Ashland rendering
The former Ashland project planned for Third Street north of the City Market has been renamed Oaks River Market. (Rendering by NSPJ Architects)

Stalled Ashland Project Purchased, Work Expected to Resume This Year

May 19, 2022  |  Kevin Collison  |  2 min read

By Kevin Collison

The long-stalled Ashland on Third apartment development in the River Market has been purchased by a Minneapolis firm that’s expected to tweak the design and resume construction possibly by the end of this year.

Oaks Properties has bought the project from KC Commercial Realty Group. KC Commercial began work on what was expected to be a 94-unit, market-rate project almost two years ago, demolishing a building at 110 E. Third St.

Actual construction at the site never began and its remained a vacant, fenced lot since then.

Gabe Tovar, an investment sales advisor at Northmarq, who represented KC Commercial Realty, said that may change by year’s end.

“Oaks Properties is going to proceed with the development of the site and probably make some adjustments with regards to amenities and unit count,” he said. “They’re hoping to break ground before the end of the year.”

There has been no activity at the Asland apartment site since a building at 110 E. Third was demolished almost two years ago.

Oaks Properties also purchased the Centropolis on Grand apartment development in the River Market from KC Commercial Realty in February. That 56-unit project opened at 501 Grand in 2016.

Tovar described the Minneapolis firm as an investor and developer of multi-family residential properties.

The six-story Ashland project was approved by the City Council in early 2018 and was praised at the time for not seeking tax incentives.

The original design called for 82 one-bedroom units and 12 two-bedroom units with parking on the second and second level. Monthly rents were expected to range from $1,200- to $1,800.

The building also was have 5,181 square feet of retail space facing Grand Boulevard, Third Street and Walnut Street. The property is located next to the Third and Grand streetcar stop and across from the City Market.

“It’s a tremendous site and a rare, infill site,” Tovar said. “We anticipate they’ll move forward, the timing will depend on what they want to do with the project.”

Tags:

Reading these stories is free, but telling them is not. Start your monthly gift now to support Flatland’s community-focused reporting.

Nick’s Picks | Sports, Shopping, Stamps and More …

July 13, 2026

Workers set about dismantling Kansas City’s World Cup Fan Fest site, Costco plows ahead with plans to reshape Midtown Store, stamp costs on the rise again and more …

Related Stories

A grant and local contributions funded the restoration of Washington Chapel (C.M.E.) Church in Parkville. The chapel opened in 1907. (Bill Tammeus | Flatland)

Restoration of Black church in Parkville inspires rainbow coalition

The community has rallied around the restoration of Parkville, Missouri's, Washington Chapel. Built in 1907, the chapel has been a haven for a Black population that has not always been welcome in town.

Read More >
CPKC Stadium opened in 2024. An expansion would raise the seating capacity from 11,500 to 18,000. (KCUR 89.3 | Courtesy Kansas City Current)

Nick’s Picks | Soccer, Elections, Entertainment and More …

It's a soccer extravaganza in Kansas City, with the city reaching its halfway point as a host city and the City Council set to consider a bond package to expand the Kansas City Current stadium.

Read More >
Could the Kansas City streetcar extend into North Kansas City? Local and state officials are exploring the idea. An east-west route is also getting a look. (Carlos Moreno | KCUR 89.3)

Nick’s Picks | Fan Fest, Streetcar, Liquor and More …

World Cup Begins The wait is finally over. The first ball of the 2026 World Cup will be kicked Thursday, ushering in 5 ½ weeks of competition across the United States, Canada and Mexico. It’s also opening day for Kansas City’s FIFA Fan Fest at the National World War I Museum and Memorial—our first real…

Read More >