KCRag Forum

DaveKCMO wrote: ↑Mon Feb 14, 2022 3:24 pm Helzberg proposing to renovate the old MGM and Universal Pictures buildings in Film Row as office. MGM is in really bad shape and many thought it would simply collapse. No incentives or tax credits. Two buildings will be joined together via a walkway, which will require vacation of one of the two north/south alleys in that block.

The north half of the block (height restriction of 55' per GDAP) will become apartments over parking with street level retail. Due to the site slope and height limit it will be 5-6 stories from east to west along 17th.

While not a Film Row building, the Kenton Brothers building at 18th & Baltimore will be renovated and the parking lot will become a pocket park (opening up more on-street parking by removal of the many curb cuts).

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The proposal would save the derelict MGM Studio building at 220 W. 18th St. and the Universal Artists building at 214 W. 18th and convert them to office space, according to Robert Harris, co-chair of the Crossroads Association infrastructure committee.
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The proposed five- to six-story apartment building would replace parking lots on the south side of 17th street east of Central and across from the Performing Arts Center Garage. No renderings or unit count were available of the residential plan.

The proposed renovation of what’s called the Kenton Brothers building at 18th and Baltimore would convert it a retail center featuring small shops. The parking lot facing Baltimore would become a “parklet,” according to the concept.
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FangKC wrote: ↑Wed Feb 16, 2022 8:48 am Crossroads Plan Would Revive Film Row Buildings, Add Apartments, Retail

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The proposal would save the derelict MGM Studio building at 220 W. 18th St. and the Universal Artists building at 214 W. 18th and convert them to office space, according to Robert Harris, co-chair of the Crossroads Association infrastructure committee.
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The proposed five- to six-story apartment building would replace parking lots on the south side of 17th street east of Central and across from the Performing Arts Center Garage. No renderings or unit count were available of the residential plan.

The proposed renovation of what’s called the Kenton Brothers building at 18th and Baltimore would convert it a retail center featuring small shops. The parking lot facing Baltimore would become a “parklet,” according to the concept.
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https://cityscenekc.com/crossroads-plan ... ewXqof13SA

Film Row buildings

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0919233 ... 384!8i8192

18th and Baltimore site (Kenton Brothers)

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0918443 ... 384!8i8192

New apartment building site.

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.092862, ... 384!8i8192

Lacy said the number of units hasn’t been determined but would be “relatively few.

“It’s will likely be high-end residential, it’s ocean front property,” he said, referring to the view of the Kauffman Center.

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As for the former Kenton Brothers building, Lacy said the developer is in discussions with a potential restaurant that would use the entire 5,000-square-foot building.

“If that doesn’t happen, it could be broken up into three or four separate spaces for a small restaurant and retail,” he said.

The L-shaped building would have canopies on the plaza frontage for outdoor seating. The plaza would include ample trees and benches. Lacy said the north section of the building has a barrel ceiling that would be exposed.
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AlkaliAxel wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 3:19 pm I'm glad downtown is starting to finally embrace real green space. Between the south loop cap, new BAP, the Vince Bryant project next to City Club, and now this project there's starting to some real quality greenery occurring downtown now over the next few years.

FangKC wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 1:19 pm Also included in the plan is renovation of the former Kenton Brothers building on the NW corner of 18th and Wyandotte and creation of a leafy plaza in the parking lot there. There is a possibility a restaurant will be the tenant there.

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As for the former Kenton Brothers building, Lacy said the developer is in discussions with a potential restaurant that would use the entire 5,000-square-foot building.

“If that doesn’t happen, it could be broken up into three or four separate spaces for a small restaurant and retail,” he said.

The L-shaped building would have canopies on the plaza frontage for outdoor seating. The plaza would include ample trees and benches. Lacy said the north section of the building has a barrel ceiling that would be exposed.
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https://flatlandkc.org/news-issues/shir ... rossroads/

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Helzberg’s latest project is renovating the former MGM Studio building at 220 W. 18th, and the former Columbia, later Universal, Pictures building next door at 214 W. 18th, into high-end office space.
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The plan for the two Film Row buildings on West 18th Street calls for them to be connected via an existing alley that’s been vacated. The combined 22,350 square-feet of office space will share amenities including a conference room, kitchen and lounge.

The buildings will be divided for small office users with nine suites ranging in size from 600- to 3,000 square-feet. While the downtown office market has been very soft since the Covid pandemic, Lacy said there still is a market for quality, smaller offices.

“It’s the high-end, professional tenant who wants the latest technology,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of interest in smaller spaces, less than 3,000 square-feet and often less than 1,000 square-feet.”

The project also will include installing solar panels and substantially improving the landscaping in the area.
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One block farther east at the corner of 18th and Baltimore, she is renovating the L-shaped former Kenton Bros. building into commercial space, and creating a 5,000 square-foot park with trees on its current parking lot.
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As for the Kenton Bros. building at 18th and Baltimore, the developer is excited a top restaurant group already has expressed interest in part of its space.

The former warehouse building will be divided into a 2,500 square-foot space and two, 500 square-foot spaces.
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Construction fencing is in place at both projects and work is expected to begin soon. It should be completed by early next year.
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