David Horn, project manager, IAS Partners, Ltd., spearheaded the redevelopment of the Blue Ridge Mall and the Antioch Mall. He also spearheaded the redevelopment of the Metro North Mall until about a year ago, when his son, Dan Horn, project manager, IAS Parthers, Ltd., was tapped to lead the project.
“We’ve made a lot of progress, but we still have a long way to go. There’s quite a bit of dirt still left to develop,” Dan Horn said of the project. Photo credit: Marcia Charney | MWM KC
Last Friday, CCIM Kansas City hosted a breakfast where the speakers, David and Dan Horn, delivered a presentation centered around the redevelopment of Metro North Mall, now named Metro North Crossing.
David Horn spoke briefly about the Blue Ridge and Antioch Mall redevelopment projects and then ceded the podium to Dan Horn.
Work on the redevelopment plan for the mixed-use Metro North Crossing project began in 2015. The project is located at the corner of U.S. 169 Highway and NW Barry Road. The site has 106 acres, larger than the Blue Ridge and Antioch redevelopments combined.
Metro North Mall opened in 1976 and served as the iconic shopping center in the Northland for decades, closing its doors in 2014, said Horn. Metro North Mall was known for its balloons, which functioned like hot air balloons, floating up and down within the mall.
“And every neighborhood meeting we’ve done since the beginning of this project, every city council meeting, somebody always mentions the balloons. So, we worked to incorporate that into the redevelopment. We’ve incorporated the balloons in our monument signs we’re getting ready to build out there, some landscaping features and in our logo as well,” Horn said.
According to Horn, the redevelopment plan has changed dramatically since 2017, particularly with respect to retail density.
“There’s so much existing retail in Kansas City and all over the country that a lot of tenants can find space that meets their needs in second-generation space. Quickly we realized we weren’t going to be able to compete on rent because of the cost of new construction,” he said.
IAS Partners developed T-Shotz, a three-level entertainment anchor featuring 22 hitting bays on each level and two bars and restaurants. IAS Partners will build four pickleball courts in the T-Shotz parking lot, plans for which recently were approved.
“It really is a first-class experience up there,” said Horn.
Woodstone at Metro North Crossing is a 249-unit luxury apartment project within the development, which IAS Partners completed last August. Horn said Woodstone is 93 percent leased, and because there is substantial demand, IAS Partners has added another 213 units to its development plans.
“Interest rates are a little different than they were when we did phase one, so we’re working through that to make sure that it’s a viable project. We definitely see additional apartments and residential in general as part of the overall plan for Metro North,” he said.
One of the Woodstone buildings features 30,000 SF of ground floor retail space, and Horn said he already has signed leases covering approximately 50 percent of the space with local tenants Third Street Social, Bloom Nails & Spa, HOTWORX, and Hullhouse Coffee.
When IAS Partners acquired Metro North, Horn said they inherited leases for pad sites occupied by McDonald’s, Red Lobster, and Olive Garden. Even though the demolition of the old mall and the new construction, Horn said the restaurants have done well and IAS Partners is “happy to have them."
New to the development are Whataburger and Hawaiian Bros Island Grill restaurants, which have been open for approximately six months. Horn said both restaurants report that sales have exceeded expectations.
According to Horn, IAS Partners began construction two months ago on a 15,000-SF restaurant building, which he projects will be completed in December. No tenants have been signed yet as IAS Partners seeks the right mix to fill the space.
From day one, Horn said the developers have envisioned a walkable mixed-use development. The project will have a Main Street meant “to create the walkable, mini-downtown atmosphere in a suburban environment.” Main Street’s roundabout and roads already are in place.
In addition, Horn said public green space will be a big piece of the project. Restaurants will be able to use the outdoor space and it also could be used for such events as a farmer’s market and concerts.
“That’s going to be a really exciting part of this development and something that we think the community will really get behind,” he said.
A neighborhood grocery store has also been part of the development plan from day one, said Horn, as well as a two-story building with retail on the first floor and Class A office space above. Horn said that they are currently in the early stages of marketing the building to potential tenants.
Macy’s operates a store at the development, and it owns its building. The store is profitable, and Macy’s intends to continue to operate there. Nevertheless, Horn said IAS Partners talk with Macy’s once a quarter to gauge Macy’s future plans.
“We’ve made a lot of progress, but we still have a long way to go. There’s quite a bit of dirt still left to develop,” Horn said of the project.
__________________________________________
Featured rendering credit: Slaggie Architects, Inc.