Kansas City Projects and Updates

STLrainbow · PostFeb 13, 2017#2012017-02-13T16:43+00:00

This is awesome!

Buck O'Neil Center marks new start for old YMCA building
http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/n ... -ymca.html

The building where Negro Leagues Baseball began will reopen this month as the Buck O’Neil Education and Research Center.

The center is housed in the former Paseo YMCA building at 18th Street and The Paseo. It was in that building that eight independent black baseball team owners met to discuss the formation of the Negro National League, KSHB reports.

The restored building marks an expansion of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. It will be used for educational programs, exhibits and events....

chriss752 · PostFeb 14, 2017#2022017-02-14T02:12+00:00

I got back from KC on Sunday and I stayed at the newly opened (October 2016) Residence Inn and Courtyard by Marriott in Downtown KC near the Power and Light District. It was a nice to place with nice views. It is close to the Streetcar Line. I wish St. Louis could build something like this on the Vacant Lots South of Busch Stadium. It would help bring some development to that area.

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STLrainbow · PostFeb 16, 2017#2032017-02-16T21:28+00:00

KC is 15th-busiest metro for 2016 commercial construction
http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/n ... eport.html

That's pretty impressive performance as it's the 30th largest Metro. Only Austin and Nashville pulled above their weight more. Unfortunately the report only ranks the top 20 so I'm not sure where STL would fall other than not in top 20. Not sure when NGA will count as a construction start, but when it does that will be a big boost for STL on this ranking.

hebeters2 · PostFeb 20, 2017#2042017-02-20T02:19+00:00

Trump Tower in KC?
be careful what you wish for:
Investors in a failed $200 million condo-hotel deal in Fort Lauderdale weren’t told of a key developer’s criminal history. The courts kept it a secret.
http://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/ ... 41682.html

chriss752 · PostFeb 20, 2017#2052017-02-20T02:33+00:00

^Never heard of a Trump tower for Kansas City.

On another note, rumors are flying over on the KCRag forum where a planned "Five Light" Tower is in the works. The tower is supposed to be where the H&R Block Tower 2 was supposed to go.

train_bike · PostFeb 20, 2017#2062017-02-20T16:46+00:00

^There isn't one planned. Not sure why that article was posted. A month back there was a Business Journal article which mentioned that a company owned by Donald's son in law, Jared Kushner, was a single-digit minority partner in One- and Two-Light towers.
http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/n ... yline.html

I thought it was St. Louis which for a short time was rumored to be landing a Trump hotel flag...

PostFeb 24, 2017#2072017-02-24T03:19+00:00

train_bike wrote: ↑
Jan 11, 2017

Chalupas54 wrote: ↑
Jan 09, 2017
I heard somewhere that Streetcar ridership numbers have been way down these last two months. Any reason why?
from http://kcstreetcar.org/ridership/

Total Ridership for 2016 1,399,153
Total Ridership for December 2016 128,155
Total Ridership for November 2016 135,107
Total Ridership for October 2016 166,412
Total Ridership for September 2016 180,022
Total Ridership for August 2016 204,251
Total Ridership for July 2016 233,683
Total Ridership for June 2016 182,248
Total Ridership for May 2016 169,275

Yep, it got cold finally. Ridership in the last two months has ticked down slightly. December still averaged 4134 rides per day, well above the estimated 2700 per day. I'm sure ridership will rise with the temperature and as the daylight hours increase. Two more vehicles have been ordered as well, so they can run 4 to 5 at a time instead of only 3 (with one backup) during peak times.

Some updated ridership numbers from http://kcstreetcar.org/wp-content/uploa ... eb2017.pdf

Total Ridership for February 2017* 100,996 (*as of 2/23)
Total Ridership for January 2017 89,660

Five days left in the month with another weekend to go. I think it's clear the colder weather was driving down ridership, as it is now back on the upswing. Last two Saturdays had 11,594 and 13,384 rides. They expect huge crowds and will be running all four vehicles in two weeks for the Big 12 basketball tournament.

