LANE4 Teams with City of Olathe for library-anchored, mixed-use project

Driven by the need for a new, modern library space, the City of Olathe has teamed with LANE4 Property Group on a new, state-of-the-art mixed-use project in downtown Olathe, Ks.

The project will fuse restaurant, library and office space into a 5-story building located immediately east of Olathe City Hall on E. Santa Fe Street.

The proposed project includes approximately 70,000 SF of usable space plus indoor and outdoor common areas. The plan includes space for a signature restaurant, Class A office space with dramatic views and a rooftop patio, plus ample space for the Olathe Library.

The Civic Center Park currently on the site will remain intact and be integrated into the new project to create a cohesive, welcoming area for all to enjoy.

The Olathe City Council unanimously approved a pre-development agreement on On Tuesday, November 19th, allowing the project to move forward though the planning and zoning process.

“While the final project has yet to come before the Council for final consideration, it has incredible potential for our downtown. It could allow us to have a new, first class, 21st century library in downtown, new class A office and a restaurant - all in our historic core. This could mean new jobs, new opportunities and new energy in our downtown,” said Olathe Mayor Michael Copeland.

The project will be presented to the City Council for approval in early 2020 with a groundbreaking later in the year.

“Olathe continues to grow, it continues to support a strong school system. You only have to look around the country at comparable suburban municipalities to figure out that there is a deep well of opportunity to tap into in this downtown,” said Michael Berenbom, vice president at LANE4.

Leasing inquiries for the restaurant and office space should be directed to Brandon Buckley at (816) 268-9112 or bbuckley@lane4group.com.

Red Bridge set to rise and shine with plans for new breakfast eatery

Lane4 Property Group's re-awakening of Red Bridge Shopping Center in South Kansas City continues with the announcement that Caleb’s Breakfast and Lunch will open in early 2018.

The new concept by Rebecca Huntsman will offer classic breakfast and lunch fare in a family-friendly environment. The breakfast business is a natural fit for Huntsman, whose father brought First Watch into the Kansas City area more than 30 years ago. But she says Caleb’s is about much more than food.

“We want to know the community. We want to be the community. We want to know the people that walk in our door, know how many grandchildren they have and what’s going on in their lives. And while we are getting to know the community, we’ll serve great food,” Huntsman said.

LANE4 President Owen Buckley said the father and daughter team have a strong and successful operating history in the region, making them ideal tenants for Red Bridge.

“I helped Ron secure his original First Watch restaurant at 95th and Metcalf 30 years ago,” Buckley said. “It’s really fun to work with him again… (They) are as excited as we are about delivering a great product to this special community.” 

Caleb’s is among a growing number of locally-owned and operated businesses choosing to locate in the Red Bridge Shopping Center.

“We see the retail market shifting and we see the strength in quality, local businesses. They add character and strength to our centers; that’s who we want at Red Bridge,” LANE4 Vice President Brandon Buckley added.

Red Bridge has moved from 50 percent to 80 percent occupancy since renovations were completed in early 2017, with Euston Hardware, Blue Bicycle and SERC Physical Therapy opening new locations. In addition, Blue Moose Bar & Grill, Aerial Fitness, and Crows Coffee are all in various stages of design and construction. Design is underway for Wonderscope Children’s Museum, with groundbreaking targeted for 2018.

Blue Moose prances into Red Bridge Shopping Center

LANE4 Property Group's $19 million redevelopment of the Red Bridge Shopping Center is taking shape with the announcement of three new tenants, including the addition of Blue Moose Bar & Grill. With plans to open this fall on the southeast corner of the South Kansas City retail center, the 7,000-square foot restaurant will be Blue Moose's first in Missouri and seventh in the metro area.

"We are very excited to bring our Blue Moose concept to the Red Bridge neighborhood. We have wanted to be in Southwest Kansas City for many years, and this location is perfect for the Blue Moose,"  Ed Nelson, President of KC Hopps, said in a release.

Silks & Poles Aerial Fitness will bring the coastal trend of gravity defying fitness to the metro with plans to open a 4,591-square foot location and juice bar at the Red Bridge Shopping Center this summer. In addition, Edward Jones & Co. will double its leased space at Red Bridge Shopping Center from 734 to 1,363 square feet.

The new tenants are helping boost the center's occupancy from 47 percent to 75 percent over the past year and follow the announcement that Wonderscope Children's Museum and Mid-Continent Public Library are teaming up to develop a 50,000-square foot building to house a new museum and public library. Design plans and a capital campaign are underway, with groundbreaking targeted for 2018.

The addition of the children’s museum and new trio of tenants are expected to attract new customers and offer new education opportunities to the surrounding communities, according to LANE4 Vice President Brandon Buckley.

“We are committed to making Red Bridge a unique community-oriented shopping center, so welcoming new experience-based tenants to complement Wonderscope gets us one step closer to achieving that,” Buckley said. “We look forward to releasing more new tenant announcements soon.”

The redevelopment is "a great example of collaboration with surrounding neighborhoods to bring back what residents wanted, which included a hardware store and a restaurant," said Kansas City Councilman Scott Taylor. "We now have both-- and welcome Blue Moose Bar & Grill to the neighborhood."