Heartland Riverfront Landing
Visit the London Eye
The inspiration for Stan's Riverfront Project.
Stan Glazer Announces the Creation of the “World’s Tallest Observation Wheel and World’s Largest Heart Shaped Water Bridge”, to be Built in Downtown Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Missouri, Feb.6, 2007 – Kansas City Mayoral Candidate Stan Glazer announced today the creation of the “World’s Tallest Observation and Festival Retail Attraction” to be located along the bank of the Missouri River in between Berkley Riverfront Park and the Heart of America bridge.
Inspired by the London Eye on the River Thames in England, Glazer has asked Kansas City developer, RED Development, and Kansas City architect, Carl Yaeger of Berger Devine Yaeger, to serve as advisors to the proposed 50-story tall ride that will allow views of the entire heartland area. Being proposed within the development the festival retail will include many of Kansas City’s hometown favorite restaurants and retailers to enhance the family friendly experience.
Glazer wants to bring a signature attraction to his hometown of Kansas City. This 50-story tall ride will be the “World’s Tallest Observation Wheel” with a paddle-wheel style and will compliment the development now underway downtown providing Kansas City with its very own skyline icon such as the Arch in St. Louis, the Space Needle in Seattle and the Eye in London. Views of over forty (40) miles will be enjoyed by visitors and the water bridge, which will symbolize Kansas City’s position as the center of the Heartland of America, will project 800 feet of water out over the river.
“I’m a visionary. I can’t stop the ideas from coming. In fact, I’ve been bringing innovative ideas to Kansas City since 1971,” says Stanford Glazer, Kansas City Mayoral Candidate. Glazer continues, “My objective is to create a signature attraction for Kansas City. Something that would bring families to the area and showcase retail in a development that features a perfect permanent home for the steamboat Arabia.”
Glazer adds, “I have sought the advice and counsel of RED Development, who has been responsible for some of the most innovative retail and destination attractions in the country as well as Carl Yaeger, one of the preeminent architects in the country, for the beginning stages of this project.”
Carl Yaeger, President, Berger Devine Yaeger says, “Stan Glazer’s Heartland Riverfront Landing will enhance the development of the Kansas City Riverfront, create a family friendly retail environment and create a national tourism attraction with the combination of the observation wheel and water bridge.”
According to Architect estimates, the project which will cost nearly $100 million ($50 million for the observation wheel and $50 million for the surrounding area) and can be supported and paid for, at least half, by the retail and restaurants and paid admissions that will be located within the development.
“We want to replace the rodents with retail and the pigeons with people,” states Glazer.
Read the Heartland Riverfront Landing article in the Kansas City Star
View the 
VIDEO from the Kansas City Star
Stan's Speech to Kansas City Port Authority
HEARTLAND RIVERFRONT
LANDING
“The World’s Tallest Observation Wheel and Heart-Shaped Water Bridge”
February 6, 2007
Introduction by Stan
I’m a visionary and promotional developer. I can’t stop the ideas from coming. In fact, I’ve been bringing innovative ideas to KC since 1971 when the talk around town was to raise Union Station. In stead, I proposed turning Union Station into a regional transportation hub to include a 18,000 seat arena, museum of science and industry and planetarium; an entire complex. 36 years later, many of these things have come to pass. I was the catalyst in bringing the National Hockey League to Kansas City in the early 70’s and spear headed the development of Kemper Arena. In 2003 I ran for Mayor and was asked what would be my idea for a rival to the St Louis Arch.
First I could only think of Liberty Memorial and Union Station which didn’t satisfy me. While these are great regional attractions I felt the need for an icon or national tourist destination.
My objective is to create a signature attraction for Kansas City
Something that could be part of the Kansas City Skyline, like the St. Louis Arch or Seattle’s Space Needle.
Something that would compliment the development now underway in Downtown Kansas City.
The British Airways London Eye comes to mind which is the world's tallest observation wheel at 442 feet high. Located on the banks of the River Tims it offers unrivalled views over London. It has been recognized as the world’s best tourist attraction.
Since opening at the turn of the century, the London Eye has become an iconic landmark, with a status that can be compared to Tower Bridge, Big Ben, Eros and the Tower of London. It has been used as a backdrop in countless films and for innumerable TV programs.
In fact, in its short life, it has become the most popular paid for UK visitor attraction, visited by over 3.5 million people a year (an average of 10,000 a day). A breathtaking feat of design and engineering, passengers in the London Eye's capsules can see up to 25 miles in all directions, in complete comfort and safety.
Since opening, the Eye has welcomed over 20 million visitors
What if we could adopt this concept to work here in my hometown?
What is we could add some Kansas City home grown favorites like Stroud’s, Jake Edwards, Arthur Bryant’s, Oklahoma Joes, Bo Lings, Tasso’s, Manny’s, Ponak’s to name a few and all Kansas City businesses.
What if we could find a perfect permanent home for the Steamboat Arabia?
I want this area to be different from other area attractions that are underway right now.
This project focuses on the family not glitz. It showcases local Kansas City businesses and a family friendly atmosphere.
The idea is to create the World’s Tallest Observation Wheel and to revitalize Kansas City along the banks of the Missouri River. It’s a 50-story tall ride that will allow views of the entire heartland and an 800 foot water bridge that symbolizes Kansas City’s historic bridging of the river and reinforces our position as the “Heartland of America”.
This will change the entire skyline of Kansas City.
Design Points/Objectives
I took this idea to one of the premier architecture firms in the country, Berger Devine Yaeger, and what they helped me come up with is a spectacular attraction.
Financing
I realize that how ever great an idea this might be, there is still a long distance between a concept and the ability to execute.
How much will this cost? How can we pay for this?
My proposal will replace the rodents with retail and the pigeons with people.
I have sought the advice and counsel of RED Development, who has been responsible for some of the most innovative retail and destination attractions in the country.
They have reviewed the plans and have weighed in on the particulars.
Their experienced opinion is that this is a $100M project that can be supported, at least half, by the retail and restaurants that are within the development. The architect’s estimate for the observation wheel would cost approximately $50M and the festival retail and infrastructure would cost approximately $50M.
Preliminary estimates point toward six (6) or more restaurants and 75,000 square feet of retail tenants.
Next Steps
This is a first glimpse—extremely early on in the process, but I will work with the master developer, Forest City, of Berkley Park to make the plans work.
In the overall development, we have contacted them and their interest is positive.
This project will enhance the development of Kansas City’s riverfront
Create a family friendly retail environment for Kansas City based businesses
Create a national tourist attraction for Kansas City
And now, I am pleased to share my vision of Kansas City’s premier attraction: HEARTLAND RIVERFRONT LANDING