Former Westport Middle and High School campuses have transformed into Park 39, the latest and largest mixed-use development in Midtown Kansas City. The 16-acre campus is set to welcome back a vibrant community that can live, work and play in an environment that is walkable to various parks and entertainment districts.
The $250 million development's centerpiece will be The Residences at Park 39, a 138-unit apartment community within the four-story former Westport High School. The building's original brick and stone façade, front entry and other beautiful aesthetics are being restored, along with the original hardwood floors and ceramic tile. Updated skylights and new large windows have been added to frame the surrounding neighborhood's stunning vistas.
“The design approach is complementary, not competitive, in order to blend with the beautiful 1908 historic fabric,” said Kristine Sutherlin, an architect at Burns & McDonnell who is leading the architectural team for The Residences at Park 39 project. “We’re bringing it back to its original beauty but with an approach that is timeless.”
The Residences will include flexible work areas, a fitness center, a mailroom, an auditorium, conference rooms, a library and event spaces. Residents will have access to various indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, plus easy access to more than 80 acres of green space, trails and parks nearby. Individual residences will have open floor plans with very high ceilings, amazing views and modern finishes for kitchens, bathrooms and living areas. Monthly rents are expected to range from $950 to $2,000, with each unit having its own washer-dryer.
The commercial spaces at the Park 39 campus will provide various options for traditional and hybrid work models to fit traditional commercial clients, as well as fledgling and visionary entrepreneurs.
Two 10,000-SF plates of commercial space are available immediately south of The Residences. Across 39th Street to the north, more than 163,000 SF of office space with flexible leasing options are available within the seven-story Plexpod at Park 39, formerly the Westport Middle School. Directly to the west, a 3,500-SF conference center houses a full-service restaurant.
A 3,500-SF building at Warwick Boulevard and 39th Street is available for retail, and a 1.5-acre lot at 39th Street and McGee Street will be developed in a later phase or as a build-to-suit.
“We’re very excited about this new project because we are revitalizing historic buildings that were vacant and we’re bringing them back to life to create a more sustainable neighborhood that people and businesses can enjoy,” said Andrew Brain, CEO of Brain Group, which is co-managing the Park 39 development and the construction project at The Residences.
When completed in the fall of 2023, The Residences at Park 39 will offer its tenants an environment to customize their live, work and play experience in Midtown’s newest vertical living space.
“It is a historical renovation that touches on so many eras and you don’t see that level of construction and craftsmanship and detail in today’s construction,” he said. “The real expertise is going into a historic space to preserve and recreate it with today’s materials,” said Craig Thompson, vice president of construction at Ryan Companies US Inc., the general contractor for The Residences.
Park 39 development partners also include HP Development Partners 2, Mercier Street, Dwight Capital, Arvest Bank, National Trust Community Investment Corporation and Commerce Bank.
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FEATURE PHOTO CREDIT: PATRICK SEDONO | BRAIN GROUP