OFFICIAL - Commerce Tower

Issues concerning Downtown as described by the Downtown Council. River to 31st Street, I-35 to Bruce R. Watkins.
User avatar
smh
Supporter
Posts: 4313
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:40 pm
Location: Central Loop

Re: Commerce Tower is for sale

Post by smh »

moderne wrote:Really. And in the Xmas season the top and corners were outlined in red.
That is fantastic. I'd love to see photos of that.

On a separate note, why are they removing the letters and logo? The building is in receivership, but what's the purpose in removing the lettering?
KCLover
Colonnade
Colonnade
Posts: 895
Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2006 1:19 am
Location: NKC

Re: Commerce Tower is for sale

Post by KCLover »

I didn't know about the window neons, that's pretty amazing.
Anyone have pictures?

They are removing the signage because Commerce is moving what little they have out of the building.
I wish they would just leave the signs up, I will miss those. Seems like little by little the skyline is getting darker. :(

I do know they are going to pay upwards of $45,000+ to remove the signs. What a waste, I assume the light bill is costing them, but for how many more years could you run the signs for $45k?
lock+load
Bryant Building
Bryant Building
Posts: 4209
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2005 11:25 am
Location: brookside

Re: Commerce Tower is for sale

Post by lock+load »

Are the safe deposit boxes moving?
User avatar
smh
Supporter
Posts: 4313
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:40 pm
Location: Central Loop

Re: Commerce Tower is for sale

Post by smh »

More importantly: Is the ATM moving?

It's so convenient!
KCLover
Colonnade
Colonnade
Posts: 895
Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2006 1:19 am
Location: NKC

Re: Commerce Tower is for sale

Post by KCLover »

That I do not know, sorry :/
I don't work for Commerce, I just know someone at a sign company. Just repeating what I've heard.
longviewmo
Alameda Tower
Alameda Tower
Posts: 1008
Joined: Sat Jun 20, 2009 12:58 am
Location: Manhattan, Kansas
Contact:

Re: Commerce Tower is for sale

Post by longviewmo »

smh wrote:More importantly: Is the ATM moving?

It's so convenient!
According to their website, they put three on the 900 and 1000 blocks of Walnut in addition to the one at Commerce Tower.

Useless fact: Apparently after 9/11 they changed the address of the building from 911 Main to 909 Main and did the same thing to 909 Walnut.
User avatar
FangKC
City Hall
City Hall
Posts: 18233
Joined: Sat Jul 26, 2003 10:02 pm
Location: Old Northeast -- Indian Mound

Re: Commerce Tower is for sale

Post by FangKC »

Commerce Tower owner struggles to pay monthly note payment, report finds
That month, its total income of $267,695 left just $20,265 to cover the building’s $132,388 monthly loan payment. The information comes from a report to Jackson County Circuit Court.

Hertz Investment Group LLC took out a $21 million loan to buy Commerce Tower in 2006. Hertz defaulted on the note, and on Jan. 10, a Jackson County judge put the 30-story structure at Ninth and Main streets into receivership.
Commerce Tower’s 53 percent vacancy rate lags the overall Class B office space vacancy rate of 13 percent in Downtown.
I thought when I read this that perhaps it's a good thing that GSA is going to rent so much space downtown while they wait for Congress to approve funding of their new building. Hopefully, GSA will rent space here and the building will generate more income that it becomes attractive for a new buyer.

http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/p ... 2012-04-21
User avatar
smh
Supporter
Posts: 4313
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:40 pm
Location: Central Loop

Re: Commerce Tower is for sale

Post by smh »

Five interested bidders on Commerce Tower:

http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/n ... 1374180783


DAE think this is a prime location for a surface parking lot? :idea:
loftguy
Bryant Building
Bryant Building
Posts: 3850
Joined: Fri Sep 16, 2005 12:12 pm

Re: Commerce Tower is for sale

Post by loftguy »

smh wrote:Five interested bidders on Commerce Tower:

http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/n ... 1374180783


DAE think this is a prime location for a surface parking lot? :idea:
DAE?
loftguy
Bryant Building
Bryant Building
Posts: 3850
Joined: Fri Sep 16, 2005 12:12 pm

Re: Commerce Tower is for sale

Post by loftguy »

smh wrote:Five interested bidders on Commerce Tower:

http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/n ... 1374180783


DAE think this is a prime location for a surface parking lot? :idea:
DAE?
User avatar
smh
Supporter
Posts: 4313
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:40 pm
Location: Central Loop

Re: Commerce Tower is for sale

Post by smh »

loftguy wrote:
smh wrote:Five interested bidders on Commerce Tower:

http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/n ... 1374180783


DAE think this is a prime location for a surface parking lot? :idea:
DAE?
Ah, sorry. Reddit speak for Does Anyone Else.