PostApr 03, 2017#2082017-04-03T16:37+00:00

train_bike wrote: ↑
Feb 24, 2017

train_bike wrote: ↑
Jan 11, 2017

Chalupas54 wrote: ↑
Jan 09, 2017
I heard somewhere that Streetcar ridership numbers have been way down these last two months. Any reason why?
from http://kcstreetcar.org/ridership/

Total Ridership for 2016 1,399,153
Total Ridership for December 2016 128,155
Total Ridership for November 2016 135,107
Total Ridership for October 2016 166,412
Total Ridership for September 2016 180,022
Total Ridership for August 2016 204,251
Total Ridership for July 2016 233,683
Total Ridership for June 2016 182,248
Total Ridership for May 2016 169,275

Yep, it got cold finally. Ridership in the last two months has ticked down slightly. December still averaged 4134 rides per day, well above the estimated 2700 per day. I'm sure ridership will rise with the temperature and as the daylight hours increase. Two more vehicles have been ordered as well, so they can run 4 to 5 at a time instead of only 3 (with one backup) during peak times.
Some updated ridership numbers from http://kcstreetcar.org/wp-content/uploa ... eb2017.pdf

Total Ridership for February 2017* 100,996 (*as of 2/23)
Total Ridership for January 2017 89,660

Five days left in the month with another weekend to go. I think it's clear the colder weather was driving down ridership, as it is now back on the upswing. Last two Saturdays had 11,594 and 13,384 rides. They expect huge crowds and will be running all four vehicles in two weeks for the Big 12 basketball tournament.

Total Ridership for January 2017 89,660
Total Ridership for February 2017 125,935
Total Ridership for March 2017 183,005

ridership #s are in for March. It was the third-highest month of ridership on record.

chriss752 · PostJun 22, 2017#2092017-06-22T05:51+00:00

Hyatt Out... Loews In. This is a big upgrade but still, it is the same ugly design for a hotel. Loews is a nice Hotel. Will add lots to KC. Read about this on the Kansas City Star.

http://www.kansascity.com/news/politic ... 30409.html

Chalupas54 · PostJun 22, 2017#2102017-06-22T05:53+00:00

If it ever gets built.

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chriss752 · PostJun 25, 2017#2112017-06-25T19:13+00:00

Chalupas54 wrote: ↑
Jun 22, 2017
If it ever gets built.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I am sure it will get done. Loews is putting up their own money for this.

framer · PostJul 13, 2017#2122017-07-13T02:30+00:00

Yes, NIMBYs are everywhere. This rather delightful photo is from a hearing for a 6-story apartment project by Opus in the Westport area of KC (the project has been approved).

earthling · PostJul 14, 2017#2132017-07-14T14:15+00:00

Chalupas54 wrote: ↑
Jun 22, 2017
If it ever gets built.

It's essentially a done deal now. Loews is covering a bigger chunk of the tab. Doesn't look like opponents have a case to stop at this point. Construction expected to start in October...
https://cityscenekc.com/new-renderings- ... dead-zone/

Downtown has added a couple thousand rooms recently with another potential thousand proposed.

PostJul 14, 2017#2142017-07-14T15:34+00:00

train_bike wrote: ↑
Apr 03, 2017

Total Ridership for January 2017 89,660
Total Ridership for February 2017 125,935
Total Ridership for March 2017 183,005

ridership #s are in for March. It was the third-highest month of ridership on record.

KCMO polls by district...

Pretty good considering other systems tend to temper down after first year. Helps that is free to ride of course. Expansion to Plaza/UMKC expected to pass.

KC bikeshare system expanding every year with more stations coming next month, Zipcars have expanded downtown though not heavily used because Uber is huge in KC, Lyft planning to return later this month. Don't need a car in central corridor of KC and apt buildings are responding with less parking spots available. KC has been embracing the sharing economy as well as could be expected.

BTW, Greater Downtown is expected to hit 30K residents after units u/c or approved complete. It's about 25K or so right now. Am thinking it was about 10K-12K in 2000, maybe less.

San Luis Native · PostJul 14, 2017#2152017-07-14T16:48+00:00

^ That's impressive. Good for them.

earthling · PostJul 14, 2017#2162017-07-14T18:08+00:00

Streetcar ridership increase...
June 2016 182,248
June 2017 217,129

Not bad for only a 2.2 mile line.

http://kcstreetcar.org/wp-content/uploa ... ership.pdf

Chalupas54 · PostJul 14, 2017#2172017-07-14T23:15+00:00

earthling wrote: ↑
Jul 14, 2017

Chalupas54 wrote: ↑
Jun 22, 2017
If it ever gets built.
It's essentially a done deal now. Loews is covering a bigger chunk of the tab. Doesn't look like opponents have a case to stop at this point. Construction expected to start in October...
https://cityscenekc.com/new-renderings- ... dead-zone/

Downtown has added a couple thousand rooms recently with another potential thousand proposed.

