$60 million 'The Residences at Galleria' to open in 2022

The Residences at Galleria, a $60 million multifamily complex located adjacent to the former Sprint World Headquarters in the Galleria 115 development in Overland Park, Kan., is set to begin construction this summer and slated to open in 2022.

The four-story, luxury apartment complex is included in the first phase of the 5-plus acre development by Block Real Estate Services, LLC (BRES). The $350 million Galleria mixed-use development master plan includes two apartment buildings, office space, retail and entertainment.

JLL Capital Markets (JLL) arranged $21 million in joint venture equity partnership with Hartford Investment Management Company (“HIMCO”) on behalf of BRES for the development of the 322-unit, Class-A, podium multi-housing community.

"We are excited to partner with HIMCO on this project, and, from the beginning of discussions with them, it was clear that we had a shared vision for the quality of this project and its high-demographics location within Overland Park” said Ken Block, BRES managing principal.

The Residences include 322 one-, two- and three-bedroom units and will average 927 SF. Features include high ceilings, large walk-in closets with custom shelving, high-end appliances and finishes, European-style cabinetry, outdoor terraces, in-unit laundry rooms with full-size washers and dryers, double-paned windows and more.

A hallmark of the new community, designed by Hoefer Wysocki, is the walkable lifestyle. Adjacent to the site is a thriving commercial corridor, multiple entertainment districts, theaters, and endless restaurant choices. Outdoor patios are linked to The Residences by walking trails that encircle greenspace, sitting areas, a rolling rock waterfall and dog park.

"We are very excited to work with Block Real Estate Services on the Galleria. This community will raise the bar on luxury living in the area,” said Hoefer Wysocki vice president and director of multifamily design, Chris Armer, AIA, NCARB.

The project will feature the best community amenities offered in the submarket and include a large resort-style swimming pool with shallow ledge features; pool deck with cabanas, hot tub, sports courts and water features; fitness center with Peloton bikes, massage therapy and virtual training; outdoor group fitness areas; clubhouse with fireplace, game room and social media room; executive business center; dog park and pet spa; and covered and surface parking.

“Galleria will be BRES’ most exciting project to date, building on our successful experiences with this high-end podium product, which allows for a large, outdoor amenity deck and other amenities that are unique in this market,” Block said. 

The JLL capital markets debt placement team representing the borrower was led by executive managing director Jody Thornton, senior director Mark Erland, director Matt Benson and analyst Kellan Liem.

Other partners on the development team include Titan, Polsinelli and McClure.

KC's east side adds $8 million to Linwood Square

Linwood Investors, LLC, will break ground on its $8 million redevelopment of Linwood Square, a blighted retail strip in the Linwood-Prospect corridor on Kansas City’s east side, next Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2019.

The new project complements the redevelopment of the Linwood Shopping Center, completed in 2017 by the Linwood Investors team.

Linwood Investors’ Donald E. Maxwell envisions a revitalized retail center to attract tenants that will cater to a historically underserved community with goods, services and amenities.

“We’re eager to get this completed,” Maxwell said. “The redevelopment will bring amenities to a neighborhood that has been largely ignored for decades. This has the potential to spark additional investments and transform this community from underserved and overlooked to an attractive place to live, work and play.”

The 55,000 SF property, originally built in 1985, is located on the east side of Prospect Avenue between 30th St. and Linwood Blvd.

In addition to revitalized exterior façades and new roofing, the project will incorporate sustainable design elements including a new exterior insulation and finish system (EIFS), energy-efficient HVAC, mechanical and plumbing upgrades, LED lighting and an interior redesign with a contemporary aesthetic.

The project is being funded with public incentives and private financing. The public improvements include funding from Central City Economic Development Sales Tax Fund, Tax Increment Financing Commission and Public Improvements Advisory Committee.

Led by UMB Financial Corporation, private financing partners include Bank of Blue Valley, Community America Credit Union and Arvest Bank.

Hoefer Wysocki designed the exterior façade and system upgrades as well as the interior spaces. Kansas City general contractor Centric worked closely with the ownership group to increase MBE and WBE participation, exceeding the city’s goals.

The project is scheduled for completion in Summer 2020.

CityPlace mixed-use project 'tops out' first 120,000 SF office building

Block Real Estate Services, LLC marked a construction milestone for its CityPlace Corporate Centre III office building with a traditional ‘topping out’ ceremony. Anchored by Mediware Information Systems, Inc., the 120,268-square foot building is the first of four Class A office buildings planned for the mixed-use project located at the southwest corner of College Boulevard and Highway 69 in Overland Park.

“We are honored that Mediware selected CityPlace as the home of its corporate headquarters, validating our premier mixed-use development designed for residents to live, work and play for years to come,” CityPlace Developer Ken Block said.

Community members involved in the planning, development and construction of the property, signed the project’s final steel beam before it was hoisted and placed atop the building on August 13.

Constructed by Titan Built, designed by Hoefer Wysocki Architects and developed by Block Development Company, the office building will include a blend of granite and precast panels andreflective glass in a modern design. 

“When we learned about the new construction at CityPlace, we knew we wanted to get in on the ground floor of this project," said Mediware CEO Bill Miller. "As we solidify our position as the leading innovator in health care and human services solutions, we needed a world headquarters that would reflect our vision of powering stronger, healthier communities.” 

Mediware, a leading supplier of software solutions that help health care and human services providers. will occupy floors three and four of the four-story building and has committed to a future lease term of 15 years and four months, beginning in June 2019.

