Troost Midtown Project Underway, First Historic Building Ready by Fall

By Kevin Collison

Work is well underway on a $17 million redevelopment project along Troost Avenue that is restoring three historic building as office and retail space and a proposed museum of regional Native American culture.

The Troost Midtown Project, which was approved for tax incentive assistance more than a year ago, includes the renovation of the historic Shankman and Micheslon buildings at 3115-3131 Troost, and the Tycor building at 3105 Troost.

The light demolition and stabilization of the Michelson, Shankman and Tycor buildings continue to progress. Michelson will open in Fall 2020, while Shankman and Tycor are tentatively planned to open in Spring 2021.

The redevelopment proposal calls for the Tycor building to house the future Midwest American Indian Museum of the Plains and Woodland Tribes.

The Shankman, which opened in 1929, features art deco styling, the Michelson facade is in the beaux art style. The exterior of the two-story Tyco building has been extensively remodeled over the years.

The 31st and Troost Redevelopment plan calls for renovating the Tychor, Shankman and Michelson buildings on the east side of Troost with parking behind along Forest Avenue.

“These historic buildings are amazing, both structurally and historically,” said Tim Bowman, principal partner with Midtown Redevelopment Partners.

“They’ll talk to you if you listen. I love immersing myself in them, visiting the jobsites and finding the historical treasures they’ve been hiding.”

Bowman and his development group received a 20-year property tax abatement from the Planned Industrial Expansion Authority for the project in May 2019, 15 years at 100 percent and five years at 50 percent.

The project includes some of the most distinctive buildings along the east side of Troost between Linwood and 31st Street. At one time, they were part of a bustling commercial heart of the Troost district during the 1920s through 1950s.

The development already has lined up several tenants including AltCap, a lending and financial services firm, and House to Home, a home design showroom, according to the development group.

This apartment building at 3126 Forest Ave. was demolished as part of the project. (Photo courtesy of developer)

Other tenants committed to the project, according to the developer, are veterans organizations: The Rosie Network, National Veterans Transition Services and the Center for Military and Veterans Reintegration.

“Troost Midtown is excited that over 75 percent of the committed letters of intent for future tenants are minority, female-owned and not-for-profit businesses,” Bowman said in a statement.

“Our goal at Troost Midtown is to offer both employment and business opportunities to those in the Kansas City area.

“By doing this, new businesses, restaurants, bars and retail will be drawn to a place they can call home.”

The museum proposed for the Tycor building would be the Midwest American Indian Museum of the Plains and Woodland Tribes. The area was once the location of the Osage Trail as depicted in this street mural near 31st and Troost.

The ornate facade of the Michelson Building was done in the beaux art style.

The museum would be a collaboration between the Na Wei and Osage Tribes based in Oklahoma, according to the proposal filed with the PIEA. It added the endeavor has the support of the Missouri Humanities and Arts Council.

Bowman said his firm is still developing plans for the museum.

The development team also has assembled properties behind their buildings at 3106, 3116 and 3118 Forest Avenue to be used for surface parking and future development

“The properties on Forest Avenue will be the future home of premium apartments,” Bowman said in a statement.

“The construction crews have been hard at work clearing the way for construction to start this fall. In addition, Midtown Redevelopment Partners will be introducing cost-effective communal living at 911 Linwood.”

Midtown Redevelopment also has an agreement with Legacy Crossing Development, LLC, managed by Clemons Real estate, that will allow both companies to acquire property that supports future development plans in the vicinity.

“We want to continue driving this project and providing jobs for those who live in the area,”  Bowman said in a statement.

“Providing jobs and a safe work environment to the Troost community is our key focus.”

Workers at the Troost Midtown Project (Photo courtesy of developer)

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