Thousands?

earthling · PostJul 15, 2017#2182017-07-15T05:42+00:00

Yeah about 3K new rooms give or take from last several years to fairly realistic proposals, should be 2500 lowest case scenario.

This mentions over 2K rooms from opening last year to now in progress...
https://cityscenekc.com/two-major-hotel ... ion-hotel/

There were about 150-200 added a few years before and then not mentioned in article is a hirise hotel proposal for River Market and Cordish planning a hotel for Four Light, which implies they'll target a W Hotel/residential combo. Hyatt lost convention hotel deal to Loews but supposedly wants to be downtown so that's another possibility, though they could end up on Plaza. Downtown has been a bit low with rooms comparatively so not really surprising now that it's drawing attention. The streetcar has been a huge boost, worth its weight in gold for such a short line.

PostJul 15, 2017#2192017-07-15T05:45+00:00

KC area also had an unusually high increase of residential permits in May for multi-units, 969 5+ unit permits. Better than top 10 in country, top 20 when you include all permits...
https://www.census.gov/construction/bps ... 201705.txt

For Jan-May 2017, it's still pretty good, 3rd in Midwest for 5+ unit category and near pace with some hot western/southern markets...
https://www.census.gov/construction/bps ... 201705.txt

Chalupas54 · PostJul 15, 2017#2202017-07-15T08:17+00:00

earthling wrote: ↑
Jul 15, 2017
KC area also had an unusually high increase of residential permits in May for multi-units, 969 5+ unit permits. Better than top 10 in country, top 20 when you include all permits...
https://www.census.gov/construction/bps ... 201705.txt

For Jan-May 2017, it's still pretty good, 3rd in Midwest for 5+ unit category and near pace with some hot western/southern markets...
https://www.census.gov/construction/bps ... 201705.txt

St. Louis also performed well on those lists.

earthling · PostJul 18, 2017#2212017-07-18T13:57+00:00

STL-based Altus Properties is involved in this slick 12-story 126 unit project in Xroads district downtown.

https://cityscenekc.com/arterra-apartme ... years-ago/

STLrainbow · PostJul 18, 2017#2222017-07-18T15:13+00:00

^ that looks good; I wish their proposal for S. Grand was a bit more like this. They also did The Vue in Creve Couer, but looks like they mostly manage existing commercial and industrial buildings.

http://www.altusproperties.com/investme ... tfolio/#mf

train_bike · PostJul 18, 2017#2232017-07-18T20:29+00:00

Chalupas54 wrote: ↑
Jul 14, 2017
Thousands?

My count since the last year is:

Completed:
Courtyard Marriott/Residence - 261 rooms
Hampton Inn (Gumbel Bldg conversion) - 70 rooms
Total: 331 rooms

Under construction:
21C Museum Hotel conversion - 120 rooms
Aparium Hotel conversion - 125 rooms
Hotel Indigo (Brookfield Bldg conversion) - 118 rooms
Hotel Indigo (2020 Grand conversion) - 81 rooms
Home2Suites (Crossroads) - 112 rooms
Holiday Inn Express (Interstate Building) - 75 rooms
Total: 631 rooms

Proposed:
Loews convention hotel - 800 rooms
Fed. Reserve Embassy Suites conversion - 301 rooms
Hampton Inn (Crossroads) - 132 rooms
Best Western (Hospital Hill/Beacon Hill) - 90 rooms
Ambassador Hotel addition - 70 rooms
Palace Clothing Bldg conversion - ???
River Market/Delaware Landing hotel - ???
Total: 1393 rooms

Grand total: 2355 rooms

Chalupas54 · PostJul 18, 2017#2242017-07-18T21:52+00:00

earthling wrote: ↑
Jul 18, 2017
STL-based Altus Properties is involved in this slick 12-story 126 unit project in Xroads district downtown.

https://cityscenekc.com/arterra-apartme ... years-ago/

Whoa! That's really cool.

STLrainbow · PostJul 23, 2017#2252017-07-23T17:31+00:00

Couple interesting pieces regarding historic properties...

Pickwick Plaza shines in $65 million renovation in downtown Kansas City
http://www.kansascity.com/news/business ... 11678.html

KC Star Sells Headquarters, Printing Plant For Combined $42 Million
http://kcur.org/post/kc-star-sells-head ... n#stream/0

(Star employees will move up the block from the historic HQ to the shiny printing plant, which they'll lease from the new owner.)

Kansas City Projects and Updates

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