Once complete, CityPlace will feature up to 600,250 square feet of office space, 1,382 multifamily units, 140 senior units, and up to 60,000 square feet of retail space. For more information about CityPlace, visit www.cityplacekc.com. For more information about Block Real Estate Services, LLC, visit www.blockllc.com.

Healthcare Panelists: Disruptors include tech, politics and consumer-centric market

Several disruptive trends could provide headwinds to the typically stable healthcare development market over the next two years, including insurance industry uncertainty, shifting political power, ongoing consumer demand for mobile connectivity, and a move to patient-centric drivers in service delivery.

Panelists offered insight into those trends and more at MetroWire Media’s 2018 Healthcare Summit on June 26 at Blue Hills Country Club. Moderated by Dan Lacy, McCownGordon Construction vice president of operations, here’s a snapshot of comments:

“The landscape for healthcare in general is the most dynamic it has ever been in KC. If you look from Holmes Road along I-435 to Metcalf Avenue, you’ve had 450,000 square feet of new construction occur. So that corridor and that visibility takes on a rank-and-file in commercial real estate that we have never seen before-- to the delight of investors, to the delight of institutional owners and to the delight of real estate developers.” -Suzanne Dimmel, Senior Vice President, Cushman & Wakefield

“Getting patient care close to home is obviously a big factor, and you also have the search for getting market share, so bringing patients back to the 'mothership' hospitals-- whether it’s tertiary care or regional hospitals-- you see providers really trying to gather that market share.”    -Mitch Hoefer, Founding Principal, Hoefer Wysocki

“We are building critical care clinics that are non-traditional in a sense because they are owned by the insurance companies themselves. They are eliminating the middle man to keep costs down, and we are seeing this all over the country.” -Kevin Rogers, CEO, United Excel

“I think you will see growth in outpatient recovery and sending people home with medical equipment that is connected back to the ‘mothership,’ so patients don’t have to recover for the entire time in the hospital. That could actually reduce the numbers of beds.” -Rick Embers, Principal, Pulse Design Group

“We are looking at flexibility in how we design wireless networks because everyone wants to get on the network with their iPad or phone while sitting there and waiting, but that has to be separate and secured different than the patient network. There’s a huge push there as well as a push to get equipment connected from wireless spaces.” -Jeremy Bechtold, Vice President- Facilities, Construction & Real Estate, Saint Luke’s Health System

“When you’re talking about qualifications and procurement from a design-build standpoint, the process gets a lot more streamlined. The goal of design-build is that we’re all looking for better outcomes, so the goal is to provide that in collaborative manner with teams so they can get engaged with the users.” -Matt Miller, Project Executive, Turner Construction

“Tight construction timelines and speed-to-market pressure means contractors need to custom order product with plenty of lead time… as far as disrupters (to the industry), I think it’s going to be the consumer experience of health care, the demand for convenience and the demand for value.” -Meghan Dudek, Principal, Benson Method

Check out the Event Slideshow

Hunt Midwest development team breaks ground on Downtown Overland Park mixed-use project

Construction is underway at The Vue in Downtown Overland Park, a $49 million mixed-use project that will include 219 luxury apartments above 10,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, and an attached 324-space parking garage. Developer Hunt Midwest and project partners held an official groundbreaking ceremony adjacent to the 2.5 acre construction site at 80th and Marty streets on Tuesday, April 4.

“Hunt Midwest wanted to create an urban living concept that offers chic finishes and conveniences that ‘renters by choice’ desire, while giving special attention to the building’s exterior, ensuring the design reflects the charming character and architectural style of Downtown Overland Park,” Hunt Midwest President and CEO Ora Reynolds said.

The Vue is located within walking distance to nearby attractions including the Matt Ross Community Center, Overland Park Farmer’s Market, historic Rio Theatre and newly designated Downtown Arts District. The City of Overland Park hopes the project, which repurposes an underutilized site in a prime location, will draw hundreds of new residents and customers to existing downtown businesses.

“While in the early stages of construction, we’re already seeing interest in The Vue- from Millennials to Baby Boomers- that is adding to the community’s excitement in historic Downtown Overland Park,” Overland Park Mayor Carl Gerlach said.

Outdoor amenities will include a resort-style pool area with bar and grill, lounge seating and covered bike racks. Inside, The Vue’s clubhouse will include a fitness center, coffee lounge, game rooms and a shared kitchen - all connecting to an outdoor deck that overlooks downtown. The project’s design reflects the changing environment of apartment living, according to Rob Welker, Hoefer Wysocki Architecture president and partner.

“Residents want to feel connected to their neighbors and have the opportunity to interact and engage with each other. The Vue portrays experiences through multiple types of interactions, delivered in spaces that accommodate a wide range of needs,” Welker said.

The Vue blends Hunt Midwest’s experience in luxury multifamily development with its award-winning infill redevelopment expertise, according to Brenner Holland, Hunt Midwest vice president of residential development.

“A rewarding aspect of the project involved making sure its design fit in with the existing style and vibe of Downtown Overland Park while adding fresh and innovative features,” Holland said. “This is a high-visibility location, so we really wanted to create an eye-catching addition to the heart of the city that enhanced revitalization while bringing new residents into downtown.”

Reynolds thanked the City of Overland Park for its support of The Vue, which is expected to open in the second half of 2018. Hunt Midwest’s development team includes: McPherson Contractors, general construction; Hoefer Wysocki Architecture, architecture and design; Olsson & Associates, engineering services; Bank Midwest, financing; and Greystar, leasing and property management.