KCRag Forum

The historic Kansas City National Guard Armory at 3620 Main is slated to be renovated as a food court and boutique hotel, part of the redevelopment wave occurring along Main Street in anticipation of the planned extension of the streetcar line.

Exact Partners, which also is converting the nearby Netherlands Hotel and Monarch Storage Building into apartments at 38th and Main, plans to invest $8 million in renovating the old armory.
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It’s part of an ambitious redevelopment plan for much of the block that includes building a five-story, 80-unit apartment project at 37th and Main, and building a dozen single-family townhouses behind the old armory along Baltimore Avenue.
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The second phase–the new apartment building at 37th and Main–would begin in about two years and would replace a pawn shop currently at that location.

It calls for underground parking for 100 cars and a five-level, 80-unit apartment building above. Buland said the apartments would meet the proposed city guidelines for affordable housing.
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The third phase of Armory Block, the townhouses facing Baltimore, would then follow completion of the apartments.
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KCtoBrooklyn wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2020 7:06 pm I noticed a dumpster and some activity at this site today. I'm not sure if they were working on the Armory building, or the adjacent strip. Hopefully work on the Armory will start soon in earnest. I'm excited to see how this turns out.

Critical_Mass wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 10:21 pm Tell me about this report...

Chris Stritzel wrote: ↑Fri Jan 15, 2021 12:32 am Music venue being looked at here.

beautyfromashes wrote: ↑Fri Jan 15, 2021 12:42 am

Chris Stritzel wrote: ↑Fri Jan 15, 2021 12:32 am Music venue being looked at here.

Never happen.

The partnership of Denver developer Ilan Salzberg and Kansas City architect Caleb Buland has received positive feedback from prospective national partners for two separate test fits for that building — an events and concert promoter for an entertainment venue with a Class A restaurant, and an operator for a food hall beneath a hotel, Buland said Tuesday.

The chosen test fit could be determined around March, after which the developer will seek to earn state historic tax credits by July and start construction in August, he added.

Exact Partners also has been in communication with a possible national event and concert promoter to operate an entertainment venue in the former Kansas City National Guard Armory building.

The future Armory building makerspace is planned to further expand upon Shop Local KC's concept, as what Mabry van Dieren said would be comparable to an indoor, year-round Strawberry Swing fair. She envisions additional food offerings, perhaps from aspiring restaurateurs who don't yet have the capital to open their own locations, in addition to a music component.

"I really hope it becomes a place where we can celebrate local and handmade food and music all the time. ... This is something other big cities have and it becomes a tourist destination," Mabry van Dieren said. "I hope to help launch all of these little businesses and raise awareness for them."

Above the future makerspace, the Armory building also is set to include a 40-room boutique hotel, potentially run by professional hospitality providers who will host beds on Airbnb, said Kansas City architect Caleb Buland, who leads Exact Partners alongside Denver developer Ilan Salzberg.

The 3600 Main block plans show 8,080 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, including for potential fitness, gallery and cafe users. Above these spaces are 128 loft-style apartments — 28 studios, 68 one- and 32 two-bedroom units. Eight townhouses are planned behind the new buildings along Baltimore Avenue.

The full Armory block development will be served by 187 total parking spaces across an underground garage and surface parking behind the mixed-use building.

Riverite wrote: ↑Wed Jan 05, 2022 6:24 pm Any updates?

Exact envisioned multifamily and commercial spaces inside the building, plus new mixed-use apartments and townhomes on adjoining properties.

However, Buland said, Exact found a limited number of food hall and hotel brands with an appetite for a small-format location in the current economy. He thinks Hoffman has interest in redeveloping the building with an event space, a food and beverage component, and an automotive museum.