KCRag Forum

I am completely shocked, but there is still a good deal of existing terra cotta on this building. Granted, it is in really rough shape for the most part, but there are still some really nice pieces of it remaining. I figured it had all been destroyed.

I have no idea how they plan on repairing this terra cotta. It sounds like they want to do a full renovation to receive historic tax credits. As much terra cotta remains, there is still a lot that is either missing or destroyed. Seems like it will take some pretty serious work to repair. If they can pull this off though, then a super congrats for this company. The building would look sensational!

There are companies that specialize in reconstructing and matching old terra cotta designs.

If there are any original patterns still under that stone they are removing, they should be able to match it by making molds and recasting the pieces.

FangKC wrote:they should be able to match it by making molds and recasting the pieces.

That's the plan.

Some pictures from today. It's going to be a challenge. The windows they inserted in that section are wider than the original so much of that terra cotta is broken away.

Why did they ever do that horrible "modernization"

Same reason they built all the stinking urban highways - "progress."

http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/n ... towns.html

Next month, Swords added, Sunflower will apply for listing on the national historic register for another structure, the 12-story Brookfield Building, which now stands vacant at 11th Street and Baltimore Avenue.

On the August 26th, 2015 Chapter 353 Board Meeting docket is a blight designation and approval of incentives for a proposed redevelopment of this building.

KCDowntown

More information on the proposal was made public - this plan calls for renovating the building into 27 market rate apartments and 113 hotel rooms under the flag of Hotel Indigo. This is Intercontinental's boutique flag. Ground floor will have an undisclosed commerical tenant.

It is a 33 million dollar revelopment. Floors 2-9 would be the hotel and floors 10-12 would be the apartments (6 studio, 18 1-bedroom, 3 2-bedroom)

Read all about it here.

KCDowntown

That's new hotel #8 downtown somewhere between concept and construction right now

1 renovation of an existing hotel
4 building renovations
3 new buildings

Best news for this intersection in 40 years. Will be good to see the terra cotta back and another hotel book casing this block. One of the most urbane vistas in town is the panorama from the NY Life to the P&L from in front of this building.

now if we could just get a reasonable proposal for the mark twain tower...

I wish Sunflower was also owner, and developer of the Mark Twain in tandem with the Brookfield Building. Under that scenario, it would probably make more sense then to develop the Mark Twain as the InterContinental boutique hotel, since the Mark Twain has existing ballroom/event space. That building has already been a hotel in the past. It also has a pool, but I don't know if the pool could be made functional or not. If not, perhaps they could put a floor over it and make it the exercise facility. Then the Brookfield could be developed as all apartments and retail spaces.

Very exciting news. Totally agree Fang. The owner/developer of the Mark Twain building missed the opportunity in hand with the buildings existing layout of ballroom/event space/etc. I went to a wedding there just 4-5 years ago and it was such a nice room.

Very awesome. Thus should Kickstart the Twain building! Streetcar couldn't have hurt get this thing moving.

I just hope Mark Twain can get new ownership. With the streetcar, nearby bus transit center, and Uber, I would think the market would be changing some to increase the number of people who might live downtown, but not really need a parking space.

There does appear to be an uptick though in hotel operators who seem to be opening hotels since the streetcar was announced. Do they see a tourist market that likes the ability to move between attractions better by streetcar? Is the streetcar making sites more attractive that aren't necessarily next to the convention center? Sites that were cheaper to develop that ones next to Bartle Hall?

I wish someone would do a story asking these hotel operators why they are now opening hotel operations and adding rooms after years of decline? What suddenly made Kansas City so attractive to the hospitality market?

So almost 1700 additional hotel rooms in pipeline for downtown if Hyatt (800 rooms) also goes through.

Also nice to see downtown finally get a residential/hotel combo, where the residential can typically get concierge/food services from hotel...

Brookfield Hotel Investment LLC's plans call for the second through ninth floors of the 12-story building to be occupied by a 113-room hotel operated under the Hotel Indigo flag, a boutique arm of the InterContinental Hotels Group.
The developers plan 27 market-rate apartments — including six studios, 18 one-bedroom units and three two-bedroom units — on floors 10 through 12.

We just stayed at a Hotel Indigo over the weekend in the New Orleans Garden District, we really enjoyed it. I always thought Hotel Indigo focused more on Neighborhoods rather than downtown areas. This brand would have been perfect to go into the River Market or somewhere like that

Isn't this the current tally?

1524 Main Courtyard, 153 rooms
1524 Main Residence, 104
Federal Reserve, 301
HI Express (Interstate Bldg, 417 E 13th), 76
Hampton Inn (Gumbel Bldg, 801 Walnut), 70
Savoy, 120
Hilton Home2, 115
Hyatt, 800
Indigo, 113

Total 1852

Has one dropped out or been finished to account for the Biz Journal number?