urbanSTL

KC is kicking ass

Logistics Updates:

UPS @ KCI: UPS and Aeroterm have signed a new 30 year lease with KCAD. KCI Tweet says construction will commence later this year on an apron for 5 widebody cargo aircraft. This will bring UPS’s operations here up to 7 widebody and 1 757 spaces (8 total). UPS cargo building will also be renovated and re-equipped.

KCI Logistics Center: Vantrust has started construction on a new 630,000 sqft warehouse at KCI. This project will help bring in more funds for KCAD while also potentially feeding additional cargo flights.

Amazon Lenexa: Amazon has filed permits for another 150,000 sqft warehouse in Lenexa. This will be their 2nd facility in Lenexa and 7th in the KC metro. Another ~1 million sqft facility is planned for South KC.


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KCStar- ‘Decades in the making’: Kansas City gets $50M to extend streetcar south of Plaza

https://www.kansascity.com/news/politic ... 63215.html

^That’s huge news. Glad to see it. With the extension basically set to happen now, I wonder what type of developments we’ll see sprout up along the route and on the immediate blocks

quincunx wrote:KCStar- ‘Decades in the making’: Kansas City gets $50M to extend streetcar south of Plaza

https://www.kansascity.com/news/politic ... 63215.html

Additional CIG funding will be provided each year. The target for CIG funding had been 2021 so I believe this moves things forward.

BizJournal ran a story on the Mark Twain Tower redevelopment project today.

Interior demolition work is completed. The development has a working name of KCAC Apartments (Kansas City Athletic Club), but Continental Apartments is mentioned later on in the article. There will be 222 apartments, an increase of 20 after Bernstein Companies dumped the office and co-working portions of the project. The lavish 5th floor ballroom will be available for people to rent for weddings and what not. Most of the apartments will be one bedroom but there will be some studios, two and three bedrooms included in this project.

All in all, the cost will be $51.9 Million but could go into the high $50 Million range when all factors are added into the cost. The target delivery date for the apartments is Late 2021, so I would assume construction, beyond interior demo, will be starting very soon (wasn't mentioned in the article).

This is one of the last big empty buildings in Downtown Kansas City. All other major empty buildings have plans...

1. Muehlebach Hotel: Conversion into apartments by Platform Ventures (115 apartment units, start unknown but maybe after the start of 1227 Wyandotte).
2. Midland Office Building: Conversion into apartments by Cordish Companies (Saxon at the Midland).
3. Federal Reserve: Conversion into Embassy Suites hotel and entertainment center.
4. Palace Building: Conversion into Canopy by Hilton Hotel (Q1 2022 opening).
5. Scarritt Building: Conversion into Wyndham Grand Hotel (should start late this year or early next).

So after these buildings are dealt with, Downtown KC's next residential projects will all be new construction unless one of the currently occupied office buildings sees a conversion of some floors, or all, into apartments or condos.

Link: https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/ ... stein.html

Kansas City has received Federal Funding for another streetcar extension. Today, the US DOT provided area congressional offices an advance notice of BUILD Grant Award for the northern extension to Berkley Riverfront Park.

ldai_phs wrote:Kansas City has received Federal Funding for another streetcar extension. Today, the US DOT provided area congressional offices an advance notice of BUILD Grant Award for the northern extension to Berkley Riverfront Park.

So the two extensions of the Streetcar are happening. That’s good to know.

Unfortunately, there appears to be a consensus that these will be the last extensions of the streetcar and probably the only rail project in KCMO due to density and funding issues. Hopefully not true

chriss752 wrote:

ldai_phs wrote:Kansas City has received Federal Funding for another streetcar extension. Today, the US DOT provided area congressional offices an advance notice of BUILD Grant Award for the northern extension to Berkley Riverfront Park.

So the two extensions of the Streetcar are happening. That’s good to know.

Unfortunately, there appears to be a consensus that these will be the last extensions of the streetcar and probably the only rail project in KCMO due to density and funding issues. Hopefully not true

They will be the last under the current TDD model. Next step is regional rail/funding.

The first interior pics of the upcoming Hotel Kansas City by Hyatt Unbound are out. October 1st is the grand opening.

The rooms look solid and I love the subtle cream color hues. Almost gives off a Beaux Arts vibe. I believe it will be one of the nicest hotels in the city to date.

ldai_phs wrote: ↑

Sep 10, 2020

chriss752 wrote:

ldai_phs wrote:Kansas City has received Federal Funding for another streetcar extension. Today, the US DOT provided area congressional offices an advance notice of BUILD Grant Award for the northern extension to Berkley Riverfront Park.

