Development
Platform Ventures Completes Downtown Office Tower Design
By Kevin Collison Platform Ventures has finalized the design for its planned 14-story office building at 13th and Wyandotte and will be seeking new construction bids, hoping to take advantage of a more competitive post-Covid market. “We have achieved 100 percent construction documents this week,” Brian Douglas, project manager, said in an email. “We are…
Old Columbus Park Saloon Building to House Art Studio
By Kevin Collison A creative couple who’ve come to love the Columbus Park neighborhood since moving there 20 years ago are planning to renovate a historic building that was once a saloon into a studio and gallery. Fine arts photographer Chris Dahlquist and her husband, musician Kyle Dahlquist, have acquired the old commercial building at…
West Bottoms Flats Opens, Expansion Already in Works
By Kevin Collison The pioneering 265-unit West Bottoms Flats project is now leasing and its Cleveland developer is so confident about her historic warehouse redevelopment she’s already planning a $25 million expansion. “We’re very excited about what we’ve done there and we’re excited to expand our concept and create more activity in the Bottoms,” said…
New Hotel Kansas City Looking for Love to Prosper
By Kevin Collison Officials at the new Hotel Kansas City scheduled to open in the historic Kansas City Club building this August believe love will show the way to prosperity following the hospitality industry crash caused by Covid-19. “The interest in weddings is how the industry will come back,” said Sarah Beck, director of sales…
Streetcar Riverfront Plan Downsized, Backers Seek $14.2M from Feds
(Editor’s note: Updated Sept. 10, 2020. The KC Streetcar Authority announced it received $14.2 million in federal funding to expand the line to the riverfront) By Kevin Collison Supporters of the planned streetcar extension to the riverfront have shortened the route and dropped one of its stations in a bid to obtain $14.2 million in…
Streetcar-Related River Market Mixed-Use Project Progressing
By Kevin Collison A proposed, streetcar-oriented $65 million apartment and hotel project is rolling along in the River Market, with a final development agreement with the KCATA anticipated by late August and possible construction start early next year. The six-story development planned for what’s currently a parking lot at Third and Grand calls for about…
Historic Board of Ed Building Coming Down, Home for Kraft Murals Sought
By Kevin Collison Demolition of the historic former Board of Education building at 1211 McGee is expected to begin soon, although its owner remains open to finding a new home for the colorful mosaic murals adorning it by the late Arthur Kraft. Developer Jon Copaken of Copaken Brooks, which purchased the property last September, said…
FBI Downtown HQ in Play, Northland Site Pitched
By Kevin Collison The Kansas City regional FBI office, a downtown fixture since at least 1920, is investigating a new home and is being pitched on a Northland site, although other location offers are expected including the downtown riverfront. The agency, which is currently housed in a fortress-like setting at 1300 Summit, is seeking what…
Port KC Approves $60M Riverfront Apartment Plan, Summer Work Start
(Aug. 12 Editor’s note: Construction began July 21) By Kevin Collison NorthPoint Development plans to break ground on a 353-unit apartment complex near Berkley Riverfront Park this summer after the Port KC board unanimously approved incentives for the project Monday. The $60 million project, which was first announced in October, will substantially increase the growing…
Big Apartment Project Proposed Near Plaza at 48th and Belleview
(Updated July 7, 2020. The developer of the proposed Dylan apartment project, Action Pact Design Group, has gone out of contract for the property and the development site is back on the market for sale. Mike Napovanice of Orion Property Group said interest has been expressed by several potential buyers, all of whom would continue…