But seriously, this is a prime location in the heart of downtown. How many spots do you think we could fit there and what would it cost to stripe and seal?
User avatar
chaglang
Bryant Building
Bryant Building
Posts: 4132
Joined: Wed Jan 04, 2012 12:44 pm

Re: Commerce Tower is for sale

Post by chaglang »

ISWYDT

Behind the P&L Building, that's my favorite building in downtown.
User avatar
smh
Supporter
Posts: 4313
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:40 pm
Location: Central Loop

Re: Commerce Tower is for sale

Post by smh »

chaglang wrote:ISWYDT

Behind the P&L Building, that's my favorite building in downtown.
Wait, is this sarcastic? If not, can you elaborate on why it is your second favorite building downtown? It isn't a terrible building by any means, but I'd be interested to hear how it appeals to you.
chingon
Bryant Building
Bryant Building
Posts: 3546
Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:47 pm
Location: South Plaza

Re: Commerce Tower is for sale

Post by chingon »

It one of my favorite buildings downtown, too. Don't know if I'd go so far as to call it my second favorite, but I think its both clean and kitschy at the same time, is really exemplary of its time. I think it's every bit as cool and stylish as the BMA building, if not quite as "architecturally significant".
User avatar
Eon Blue
Alameda Tower
Alameda Tower
Posts: 1126
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:28 pm
Location: Downtown KCMO

Re: Commerce Tower is for sale

Post by Eon Blue »

I think it's an example of good, solid Modernist architecture. It doesn't hurt that it's next to a parking garage and the hideous 811 Main building. Plus, it's tall. Tall is good.
User avatar
smh
Supporter
Posts: 4313
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:40 pm
Location: Central Loop

Re: Commerce Tower is for sale

Post by smh »

Eon Blue wrote:I think it's an example of good, solid Modernist architecture. It doesn't hurt that it's next to a parking garage and the hideous 811 Main building. Plus, it's tall. Tall is good.
I do like the double-height (?) lobby. And I'm partial to the way the building is setback just a little from Main so you approach it through the plaza.
User avatar
Volker Dad
Pad site
Pad site
Posts: 82
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2012 12:00 pm
Location: Central Hyde

Re: Commerce Tower is for sale

Post by Volker Dad »

chaglang wrote:ISWYDT

Behind the P&L Building, that's my favorite building in downtown.
2nd that.
User avatar
chaglang
Bryant Building
Bryant Building
Posts: 4132
Joined: Wed Jan 04, 2012 12:44 pm

Re: Commerce Tower is for sale

Post by chaglang »

smh wrote:
chaglang wrote:ISWYDT

Behind the P&L Building, that's my favorite building in downtown.
Wait, is this sarcastic? If not, can you elaborate on why it is your second favorite building downtown? It isn't a terrible building by any means, but I'd be interested to hear how it appeals to you.
No sarcasm. The exterior is really finely patterned, to the point that it looks plaid, but the skin is very smooth, taut even. The double height lobby is echoed at the top in (what I assume are) the mechanical spaces. Working those into the design keeps them off the roof and out of view, and gives the building a nice cap at the top. To keep things interesting, there's that little room sticking out of the top of the north side of the building. And the structural supports for that are also worked into the patterning. It also reminds me of the Seagram Building in NYC, and that never hurts.
mean
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 11238
Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2003 9:00 am
Location: Historic Northeast

Re: Commerce Tower is for sale

Post by mean »

I'm somewhat ashamed to admit that like it mainly because it looks like something that wouldn't be out of place in Mad Men.
User avatar
FangKC
City Hall
City Hall
Posts: 18233
Joined: Sat Jul 26, 2003 10:02 pm
Location: Old Northeast -- Indian Mound

Re: Commerce Tower is for sale

Post by FangKC »

Commerce Tower is not even on my Top 50 downtown building list. For me, it’s easier to put together a list of buildings that are worse than Commerce Tower.
Post Reply