So the two extensions of the Streetcar are happening. That’s good to know.

Unfortunately, there appears to be a consensus that these will be the last extensions of the streetcar and probably the only rail project in KCMO due to density and funding issues. Hopefully not true

They will be the last under the current TDD model. Next step is regional rail/funding.

The upside to an urban corridor spine is that TOD minded developers will heavily concentrate on infilling this stretch, which is better than pursuing 50+ miles that can create 'commuter sprawl'.  The 'free fare' aspect is especially appealing to TOD developers.  More MAX BRT lines will suffice elsewhere and they typically run every 10-15 minutes.

Unfortunately, there appears to be a consensus that these will be the last extensions of the streetcar and probably the only rail project in KCMO due to density and funding issues. Hopefully not true

Never say never. If a transit friendly federal admin comes in throwing out wads of cash for projects I don't see KC passing the opportunity. There is still plenty of opportunity for expansion, particularly E/W. Connecting the West Bottoms (and maybe even downtown KCK) to the system should be a priority moving forward after these expansions. 

In regards to future expansions, the Kansas City Business Journal publishes back in May that the city is looking into a city wide system. Total proposed expansion is around $800 million and would put the total system between 15 to 20 miles.

- A North extension running across the Heart of America Bridge into North Kansas City.
- An expansion to Berkley Riverfront (approved).
- A 39th Street extension that could run west to the KU Medical Center.
- A South extension that would serve south Kansas City.
- Extensions for Independence Avenue, 18th Street and Linwood Boulevard.

Loscher94 wrote: ↑

Sep 11, 2020

In regards to future expansions, the Kansas City Business Journal publishes back in May that the city is looking into a city wide system. Total proposed expansion is around $800 million and would put the total system between 15 to 20 miles.

- A North extension running across the Heart of America Bridge into North Kansas City.
- An expansion to Berkley Riverfront (approved).
- A 39th Street extension that could run west to the KU Medical Center.
- A South extension that would serve south Kansas City.
- Extensions for Independence Avenue, 18th Street and Linwood Boulevard.

Definitely something that would be beneficial to the future of KC. 

In my opinion, an extension to Waldo, a branch down Independence Avenue to Hardesty, and a branch up to Downtown North KC via Columbus Park with a terminus at Armour Road and Iron Street would be the best candidates for future expansion. 39th, Linwood and 18th are interesting concepts but seem like ones that would require some interesting changes to the system, such as creating junctions and maybe even having a streetcar reach a stop at, say Union Station, every minute or two. 

chriss752 wrote: ↑

Sep 12, 2020

Loscher94 wrote: ↑

Sep 11, 2020

In regards to future expansions, the Kansas City Business Journal publishes back in May that the city is looking into a city wide system. Total proposed expansion is around $800 million and would put the total system between 15 to 20 miles.

- A North extension running across the Heart of America Bridge into North Kansas City.
- An expansion to Berkley Riverfront (approved).
- A 39th Street extension that could run west to the KU Medical Center.
- A South extension that would serve south Kansas City.
- Extensions for Independence Avenue, 18th Street and Linwood Boulevard.

Definitely something that would be beneficial to the future of KC. 

In my opinion, an extension to Waldo, a branch down Independence Avenue to Hardesty, and a branch up to Downtown North KC via Columbus Park with a terminus at Armour Road and Iron Street would be the best candidates for future expansion. 39th, Linwood and 18th are interesting concepts but seem like ones that would require some interesting changes to the system, such as creating junctions and maybe even having a streetcar reach a stop at, say Union Station, every minute or two. 

It should be noted that this streetcar master plan isn’t scheduled for fruition until 2040. It’ll be interesting if the entire system will remain free to ride.

Loscher94 wrote:

chriss752 wrote: ↑

Sep 12, 2020

Loscher94 wrote: ↑

Sep 11, 2020

In regards to future expansions, the Kansas City Business Journal publishes back in May that the city is looking into a city wide system. Total proposed expansion is around $800 million and would put the total system between 15 to 20 miles.

- A North extension running across the Heart of America Bridge into North Kansas City.
- An expansion to Berkley Riverfront (approved).
- A 39th Street extension that could run west to the KU Medical Center.
- A South extension that would serve south Kansas City.
- Extensions for Independence Avenue, 18th Street and Linwood Boulevard.

