Companies moving downtown

[DColeKC]

This is exciting if true. Would they look at the empty lot next to Sprint Center that Coopaken owns?

[smh]

1. Waddell & Reed would need more space than what Strata or Platform Ventures can offer. Twisty Tower (500K SF) is the closest w/o being too small of the proposed office buildings.The Washington Square Park Office Project would be my second guess.

2. Are you saying that this will be a not yet announced office tower project?

I think this is some new project, and don’t think it’s associated with any of the existing spec developments. Agreed that strata would not be big enough. I heard a cost range of $200M for the cost, which is double the cost of Strata.

It’s great to hear B&M getting more involved with downtown construction. I can’t wait to see the designs once available. Hopefully, we will see a proper urban friendly tower.

B&M? Do you perhaps mean W&R? Or are we to think B&M is involved somehow?

[moderne]

Waddell & Reed to erect 20 story headquarters at 9th & Main! Oops, wasn't that a 1967 headline? Can't believe people can still get excited for the town's oldest prostitute.

[FangKC]

That's a good description.

[geeman68]

So much potential in the North Loop with nearby hotels, City Market and the Street Car line.

[normalthings]

So much potential in the North Loop with nearby hotels, City Market and the Street Car line.

Much potential at the Riverfront or Washington Square Park as well.

[TheLastGentleman]

So much potential in the North Loop with nearby hotels, City Market and the Street Car line.

Anything to get the north loop filled in (besides a stadium of course)

[normalthings]

I don’t think it’s strata, I think it’s something new.

1. Waddell & Reed would need more space than what Strata or Platform Ventures can offer. Twisty Tower (500K SF) is the closest w/o being too small of the proposed office buildings.The Washington Square Park Office Project would be my second guess.

2. Are you saying that this will be a not yet announced office tower project?

I think this is some new project, and don’t think it’s associated with any of the existing spec developments. Agreed that strata would not be big enough. I heard a cost range of $200M for the cost, which is double the cost of Strata.

Do you know when we’ll get more info?

[kboish]

https://www.kansascity.com/news/busines ... 77642.html

This article confirms WR is getting about $60 million in incentives from MO to hop the border. It doesn't give any indication as to where or when it will happen, but it does say the company will invest $90 million in its new HQ and move all of its over 1,000 employees. If its true they are moving inside the DT loop, that is a HUGE boost for DT employment.

[normalthings]

https://www.kansascity.com/news/busines ... 77642.html

This article confirms WR is getting about $60 million in incentives from MO to hop the border. It doesn't give any indication as to where or when it will happen, but it does say the company will invest $90 million in its new HQ and move all of its over 1,000 employees. If its true they are moving inside the DT loop, that is a HUGE boost for DT employment.

1. The rumored total project price is $200 million meaning W&R could be taking half(or less) of a larger project.
2. The 1034 Main project (open 2021) is proposed as 600K SF, W&R are only expected to need around 300K SF in their new HQ.
3. A move downtown will provide a big boost to residential and condo development (3 and 4 Light)

[beautyfromashes]

Children’s Mercy will be moving all of their employees currently in Crown Center to their new building under construction. I haven’t heard anything about 1034 Main yet but this would be a good fit.

[normalthings]

The KC Star article from today seems to confirm that W&R will be going into new construction.

From the business journal:

"It (W&R) is looking for Class A space — the top tier in amenities and rent. It also wants enough space to accommodate its present 1,000 area employees and a space that would “position the company for growth.”

Only a large, new tower such as 1034 Main offers what W&R is looking for in downtown.

13th and Grand (250K SF, "proposed") and Strata(260K SF+, opening 2021) are too small to hold W&R at its current size, let alone any future growth.

Children’s Mercy will be moving all of their employees currently in Crown Center to their new building under construction. I haven’t heard anything about 1034 Main yet but this would be a good fit.

I do not know which CC buildings CM is in, but its my understanding that many of them are far from "top tier' in rents, layouts, or amenities. I also don't think there is enough contiguous space available for an immediate move nor future expansion

[smh]

Do we have reason to believe 1034 Main is anything other than a glimmer in Jon Copaken's eye? It has been referred to several times here but I haven't heard anything as to a status change from 20-year-old conceptual drawing to actual project. But, naturally, I want to believe.

[langosta]

Do we have reason to believe 1034 Main is anything other than a glimmer in Jon Copaken's eye? It has been referred to several times here but I haven't heard anything as to a status change from 20-year-old conceptual drawing to actual project. But, naturally, I want to believe.

Project page on Loopnet was updated(as recently as 9/16) and shows a 2021 open.

[earthling]

Someone send to Collison... he'll check into it.

[KCPowercat]

He reads here.

[langosta]

Someone send to Collison... he'll check into it.

Collison floated this as an upcoming project back in 2016 or 2017.

[beautyfromashes]

I do not know which CC buildings CM is in, but its my understanding that many of them are far from "top tier' in rents, layouts, or amenities. I also don't think there is enough contiguous space available for an immediate move nor future expansion

It’s my understanding that CMH has filled most of the space that used to be Hallmark on the north side of CC, from the Panera building all the way around to the ice rink. All or most of these will move and fill the new tower building. The finishes are definitely not top end but it would be an easy upgrade and includes parking. It would be a nice location for a large company relocation.

[missingkc]

Is a 2021 opening even possible at this point?

[normalthings]

Is a 2021 opening even possible at this point?

A few thoughts/ramblings:

I would be surprised if W&R’s public announcement of a HQ move was the actual start of discussions with developers in KCMO. It’s likely that they had a general idea of who/where at that point.

It is my understanding that 1034 Main was at one point pretty close to launching (many years ago). However, Market demands and construction technology has advanced soo much since then that I expect a redisgn to be required. That isn’t to say that Copaken hasn’t kept their plans updated through the years.

Strata’s proposed a construction start in Q4 2019 and an open in Q4 2021.