City

"A warm afternoon. The sound of laughter wafts from the open portals of a nearby bar. On the street outside, workers occasionally outnumber visitors on the wide sidewalks.

The Power & Light District opened for business several weeks ago, even though it remains unfinished. Many of the venues are still under construction, notably those in the blocks west of Main Street.

It may be a work in progress, but the district has already transformed a once-crumbling part of the city. While it must prove its long-term financial viability, from an urban-design standpoint the project is an outstanding success, a fine example of effective civic art."