Architectural Design students from K- State in partnership with the Kansas City Design Center presented a variety of development concepts and amenities for the East Bottoms community Tuesday afternoon at a public open house event at the J. Reiger & Company Distillery.

The student project concepts are designed to give students experience in developing a comprehensive vision study for the East Bottoms that, if undertaken, will connect the Blue River Valley with the East Bottoms and ultimately with the burgeoning West Bottoms neighborhood via a public right of way such as a pedestrian trail.

Concepts presented take in to account the years of neglect in the area but also identify the area’s strengths such as the addition of destination businesses like Knuckleheads Saloon and J. Reiger, then utilize those anchor entities to spur additional development and amenities that connect to geographic roots such as the riverfront or the rugged Kessler Park bluffs that support Historic Cliff Drive.

Community members are then asked to engage the students, offering critical analysis and suggestions to a wide spectrum of development ideas.

Vladimir Krstic, Director of Academic Programs at KCDC, tonight’s program looks specifically on connectivity. “We want to look at how to connect the Blue River Valley to the East Bottoms and ultimately to the West Bottoms and try to engage the riverfront as an ideal public right of way or public realm,” Krstic said. “Something than can actually bring more people to the area through the development of possible amenities to promote that kind of presence in the area.”

The students final projects will be presented at another open house in May.