Development
Historic Board of Ed Building Sold to Copaken Brooks, Demolition Likely
By Kevin Collison The former Board of Education building at 1211 McGee has been sold by the school district to downtown real estate powerhouse Copaken Brooks in a transaction that closed last week. Jon Copaken, principal of the firm, said that while there are no immediate development plans for the 2.5-acre site next door to…
Historic Scarritt Building and Arcade Slated as $50M Luxury Hotel
By Kevin Collison One of downtown’s most historic and architecturally impressive buildings, the Scarritt, has been purchased by a Florida developer who plans to renovate it as a 193-room Wyndham Grand hotel. The 11-story Scarritt office tower at 818 Grand and its adjoining four-level Arcade, which has its entrance at 819 Walnut, were completed in…
Low-Income Housing Project to Serve Homeless, Young Adults with HIV/AIDS
By Kevin Collison A 50-unit apartment project that will set aside one-fourth of its units for homeless, young adults diagnosed with HIV/AIDS is planned for 31st and Harrison streets, about a block west of a reviving stretch of Troost Avenue. The $8.5 million project, called Alhaven, is being developed to serve low-income residents by SAVE,…
East Village Developer Ready to Play Ball on Potential Downtown Stadium
(Updated Nov. 26 with new Royals owner John Sherman’s first comments during a press conference at Kauffman Stadium about the potential for a downtown ballpark: “There is a lot left on the lease. When you look out the window there’s a beautiful place to play baseball…. “That said, there’s a lot of interest in, in…
‘Best-in-Class’ Entertainment Venue Planned for Plaza’s Jack Henry
(Editor’s note: Denver-based Punch Bowl Social announced in November 2019 it would be the tenant for this project) By Kevin Collison The vacant Jack Henry building at 47th and Jefferson is slated for a $44 million renovation to ready it for a hot entertainment tenant that would be new to the Kansas City market, according…
Streetcar-Linked Affordable Housing Incentive Plan On Track for City Hall
By Kevin Collison A proactive approach to encourage making affordable housing part of the redevelopment boom anticipated along the planned streetcar extension route is on track for City Hall. The proposed Midtown Affordable Housing PIEA Plan was endorsed recently by the board of that development agency and is expected to be reviewed by the City…
Apartment Project with Affordable Units Proposed for Riverfront
By Kevin Collison Prairie Fire Development is proposing a $15 million apartment project with up to 75 units, more than half reserved as affordable, on a small site near Berkley Riverfront Park. The developer is seeking affordable housing tax credits from the Missouri Housing Development Commission and tax incentives from Port KC, and if successful,…
New AT&T Building Owner Plans $63M Overhaul to Premium Office Space
By Kevin Collison The new owner of the former AT&T building at 500 E. Eighth St. is proposing to completely overhaul the 1973 office tower and reopen it as premium office space at an estimated cost of $63 million. Gene Rerat told the board of the Planned Industrial Expansion Authority it will cost $43 million…
South Dakota Developer Plans Six-Story Hotel in Garment District
By Kevin Collison A 149-room hotel is planned for a parking lot at Ninth and Wyandotte, next door to the historic Savoy Hotel which reopened last year as a 21C Museum Hotel. Lloyd Cos. of Sioux Falls, SD, is planning the $28 million, six-story project, its first venture into the Kansas City market. Luke Jessen,…
More ‘Wonder’ on Troost, New Restaurant Opening
By Kevin Collison The Wonder Shops + Flats redevelopment at 30th and Troost is almost fully leased eight months after opening, evidence the nascent revival along that stretch of Troost Avenue is showing no sign of slowing. Combine, a joint venture between Pizza 51 and the Milwaukee Delicatessen, is opening a 5,000 square-foot restaurant and…