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Then and Now

The Landing is a shopping mall that was created by J.C. Nichols and opened to the public in 1960 as an open-air public space with animal-themed play structures for children and trees throughout the central corridor.  It still exists today as a covered structure and has some operating places of business inside, although not as high-traffic as it was in its beginning days and without the play structures and greenery.

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The exterior of the building exhibits materiality of stone, paint, and a circular-patterned concrete façade which seems somewhat inconsistent.  The major entrances are somewhat unclear and confusing to approach. There are, however, beautiful murals on the exterior walls that promote a strong sense of local pride.  Adjacent is its very large parking lot.  Most of the surface area of the lot is unused by cars during a typical day and completely void of trees and other greenery. Once inside the building, the space is very warm and inviting.  Large windows display several retail stores full of merchandise and ready for customers.  I feel that more clear and welcoming entrances to this fantastic interior space would greatly increase public draw to utilize it.

Accessibility

The Landing is located between Troost and The Paseo, along 63^rd Street.  Due to its proximity to these major streets, its location provides easy accessibility via car and/or bus.  Buses stop approximately every 20 minutes and connect with other lines of transportation throughout the city.  The site is surrounded by several other businesses, many which are local.  Although temperatures were below freezing during this particular day of observation, several pedestrians were observed walking on the surrounding sidewalks and using the crosswalks to cross the wide and busy streets.  Because these areas are heavily used, it seems clear that these walkways should be made more safe for pedestrians.

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The space is close to many residential areas and is within excellent proximity to grocery stores.  Aldis, Thriftway, and Cosentino’s are all within one mile or less from the site.  There are also several schools nearby.

Landscape

The landscape of the area is extremely beautiful and drastic in topography.  The site sits lower that its surrounding spaces and the area just to the south is hilly and covered in large majestic trees.

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In conclusion, this space has a very energetic atmosphere, great accessibility, rich history, and beautiful landscape. The Landing’s location, which is central to many businesses, schools, and churches, make it a great place to live and work.