West Bottoms Redevelopment

[TheLastGentleman]

I sure wonder where Historic KC is, during all this discussion of a massive, registered historic building being demolished. Must be busy with somewhere further south…..

[Rabble]

The toilet bowl next to flush creek?

[Chris Stritzel]

Some applications to the FAA are being made for new buildings outside of the Weld site.

78ft and 90ft applications...
https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/se ... 839&row=17
https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/se ... 9848&row=6

[taxi]

Designers could easily make 5 over 1 buildings resemble the historic cattle pens and chutes.

And the hipster residents will decorate with cowhide rugs. Moo.

[FangKC]

https://www.artnet.com/artists/ed-mell/ ... J7yN1R0Lw2

[FangKC]

...
At a minimum was hoping to see Somera's new construction in the Bottoms have an industrial aesthetic edge that would sort of wow in the same way that the gritty mass of the old buildings does. Not sure this gets there yet, though wouldn't mind this same design on a vacant parcel in the area.

Image 2.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq_Js6rufH9 ... _copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqqDLXNuWgu ... _copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqbcmSwu9n5 ... _copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ckghnp5u5ZH ... _copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CazUKloOSXM ... _copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CaPQNrmO2qp ... _copy_link

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dryy+ ... q5q3?hl=en

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.911859 ... 192?hl=en

[Chris Stritzel]

As we debate over whether or not Somera Road's replacement for the Weld Building is good or not (it isn't and I plan to publicly oppose it), the West Bottoms lost another historic building.

The MCM Company, which developed the West Bottoms Flats development, tore down 920 Wyoming in favor of a surface parking lot after previous specifying they intended to redevelop it into a leasing office and potential creative office space. The original plan was to then issue an RFP on the parking land so another developer can take over that project. Unfortunately, they backed away from this at some point and quietly demolished the building as a result.

We can appreciate what developers like MCM and SomeraRoad are wanting to do down in the West Bottoms, but we can't be fine with letting them tear down buildings. I know Weld is rough, but I want to see if Somera did proper homework on that and determined it was better to just demolish it and replace it with a lesser-than building. Especially with FAA regulations, you could never build a building that tall down there again.

I want to know what prompted MCM to demolish this building at 920 Wyoming. Was it collapsing? Did it pose a threat to safety? Did they figure it was better to get a few more parking spaces in instead? What's the deal with that?

If we just continue to sit around and let our historic buildings be demolished, some at the taxpayer's expense, then we're going to lose the architectural culture of this city. We'll go from having stately brick, concrete, stone, and terra cotta buildings built to last to some stucco-clad buildings that are built to last 30 years or so. We need to do better. The West Bottoms is a damn good place to create a neighborhood that blends new and old seamlessly. It's a place where architectural heart and soul can flourish once more. But if MCM demolishing 920 Wyoming, or Somera wanting the City to foot the Weld Building demolition for a suburban style 4-over-1, is any indication on the future, then we should be concerned.

I understand that economics plays a role on this, but both buildings are/were on the National Register of Historic Places or listed as contributing buildings to a National Register Historic District. They qualified/qualify for tax credits. Both qualified/qualify for a tax abatement.

Somera can't tell me that having the city foot the Weld's demolition bill is a positive for city revenue when the city loses money on that front and the eventual tax incentive request for the new construction. You also can't tell me that it was economically sound for MCM to spend more money on the demolition of 920 Wyoming for a handful of more parking spaces that place additional stress on city infrastructure (in an area that has had some great floods nonetheless). Both buildings would've/would contribute a ton to the city, and neighborhood, if they were redeveloped. You just need to be creative and do your homework properly.

And what's with the phasing for Somera's plan? They moved the replacement for Weld up in the timeline from what we initially saw (supposed to be done by 2030). Initial phasing..

Phase One (first quarter of 2023 through fourth quarter of 2025): Demolition of the Weld Wheel building, making space for the first of as many as 266 new apartments southwest of St. Louis Avenue and Santa Fe Street; a 127-apartment conversion of the Moline Plow Building; adaptive mixed-use reuse of buildings at 1200, 1201, 1215 and 1218 Union Ave.; a hotel conversion of the Avery building, with as many as 50 rooms; open park space in place of an empty lot northwest of 11th and Santa Fe streets; and 520 surface parking spaces across different sites.

Phase Two (fourth quarter of 2024 through fourth quarter of 2026): Demolition of structures northwest of 11th and Mulberry streets for development of 308 apartments and mixed uses.

Phase Three (fourth quarter of 2026 through fourth quarter of 2028): A 31-apartment conversion of the Crane Co. building at 1105 Hickory St. and development of 236 multifamily units on surface parking to the east.

Phase Four (fourth quarter of 2029 through fourth quarter 2030): Completion of remaining apartments at the former Weld Wheel site; adaptive mixed-use reuse of 1320 W. 12th St. for 45 apartments; mixed-use revamps of 1222 W. 12th St. and the KC Pallet Supply Building at 1000 W. 12th St.; construction of 72-apartment projects on surface lots northwest of Mulberry Street and Union Avenue, and northeast of St. Louis Avenue and Santa Fe Street; and demolition of a building northwest of 11th and Hickory streets for 27 new apartments.

Phase Five (first quarter of 2030 through fourth quarter of 2035): Adaptive reuse of buildings at 1323 and 1331 Union Ave., with 54 total apartments.

Here's a link to the MCM Company website explaining what they wanted to do: https://www.mcmcompanyinc.com/portfolio ... t-wbf-iii/

[kboish]

Where is Historic KC? If they were as vocal about all demolitions throughout the city as they are with a few square blocks around the plaza, i would take them more seriously and not just consider them a literal NIMBY org.

