OFFICIAL - The Continental Apartments (former Mark Twain Tower)

Issues concerning Downtown as described by the Downtown Council. River to 31st Street, I-35 to Bruce R. Watkins.
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DaveKCMO
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Re: OFFICIAL - The Continental Apartments (former Mark Twain Tower)

Post by DaveKCMO »

https://www.kansascity.com/news/busines ... 08220.html
The Mark Twain apartment project doesn’t need city approval and therefore does not have to follow the ordinance, Hamilton said, because it’s in an area already marked for urban renewal.

The Mark Twain renovation was also fast-tracked for approval because a new developer has taken over the $50 million project.

Two years ago, developers announced plans to redevelop the historic tower at 11th Street and Baltimore Avenue into apartments, but the project never made it to construction. Now, The Bernstein Companies — based in Washington, D.C. — are in charge.

But to take advantage of state historic tax credits granted to the previous developer, the project needs to spend upward of $5 million by Dec. 15, said Phil Aftuck of Bernstein Companies.

The company plans to create about 200 apartments with rents around $1,500 for one-bedroom units and $2,100 for two-bedroom apartments. The tower’s ballroom, large tile pool and basketball courts will be maintained as amenity space along with the tower’s historic facade.
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Re: OFFICIAL - The Continental Apartments (former Mark Twain Tower)

Post by wahoowa »

looks like no parking planned for this one other than nearby garage options per cityscene. love it.
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Re: OFFICIAL - The Continental Apartments (former Mark Twain Tower)

Post by FangKC »

One of Downtown’s Last Big, Empty Historic Buildings Slated for Apartments

https://cityscenekc.com/one-of-downtown ... YyhkydNYA0
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normalthings
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Re: OFFICIAL - The Continental Apartments (former Mark Twain Tower)

Post by normalthings »

“The Twain Building” project filed for a FAR variance in late May. Looks like they are adding square footage by adding floor to rooms with high ceilings..

VarenHorst is the project architect.
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Re: OFFICIAL - The Continental Apartments (former Mark Twain Tower)

Post by mgh7676 »

There has been some sort of construction/remediation/demo crew in and out of this building for at least the last few days. Is working finally starting to begin?
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Re: Mark Twain Tower going residential?

Post by flyingember »

mgh7676 wrote: Fri Jun 14, 2019 12:32 pm There has been some sort of construction/remediation/demo crew in and out of this building for at least the last few days. Is working finally starting to begin?
There's been an elevator construction permit since early May.
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Re: OFFICIAL - The Continental Apartments (former Mark Twain Tower)

Post by DaveKCMO »

The chute has been active.
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Re: OFFICIAL - The Continental Apartments (former Mark Twain Tower)

Post by KCPowercat »

DaveKCMO wrote: Fri Jun 14, 2019 6:12 pm The chute has been active.
Heeyoooo
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Re: OFFICIAL - The Continental Apartments (former Mark Twain Tower)

Post by smh »

mgh7676 wrote: Fri Jun 14, 2019 12:32 pm There has been some sort of construction/remediation/demo crew in and out of this building for at least the last few days. Is working finally starting to begin?
They've been out there the better part of a month from what I can tell. All usually standing outside about 6:45a waiting for the building to be unlocked. 10-20 guys in hard hats and hi-vi.
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Re: OFFICIAL - The Continental Apartments (former Mark Twain Tower)

Post by TheLastGentleman »

East entrance was open so I peaked in

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Re: Mark Twain Tower going residential?

Post by DaveKCMO »

Do we know what this place will be called?
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Re: Mark Twain Tower going residential?

Post by TheLastGentleman »

"The Twain" I think. Very creative.
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Re: Mark Twain Tower going residential?

Post by FangKC »

I hate cutesy names like that. Just call it Mark Twain Apartments. That is what people are used to calling that building. Same with that insipid The Saxon At the Midland gibberish.
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Re: Mark Twain Tower going residential?

Post by shinatoo »

TheLastGentleman wrote: Wed Aug 28, 2019 9:52 pm "The Twain" I think. Very creative.
I guess that's better than naming it after the African American that assisted Huckleberry Finn in the novel.
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Re: Mark Twain Tower going residential?

Post by moderne »

Isn't there already a "Mark Twain" on the Plaza?
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Re: Mark Twain Tower going residential?

Post by kboish »

moderne wrote: Thu Aug 29, 2019 1:13 pm Isn't there already a "Mark Twain" on the Plaza?
Poet's Apartment Complex includes:
  • Thomas Carlyle Apartments
  • James Russell Lowell Apartments
  • Robert Browning Apartments
  • Washington Irving Apartments
  • Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Apartments
  • Robert Louis Stevenson Apartments
  • Eugene Field Apartments
  • Mark Twain Apartments
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Re: Mark Twain Tower going residential?

Post by FangKC »

Then call it The Continental after one of its' former names, The Continental Hotel.
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Re: Mark Twain Tower going residential?

Post by beautyfromashes »

FangKC wrote: Thu Aug 29, 2019 6:56 pm Then call it The Continental after one of its' former names, The Continental Hotel.
Like John Wick??? That could be interesting.
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Re: Mark Twain Tower going residential?

Post by moderne »

And put the Bunny Club back in?
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Re: Mark Twain Tower going residential?

Post by TheLastGentleman »

Got to take a walkthrough

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This is the underside of the pool. The pool will be covered up by a floor for the time being, but will be able to be restored into an active pool when the need arises. It needs a lot of work.

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Giant concrete joists, above one of the double-height spaces

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Handball courts

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Basketball court

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Playboy floor's ceiling, which will be restored for units up there

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The terra cotta elements have the exact same look and texture as Oak Tower's terra cotta. Makes sense, as it was the same architects for both

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Signage structure

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Playboy level

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