Development
Conversion of Historic Ozark Building to Hotel Begins at Ninth and Grand
(Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in CityScene Oct. 18, 2021) By Kevin Collison Preliminary demolition work has begun on converting the historic Ozark building at Ninth and Grand into a 249-room AC Hotels by Marriott with completion anticipated in about two years. “In terms of historic buildings, I think it’s in exceptional condition,” said…
Big West Bottoms Redevelopment Plan Backed by City, Stirs Fears of Some Neighbors
By Kevin Collison SomeraRoad’s ambitious proposal to transform a sleepy section of the West Bottoms into a “dynamic” mixed-use district has strong support from City Hall but awakened worries of some longtime denizens. In recent weeks, the zoning change required for the sweeping redevelopment concept by the New York developer has received unanimous approval from…
Blue KC Buys 5-Acre Lot From Union Station, ‘Flexibility’ for HQ Decision
By Kevin Collison Blue KC has purchased a five-acre parking lot owned by Union Station adjoining its offices on Main street, a move that will allow the health insurance firm more flexibility as it anticipates the future of its headquarters. The strategic property north of Washington Square Park and south of the Kansas City Terminal…
Commission Backs Landmark Protection for Buildings at 31st and Main
By Kevin Collison A unanimous recommendation last week that several endangered buildings at 31st and Main be declared local landmarks has City Councilwoman Katheryn Shields encouraged about preventing their demolition. The Historic Preservation Commission voted 6-0 to support the properties, including the prominent Jeserich Building (1888) at 3041-45 Main, be spared demolition by developer Doug…
Lux Living Takes Over Freight House Village, Plans 250-Unit Apartment Project
By Kevin Collison Lux Living has taken over the Freight House Village redevelopment plan from its previous developer and wants to build a $60 million project that would include 250 apartments and about 10 townhouses. The development is proposed for the south side of Walnut Street between 20th and 21st streets and already has been…
Third and Grand Developer Sweetens Deal, Wins Incentives on Second Try
By Kevin Collison A $60 million River Market apartment plan won approval for tax incentives Thursday the second time around after sweetening the development deal to encourage more union labor. The 246-unit apartment plan proposed for a public parking lot northeast of Third and Grand was approved for a 25-year property tax abatement from the…
Columbus Park Residential Plan Backed by Council Committee
By Kevin Collison A Columbus Park residential development that will include half-million-dollar townhomes won unanimous support from a Kansas City Council committee Wednesday. The $7 million project proposed by DAK Pacific LLC is planned for a small triangular site at approximately 1015 Pacific St. The development calls for 10, for-sale townhomes, two four-unit apartment buildings…
Mark Twain Tower, Major Preservation Project, Opens to Residents in August
By Kevin Collison The 23-story Mark Twain Tower, one of downtown’s biggest historic preservation projects, is scheduled to begin accepting residents in August following a $60 million renovation that was slowed by the Covid pandemic. The building at 11th and Baltimore has been converted to 222 market-rate apartments by The Bernstein Cos. of Washington D.C….
Big Apartment Plan Proposed for Prominent Site Near Penn Valley Park
By Kevin Collison A $122 million residential project is in the works for the prominent, five-acre site of the old Trinity Lutheran Hospital complex by Penn Valley Park and near the planned streetcar stop at 31st and Main. NorthPoint Development LLC has acquired what has been a troubled property for years and is seeking tax…
Cocina47 Plaza Proposal Gets Thumbs Down from Plan Commission
By Kevin Collison The City Plan Commission rejected the Cocina47 project Tuesday, saying the height of the nine-story proposal was an insult to the years of planning and community meetings that created policies to guide development at the Country Club Plaza. “One of the most valuable tools that the city and our commission has is…