Proposal Uses Existing Garage at Ninth and Wyandotte as Foundation for New Development

By Kevin Collison

A redevelopment proposal that would allow construction of a five-story apartment or hotel project above an existing garage at Ninth and Wyandotte has been filed with the city as part of a plan to sell the property.

Rick Powell wants to sell the former John’s Garage at 913 Wyandotte and adjoining vacant McWhirter Printing Co. building at 915-917 Wyandotte.

To make the deal more appealing to a potential buyer, he’s seeking city approval for a commercial redevelopment plan called 909 Wyandotte.

The 909 Wyandotte plan calls for a five-story building totaling 60,000 square feet to be used for either residential or hotel above a refurbished, two-level, 60-space garage. About 4,000 square feet of retail also is part of the plan.

The site of the redevelopment proposal already is within an established tax-increment financing district.

“Once we have a plan that’s approved, we’ll market it to sell to a developer,” Powell said, adding he wasn’t interested in pursuing the project himself: “I’m retirement age and becoming more risk adverse.”

The vacant McWhirter Printing Co. building is being demolished as part of a proposed redevelopment plan. (Image from Google Maps)

As part of the proposal, Powell intends to demolish the deteriorated McWhirter building to provide 40 spaces of surface parking for both the 909 Wyandotte plan and the nearby Union Carbide building.

Powell redeveloped the historic Union Carbide building into condominiums more than a decade ago. The demolition of the old printing plant is expected to be completed by the end of February.

At one time, Powell was a major property owner in Ninth Street area between Baltimore and Wyandotte, an area that includes several of downtown Kansas City’s finest late 19th Century commercial buildings.

In recent years, he’s sold most of his properties, including a package sale to Denver developer Craig Slawson.

Powell said that after completing the sale of the properties included in the 909 Wyandotte deal, his remaining real estate holdings will be down to about a dozen condos in the Union Carbide building.

A sales price has not been determined for the 909 Wyandotte plan. Powell said he’ll like seek a request for proposals. KEM STUDIO has prepared documentation for the plan for consideration by the city.

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The 909 Wyandotte redevelopment plan calls for a five-level addition above the existing John’s Garage. (Image from Google Maps)