Definitely something that would be beneficial to the future of KC. 

In my opinion, an extension to Waldo, a branch down Independence Avenue to Hardesty, and a branch up to Downtown North KC via Columbus Park with a terminus at Armour Road and Iron Street would be the best candidates for future expansion. 39th, Linwood and 18th are interesting concepts but seem like ones that would require some interesting changes to the system, such as creating junctions and maybe even having a streetcar reach a stop at, say Union Station, every minute or two. 

It should be noted that this streetcar master plan isn’t scheduled for fruition until 2040. It’ll be interesting if the entire system will remain free to ride.

In the grand scheme of things, 20 years isn’t that long especially when you bring studies, planning, community input, and design work into it as well as a proposed funding mechanism and if that requires a vote. So 20 years is a good time frame.

Overland Park continues to go big on mixed use developments.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.kshb.c ... f_amp=true

Occidental Management (which owns the former Sprint Campus) has submitted preliminary plans for mixed use development for empty portions of the campus. Specs could include up to 2.7 million square footage of office, residential, retail and restaurant space.

If this plan is approve this will mean that nearly 5 million sqft of new office space is in the pipeline in that immediate region. Occidental’s proposal, the recently approved Brookridge complex less than a mile away and the soon to be completed City Place just five minutes away. Meanwhile, it took KC over two years of intense infighting to approve a 200k sqft office tower. It should also be noted that despite Sprint’s acquisition and layoffs, the majority of the campus has been leased out to other companies.

One Nine Vine: $68 million mixed-use development in KC's 18th & Vine Jazz District. 

"One Nine Vine" is an approximately $68 million, two-phased project generally at the area south of 19th Street and the Paseo. The vision — a catalytic concept for Kansas City’s historically designated 18th & Vine District — is to develop a multi-phased project which spans two City blocks. The first phase of the development and the subject of this Proposal — “One Nine Vine” — is more than $18.1 million, mixed-use development comprised of 80 units of one and two-bedroom, market rate and affordable housing units, six mixed-use/retail spaces with 17,550 square feet, and 138 parking spaces (the “Phase 1 Project”)

ldai_phs wrote: ↑

Sep 22, 2020

One Nine Vine: $68 million mixed-use development in KC's east side. 

"One Nine Vine" is an approximately $68 million, two-phased project generally at the area south of 19th Street and the Paseo. The vision — a catalytic concept for Kansas City’s historically designated 18th & Vine District — is to develop a multi-phased project which spans two City blocks. The first phase of the development and the subject of this Proposal — “One Nine Vine” — is more than $18.1 million, mixed-use development comprised of 80 units of one and two-bedroom, market rate and affordable housing units, six mixed-use/retail spaces with 17,550 square feet, and 138 parking spaces (the “Phase 1 Project”)

This is quite big. I'm looking forward to seeing the designs. 

3rd&Grand (Streetcar Adjacent): KC Area Transit Authority approved today the sale of their block-sized lot at 3 & grand to CBC real estate. The intersection today serves as a stop for local buses, MAX BRT, and the streetcar. A previous announcement detailed the below make up of the facility. The developer has been going through various city committees already and iirc was targeting a late 2020 or early 2021 start.

• 90 room boutique hotel

• 210 multi-family units
• 24,000 sqf of office
• A “few thousand sqf” of retail space.
• Multimodal transit stop

• Valued at $65 million USD

And these are some finer details published today.

Approximately 200 units and amenities. Units may include studio, one bedroom and two bedroom units apportioned as required to meet market rate demand and conditions. Amenities may include salon, club room, pool and fitness area. 0.95 parking spaces per unit. 4 parking spaces for KCATA Park and Ride.

The Multi-Modal Station will be an approximately 500 square foot transportation hub, public plaza and associated pedestrian connections that provides operator restrooms, an exchange and transfer point for the streetcar, buses, bikes and potential future commuter rail that may converge at the Project Property. 

This is an earlier aerial rendering of CBC's proposal.



"Ashland" (another 3rd & Grand project): The long approved project started demolition of the existing structure earlier this week. Permits for the new building are under-review and close to being approved. The project is west across Grand from the one discussed above.
 ~90+ units with structured parking and no incentives. 

Developer - KC Commercial Real Estate
Builder - Genesis 
Architect - NSPJ