‘Unique’ Mixed-Use Tower Proposed for 14th and Wyandotte

(UPDATED Jan. 20, 2021. The property at the northeast corner of 14th and Wyandotte, 106 W. 14th St. and 1319 Wyandotte, is back on the market with an asking price of $7.1 million.

The listing is being handled by Block & Co. and the land is described as being available for a potential mixed-used development.

The site is located across 14th Street from the new Waddell & Reed headquarters project currently under construction.

“It’s right there in the heart of downtown and next to Barney Allis Plaza if the office sector comes back,” said Bill Maas, Block & Co. vice president.

“The way the apartment sector is, something along those lines could happen too, 26 floors or higher.”)

By Kevin Collison

A “unique” tower that would combine office space, retail, hotel rooms and apartments is being contemplated for a strategic downtown corner at 14th and Wyandotte by an entity called Bravicci LLC.

The vacant lot is next door to the historic Power & Light Building, across Wyandotte from Municipal Auditorium and across 14th Street from the planned headquarters of Waddell & Reed.

It was acquired by Bravicci in late June, but details about the firm and its plan, called “KC 14th Street Tower,” are scarce.

Dilip Desai is listed as the manager partner of Bravicci and according to Jackson County records, Bravicci paid $4.84 million for the property.

Desai also is the founder of Aclore Investment LLC, which lists its address as 14th and Wyndotte.

The Aclore website provides a sketch outline of what Desai has in mind for the property. Representatives of the firm could not be reached for comment.

The proposed tower was described on the website as being a “unique concept.

“Everything you need within one tower. Everything you desire within steps.”

It describes the ground level as having retail and casual dining. The proposal calls for the upper floors to include 160,000 square feet of office space, 225 apartments and a 200-room hotel serving corporate, convention and leisure users.

Location of the property, outlined in red, listed for sale by Block & Co. (Map from Block & Co.)

The concept also includes a 500-space above ground garage.

“All of this will be topped by a rooftop restaurant, bar, pool and penthouse,” the website stated.

There is no rendering of the project, indication of its proposed height or how it would be financed on the website.

If a high-rise building was to go up on the property, it would mask a longstanding Kansas City mystery. It would block from view the unfinished west side of the historic Power & Light Building.

Whether it was left blank in anticipation of a companion tower being built, or merely designed that way because the elevators and mechanical equipment are located along that side has been a topic of debate for decades.

As for Delai’s ability to pull off such an ambitious venture, the website reveals little except that he has 30 years of experience in real estate development, hospitality management and construction management in Kansas City.

(Editor’s note: Beginning Dec. 2, CityScene KC has become a paid subscription publication)