Two Light - 14th & Grand

[TheBigChuckbowski]

What if the city/MODOT gave development rights to Cordish for the block west of Baltimore and/or the block east of Grand over 670 along with a list of incentives for those buildings? Cordish just has to fill the three blocks in between with a grand park.

Assuming Cordish wants to keep building, of course.

Most of the predictions I've seen from real estate publications has KC's downtown boom losing momentum around 2020 which is probably when the 1-4 light phase is nearing completion (if demand remains high for 4 light). If that's the case I think it would be hard for Cordish to find motivation to even meet halfway with the city or MODOT on such a financially daunting project. It might be too risky for them by that point especially considering they wouldn't have any kind of financial return from a public park.

They would have three (five if they took the deal) buildings fronting a park instead of a highway. The interest in those apartments would be much much higher and rents going up would give them a major financial return.

[JBmidtown]

What if the city/MODOT gave development rights to Cordish for the block west of Baltimore and/or the block east of Grand over 670 along with a list of incentives for those buildings? Cordish just has to fill the three blocks in between with a grand park.

Assuming Cordish wants to keep building, of course.

Most of the predictions I've seen from real estate publications has KC's downtown boom losing momentum around 2020 which is probably when the 1-4 light phase is nearing completion (if demand remains high for 4 light). If that's the case I think it would be hard for Cordish to find motivation to even meet halfway with the city or MODOT on such a financially daunting project. It might be too risky for them by that point especially considering they wouldn't have any kind of financial return from a public park.

They would have three (five if they took the deal) buildings fronting a park instead of a highway. The interest in those apartments would be much much higher and rents going up would give them a major financial return.

yeah but would it be enough to offset the engineering/construction costs of such a project? I mean, the original 2009 report estimated it would cost around $200 million to cap the loop with just green space. Adding the structural load of luxury high rises certainly raises the costs of materials and design. And then there's the problem of adjusting for inflation. Right now supply of desirable single family/multifamily housing is low enough and demand high enough to keep investments for redevelopment/new construction high but will that still be the case come 2020? As the demand is there 2016 to, let's say 2022, other developers besides Cordish will be filling in other holes in the loops/greater downtown to meet that demand. I think the market is likely to become saturated by housing stock at that point and even the desirability of luxury high rises fronting parks on a continuous streetgrid in a dense, amenity rich neighborhood may not be enough to fill the units with consumers. It may not be enough to convince the city to develop that kind of infrastructure, let alone a private, for profit company like Cordish.

[DaveKCMO]

according to modot, you can't use air rights over their right of way for private development.

[JBmidtown]

according to modot, you can't use air rights over their right of way for private development.

that's a bit archaic.

[DaveKCMO]

according to modot, you can't use air rights over their right of way for private development.

that's a bit archaic.

the city -- or a city agency like LCRA -- could conceivably do it...

[missingkc]

Thanks for the pic. by the way, that's a great series you've got. can't wait for the next season.

[normalthings]

Two Light is now leasing.

[NorthOak]

https://www.facebook.com/ericbowersphoto

[hartliss]

From 14th and Walnut

[KCTOGA]

Any new pics !!!

[hgascoigne]

Any new pics !!!

Not much has changed since hartliss' pic last week. They've been adding exterior walls on the west side of the building.

[KCTOGA]

Thanks hgascolgne. Much appreciated

[LCDSI]

The two light website has been updated.

http://twolightkc.com/

[normalthings]

10% leased after one week.

[NorthOak]

[KCPowercat]

Anxious about the limestone

[normalthings]

Parking garage has been completed. The 2 Pools are being poured now.

[moderne]

Limestone? No limestone here, just cast tinted concrete.

[KCPowercat]

Ahh, that's so much better

[moderne]

Cut natural limestone is so very expensive, that only in recent history was the Fed Reserve able to afford it. Both the Kauffman Center and the Whittaker Courthouse opted to the cast limestone tinted concrete, and both closely matched the natural limestone.l I think that masonry element on 2Light will anchor the very forward in the skyline prominence of the apartments with the old historic limestone and masonry buildings of the classic 1930 skyscrapers. The limestone and masonry gives a gravitas that buildings covered entirely in flasshy glass do not have. The corners of such building give strong crisp shadows and sunrise and sunset give the masonry an Alpenglo as regal as the spires of the Grand Canyon.