Development
Keystone Innovation District Concept Taking Shape, Big Civic Endeavor at 18th and Troost
By Kevin Collison The Keystone Innovation District proposal took its first concrete step recently when backers signed a predevelopment agreement for the planned site of the $90 million-plus endeavor at 18th and Troost. A development entity established by J.E. Dunn Construction reached the agreement with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, which owns the block…
Loews Exec Calls for Decking South Loop at Downtown Council Event
By Kevin Collison Loews Hotel Chairman Jonathan Tisch strongly backed an ambitious plan to deck part of the South Loop where it slices through downtown at the annual luncheon of the Downtown Council Thursday. “When I think about a big idea, it’s right outside this convention center and that is a cap over the highway,”…
AT&T Leaving Downtown, Selling Building; Prospective New Owner Plans Major Renovation
By Kevin Collison AT&T is shutting down operations at its 13-story downtown headquarters at 500 E. Eighth St., and has an agreement to sell it to a new owner who plans to redevelop the property. Maxus Properties of North Kansas City anticipates closing its purchase next month on the 362,000 square-foot building that opened in…
Holiday Inn Express Opens in Historic Interstate Building
By Kevin Collison The historic Interstate Building at 417 E. 13th St. has reopened as a 73-room Holiday Inn Express, a $9.5 million project that took four years to complete. The seven-story building was built in 1915 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It opened for business last month, according to General…
City Manager Praises Downtown Development Ripple Effect, Says Potential Ballpark Cost Now $800M
By Kevin Collison City Manager Troy Schulte was unapologetic about reinvestment along Troost and the city’s support for luxury downtown residential projects during a wide-ranging talk Wednesday that also included the latest on a potential new ballpark. In a luncheon speech to the Downtowners group, Schulte said the city’s investment in revitalizing downtown over the…
Big Redevelopment Plan By Barney Allis Plaza Gets Bigger
By Kevin Collison A major redevelopment project that will transform a block bordering Barney Allis Plaza has bumped up its office component by 43 percent, responding to a downtown market that developers believe is ripe for new space. The project planned by Platform Ventures originally called for 70,000 square feet of office, but now has…
Nordstrom Design Breaks Plaza Tradition, Wins Plan Commission Support
By Kevin Collison The Country Club Plaza could have a very contemporary, new west edge where Nichols Road meets Jefferson Street following the endorsement this week of the design proposed for the planned Nordstrom department store. The City Plan Commission unanimously backed the style of the 122,000 square-foot store which was described by the co-owner…
Chicago Developer Proposes $90 Million Kimpton Hotel Project at 45th and Main
By Kevin Collison A $90 million redevelopment plan that would transform an aging Holiday Inn at 45th and Main into a 275-room luxury Kimpton Hotel is in the works. The project is being pursued by the Janko Group from suburban Chicago. It’s design was endorsed this week by the City Plan Commission. “The driver of this…
New 25-Story Office Tower Proposed for Downtown P&L District
By Kevin Collison A 25-story tower that would be the first multi-tenant office building built downtown since 1991 is being proposed for the block southwest of 13th and Main in the Power & Light District. The $132 million project, called Strata, would be located on what’s called Block 124, and would be built above the…
TIF Commission Agrees to Study Luxury Hotel Plan–Reluctantly
By Kevin Collison A $63 million ultra-luxury hotel project proposed next door to the Kauffman Center cleared its first hurdle Wednesday when the Kansas City TIF Commission reluctantly approved a funding agreement to study the plan. The 145-room hotel is being pitched by developers Whitney Kerr Sr. and Eric Holtze for vacant land controlled by…