Plaza Hotel Proposal Revived, Seven-Story Project at 46th and Wornall

UPDATED May 7, 2019

(Editor’s note: The City Plan Commission unanimously endorsed the Plaza Hotel redevelopment plan Wednesday, which also was supported by Historic KC and neighborhood groups The project will include two separate hotel flags, an Aloft and a Tribute Portfolio, within the Marriott brand. 

The project previously has been approved for a Community Improvement District with a 1 percent sales tax assessment to help its financing, no other incentives will be used. The lead developers are Joe Morrison and Chuck Mackay of Capital Management, other developers include Robb Heinenman and Greg Maday.

Construction on what’s estimated to be a $100 million plus project is expected to begin Fall 2019 with completion in 18 months.)

By Kevin Collison

A big hotel development on the north edge of the Country Club Plaza approved by the city three years ago but never built has been revived and will be presented to the City Plan Commission Tuesday.

The revised proposal pitched by a group called Country Club Lodging LLC calls for two, approximately seven-story buildings accommodating 304 rooms to be built on the block southwest of 46th Street and Wornall Road.

The 265,150 square-foot project would use about two-thirds of the block, which is currently occupied by a Commerce Bank branch and vacant land. It would face Wornall, West 46th Terrace and West 46th Street.

A previous plan for the same 1.5-acre site proposed by NorthPoint Development and GEM Holdings called for 175 hotel rooms and 132 apartments. It was approved by the Kansas City Council in May 2016 but never moved forward.

The new “Plaza Hotel” proposal scraps the apartment component and increases the size of the hotel. It also includes space for a new bank drive-thru branch and a 412-space garage. It has the support of the City Planning Department staff.

A view of the planned Plaza hotel project looking northeast. (Rendering by DLR Group)

The application to the City Planning Department listed Joe Morrison, vice president at Capital Management, Inc., as the contact person for the project. DLR Group is listed as the architect.

Morrison declined to comment, but in a letter to city planners, he said the project would promote the Plaza and Kansas City as a convention and tourism center.

“This luxury level mixed-use project…will create a complementary mix of uses that does not currently exist on the Plaza,” Morrison stated.

“All this keeping with the scale of attractive architecture, high-quality materials, landscaping, lighting and signage that reflect the unique character and history of surroundings is critical to this project’s success.”

The Plaza Hotel proposal will occupy about two-thirds of the block between Wornall and Broadway, from 46th Terrace to 46th Street.

In what was described as an architectural narrative, planners were told the building materials would include brick, masonry, decorative metals and tile.

“”Special attention to scale and materiality of the hotels will emphasize a contemporay design compatible with the Plaza setting in both its old and new forms,” the narrative stated.

“Large windows and open and inviting facades will invite people into the hotels and maintain a vibrant and active pedestrian connection along Wornall and 46th Streets.”

A view of the north side of the Plaza hotel project. (Rendering by DLR Group)

This former Commerce Bank branch at 46th Terrace and Wornall Road will be demolished for the project.