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Funkhouser Vetoes Plaza High-Rise

Mayor Mark Funkhouser has vetoed the council's plan to allow a high-rise office building at the north edge of the Plaza.
Rendering courtesy of Highwoods Properties.
Mayor Mark Funkhouser has vetoed the council's plan to allow a high-rise office building at the north edge of the Plaza.

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-966313.mp3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Mayor Mark Funkhouser ends his final day in office with one last clash with the city council.

The mayor has vetoed the resolutions and ordinance that was to allow the building of a controversial high-rise office building on the Country Club Plaza.

The mayor issued a statement in which he said he feared the Plaza is nearing a "tipping point" that would irreversibly change the historic shopping center and cost more jobs than the council hopes to save by allowing the office building to be built.

The zoning change to allow the office building was passed Thursday by an outgoing city council at its last meeting.

The mayor's move puts any veto override attempt in the laps of a brand new city council embarking on new terms.

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