Downtown Living
First Proposal in West Bottoms Redevelopment, 280-Unit Apartment Project
By Kevin Collison SomeraRoad has submitted plans for its first project in what’s projected to be a $400 million, multi-phase investment in the West Bottoms, a 280-unit apartment project that would go up on the site of the old Weld Wheel building. The five-story project would begin construction next January after the derelict Weld Wheel…
Plan for 12th and Broadway Calls for Apartments, HQ Expansion
By Kevin Collison The developer of city-owned property at 12th and Broadway wants to build a 13-story apartment building and ultimately expand the former Kansas City Southern headquarters, but the timing relies on the proposed reconstruction of Barney Allis Plaza. The proposal by what’s now Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and Americo was outlined Wednesday…
Two South Loop Link Concepts Presented, Each Close Street
By Kevin Collison Two alternative concepts for the proposed four-block park above the South Loop freeway, one calling for the closure of Baltimore Avenue, the other Walnut Street, were presented at a public meeting Tuesday. The proposed South Loop Link would cover the freeway from Wyandotte to Grand, and designers with OJB Architecture said a…
Lux Living Briefs Neighborhood on 14th & Wyandotte Hotel, Apartment Plan
By Kevin Collison Lux Living provided fresh details of its planned hotel and apartment project at 14th and Wyandotte along with updated renderings at a briefing to the Downtown Neighborhood Association Thursday. The project calls for a 10-story, 200-room boutique hotel to be built on a vacant, rubble-strewn lot at 1319 Wyandotte and a 20-story…
Residence, Short-Term Rentals Planned for East Crossroads Building
By Kevin Collison A three-story industrial building in the East Crossroads would be enlarged and converted to a private residence and three short-term rental units under a plan endorsed by the City Plan Commission Tuesday. The owner, who was not identified at the Plan Commission hearing, intends to add a fourth floor to the vacant…
Incentives Increased for $91M AT&T Apartment Project
By Kevin Collison The renovation of the 13-story former AT&T building at 500 E. Eighth St. into 263 apartments is back on financial track after a city development agency increased its incentive package last week. The $91 million project, which is near the potential East Village ballpark site, had its property tax abatement hiked from…
Parks Department Opens One-Acre Dog Park on Downtown’s East Side
(Editor’s note: This article originally was published July 26, 2022) By Kevin Collison The KC Parks and Recreation Department has opened another dog park in the downtown area, this one a one-acre tract where canines can run free at Margaret Kemp Park at 10th and Harrison adjacent to 71 Highway. Parks Director Chris Cotten said…
Incentives Approved for Crossroads Apartment Plan; Affordability Debate Continues
By Kevin Collison A 12-story apartment project planned for the Crossroads dropped 11 affordable units from its original plan after being turned down on its $3 million incentive request from the Kansas City Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The 112-unit project proposed by Copaken Brooks for 1818-22 Main was approved for an 18-year property tax abatement…
City Harvest Apartment Tower on Track After Merchants Get Their Way
By Kevin Collison Responding to merchant pressure, a City Council committee endorsed an apartment tower plan in the City Market that restores its original design and replaces 160 public parking spaces being lost at the development site. The 300-unit City Harvest development is expected to be approved by the full Council today. If so, construction…
City Manager Outlines Big Downtown Agenda at Three Light Event
By Kevin Collison They were topping off the $140 million Three Light project Tuesday, but big downtown investments are far from over, according to City Manager Brian Platt. In a wide-ranging interview following the ceremony for the 26-story apartment project scheduled to open in September, Platt outlined several initiatives that could result in hundreds of…