The Yards Breaking Ground Early March, Pioneering West Bottoms Residential Project

By Kevin Collison

The Yards, the biggest residential project to date in the Stockyards District of the West Bottoms, is expected to begin construction in early March.

The 232-unit development is going up on a parking lot south of the Livestock Exchange building on Genessee Street. It’s being developed by Flaherty & Collins Properties, an Indianapolis firm that’s also building the 410-unit Union apartments on the riverfront.

Ryan Cronk, vice president of Flaherty & Collins, said the firm enjoys its role as a pioneering developer for residential projects in downtown Kansas City.

“We look at the riverfront and stockyards as jewels for the long term in the Kansas City market,” he said. “We see them as great, long-term neighborhoods.

“The Stockyards is transforming with restaurants, bars and art galleries. We don’t view it as pioneering as some people do…We think the Stockyards is going to be a fantastic neighborhood. It’s got a great vibe today and will continue to be.”

The $41 million project is designed by KEM STUDIO and will feature two, interlocking five-story buildings with a courtyard in the middle. The courtyard will feature a swimming pool and cooking grills.

The Yards will feature a communal lounge with access to a courtyard and pool.

Architect Brad Satterwhite said the design of The Yards, which will feature a corrugated metal exterior on the upper floors, is intended to knit together its next door neighbors, the starkly modern Kemper Arena with the venerable brick Livestock Exchange Building owned by Bill Haw.

“What Bill Haw has established here, and the types of people living and working here is that it has to be very authentic and honest to the area and its architecture,” Satterwhite said. “We want to use the building to stitch both the modern and historic structures.”

About three-fourths of the units will be one-bedrooms averaging 800 square feet. The remainder will be studios averaging 500 square feet and two-bedrooms averaging 1,200 square feet. Rental rates have not been determined yet, Cronk said.

In addition to reflecting the architecture of the area, Satterwhite said The Yards apartments will cater to what he believes are the kind of people drawn to the West Bottoms.

“The building is focused around the active lifestyle we see in the Stockyards with access to the levy, the Kansas River and trails,” he said.

The Yards development will include about 8,000 square feet for amenities and retail. It will feature a communal lounge, an lounge area for working and an entertaining space with a kitchen. A 325-space garage will be located on the west side of the project.

The project is expected to be completed 12- to 14 months after construction starts, likely spring 2019. The contractor is MW Builders.

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A rooftop deck will be on the northeast corner overlooking Genessee Street and downtown Kansas City. It is an open air structure with a bar, lounge seating and native plantings.