[Anthony_Hugo98]

Where is Historic KC? If they were as vocal about all demolitions throughout the city as they are with a few square blocks around the plaza, i would take them more seriously and not just consider them a literal NIMBY org.

Working on contacts. The opposition to this plan is going to be fierce in the next week or two. We’ll need support from those on this forum as well, as a flood of letters of opposition to the Planning Commission will be valuable in prevent the demo. It worked for 31st & Main. We can rally enough support to save this as well.

[langosta]

Where is Historic KC? If they were as vocal about all demolitions throughout the city as they are with a few square blocks around the plaza, i would take them more seriously and not just consider them a literal NIMBY org.

Working on contacts. The opposition to this plan is going to be fierce in the next week or two. We’ll need support from those on this forum as well, as a flood of letters of opposition to the Planning Commission will be valuable in prevent the demo. It worked for 31st & Main. We can rally enough support to save this as well.

I 100% support bulldozing this concrete shell for something active

[Anthony_Hugo98]

Where is Historic KC? If they were as vocal about all demolitions throughout the city as they are with a few square blocks around the plaza, i would take them more seriously and not just consider them a literal NIMBY org.

Working on contacts. The opposition to this plan is going to be fierce in the next week or two. We’ll need support from those on this forum as well, as a flood of letters of opposition to the Planning Commission will be valuable in prevent the demo. It worked for 31st & Main. We can rally enough support to save this as well.

I 100% support bulldozing this concrete shell for something active

“I 100% support bulldozing that limestone shell for something active”. Imagine if people had that same attitude about Union Station in the mid 90’s.

A stick frame super block 4/1 with multiple garage entrances and limited street front activation with hardly any commercial space is not exactly something I’d call active.

A building constructed in 1910, that is on the national register of historic places, that can’t be replaced by anything of the same height, in an area that’s already seen historic reuse & rehab, and owned by a developer who has a multiple times over proven record of an ability to rehab historic properties should absolutely not face a bulldozer.

Unimaginative, uninspired, lazy, and shortsighted attitudes like this is the exact reason that KC has lost some 80-90% of its historic structures through the years. I’m done seeing historic structures torn down in this city to be replaced by something the would better fit Lenexa than the historic heart of commerce of our city.

[Chris Stritzel]

I 100% support bulldozing this concrete shell for something active

That concrete shell you speak of, despite needing a lot of love, is a blank canvas to the right developer. Somera is the right developer, but they need to apply the same creative attitude to this project like they have others.

We need to be creative. We need developers to be creative. We need to retain what we have so we don't just become another faceless city. We have the necessary tools (tax credits, tax abatements, political support, public support, etc) to be creative.

Let Weld be the shining example of what being creative and committed to the future of KC can be. A bunch of 4-over-1s that you can find in any suburb, or at Berkley Riverfront, is not what the future of KC should be.

Think outside of the box.

It doesn't give me much hope for Weld's cheap replacement when the architect was involved in the Crossroads City Club project and other City Clubs across the country. https://bkvgroup.com/projects/city-club ... nsas-city/

Come on Somera. Put your big city hat on here like you did in Nashville. Show some creativity and respect for our old structures.

[FangKC]

It amazes me that anyone would demolish a solid 9-story concrete and steel structure anywhere in this city when it's so difficult to get anything built above five stories. Replace the windows and divide the floors with metal framing. It could be apartments, or it could be artist studios. It could be a design center with furniture, drapery, carpeting and flooring, antique businesses, and office space for interior designers.

https://www.themart.com/design/

My big question is why SomeraRoad would invest $500 million in an industrial area with a history of flooding and active freight trains rumbling by at all hours.

At the very least, why aren't they converting the Weld building into a U-Haul/StorageMart facility and then:

Turning this U-Haul storage building into apartments.

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0944681 ... 384!8i8192

Building new apartments here where these storage facilities sit on/near the streetcar line.

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0918669 ... 84!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.063266, ... a=!3m1!1e3

My point is that if I had $500 million to invest in residential real estate, I would be looking in much more desirable locations to build.

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0883611 ... a=!3m1!1e3

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0881157 ... a=!3m1!1e3

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0908547 ... a=!3m1!1e3

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1071641 ... a=!3m1!1e3

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1078263 ... a=!3m1!1e3

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0776954 ... a=!3m1!1e3

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0530267 ... a=!3m1!1e3

[FangKC]

Exploring One of the Tallest Abandoned Buildings in Kansas City (West Bottoms)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf9PNZq6So8

[FangKC]

West Bottoms businesses worry they'll be 'snuffed out' by massive redevelopment plans

https://www.kcur.org/podcast/up-to-date ... ment-plans

[langosta]

Businesses that only thrive with very very low rents getting snuffed out are not my biggest concern. I will miss the dusty West Bottoms and Saturdays spent roaming warehouse antiques but building a real neighborhood should be the greater priority.

[FangKC]

Rock Island Bridge project started today; projected completion in spring 2024.

[FangKC]

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=964 ... 3658305516

[Cratedigger]

PIEA granted incentives to MCM Co which developed the West Bottoms Flats

Cleveland developer plans to convert the six-story Midwest Building at 911 Wyoming St. into 77 apartments and about 9,000 square feet of ground-floor retail.

MCM also intends to seek about $10.5 million in state and federal historic tax credits, PIEA materials show.

https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/ ... _source=st

[Cratedigger]

PIEA granted incentives to MCM Co which developed the West Bottoms Flats

Cleveland developer plans to convert the six-story Midwest Building at 911 Wyoming St. into 77 apartments and about 9,000 square feet of ground-floor retail.

MCM also intends to seek about $10.5 million in state and federal historic tax credits, PIEA materials show.

https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/ ... _source=st

Collison adding some details to this project + another small office (DRAW Architecture).

Nice to see that KCPS is supporting these

Edit: typo