Park Place Partners, Hunt Midwest take innovative swing at luxury rental market

Park Place Partners and Hunt Midwest Residential Development have formed a joint venture to co-develop the metro area's first luxury rental villa community located on a golf course. Construction began in mid-2017, with the first homes available for occupancy by February 2018. 

Built by Lambie Custom Homes, The Fairways at City Center will include 80 twin villas with premium views of Canyon Farms Golf Course, all within walking distance to Lenexa City Center. 

Melanie Mann, who co-developed Leawood's successful Park Place mixed use project along with partner Jeff Alpert, said The Fairways at City Center responds to a growing renter-by-choice segment and caters to renters of all ages who don't want to sacrifice having a yard, basement, or garage space.

"Through our experience in other rental communities, we have found strong demand for larger, high-quality rental residences," Mann said. "People are selling their larger family homes and are looking for more flexibility. These villas help bridge the gap between single-family home ownership and the increasingly popular luxury apartment rental option."

The partnership brings together the creative, mixed-use expertise of Mann and Alpert with the wide and deep experience of Hunt Midwest Residential Development, which has more than 3,000 acres of land currently under development within the Kansas City metropolitan area including award-winning communities in Kansas City's Northland, Lee's Summit and Raymore, Missouri.

"Melanie and Jeff are known innovators in the local development community, and this has been a great partnership," said Ora Reynolds, president and CEO of Hunt Midwest. "Hunt Midwest is actively pursuing new residential concepts, including multifamily, senior housing and now, villa-style rental homes."

• Features of The Fairways at City Center include:
• -Approximately 2,200 square feet of finished space
• -3 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath units, which includes a flex room for office or guest use
• -2-Car garage
• -Rents starting at $2,800 per month
• -80 percent of homes include a golf course view
• -High-end finishes include granite countertops, stainless steel kitchen appliances, hardwood floors.
• -Maintenance provided

For more information, visit www.fairwayvillascitycenter.com; or call 913.283.9958.

Luxury rental villas are under construction for The Fairway at City Center with occupancy expected in 2018.

Panelists tackle trends and timely topics at sold-out MWM 2017 Multi-Family Summit

More than 170 guests attended MWM's 2017 Multi-Family Summit on Oct. 12 for breakfast, premium networking and a panel discussion moderated by Hunt Midwest's Brenner Holland. 

Here's a snapshot of panelist insights: 

“We are in a vibrant stage in my 25-year career. One of the leading indicators is the number of calls I get from lenders about sites from developers outside Kansas City, so that tells us that folks are either pooping out in some other markets and trying to come here, or they’re moving from different food groups into multi-family." -Jim Thomas, Cityscape Residential

“I think what has happened in Denver is similar to what has happened to California, where the prices have gotten astronomical and it’s unaffordable for virtually anybody at any income level... Quite honestly, I see Kansas City as the next Denver as people keep looking for more affordable places to live and work. We are certainly very well priced in the market for exceptional value.” -Aaron Rumple, Yaeger Architecture

“Boomers want larger units and more bonus space or an extra den area. Storage is very important to them. Millennials, on the other hand, are more concerned about walkability. They value space a little less and they place more value on amenities and the social aspect of amenities spaces in technology.” -Justin Duff, VanTrust Real Estate

“The amenity stuff keeps getting better and better, particularly with pools and clubhouses. On the technology side, we’re adding USB outlets inside the units and trying to accommodate what’s going to be standard technology as it grows. We’ve built penthouse units for a couple of projects. Those are the first to go, and usually the Boomers get them." -Aaron Neighbors, Neighbors Construction

“The new stuff is always going to fill up, and the reason is that those offer the best property and best amenities. It’s where people want to live. So we are building in places where the jobs are going, and then it’s not a question of ‘Will the new stuff fill up?’ It’s a matter of, ‘At what number will it fill up? Will you meet the pro forma, and will you hit your rents?' " -Aaron Mesmer, Block Real Estate Services

“Paramount to any development is having the best site selection-- access to highways, jobs and amenities-- because when people move into an apartment anymore, there are so many good options out there, you really have to have that ‘wow’ factor. So you need to be able to have people move into something where there’s a sense of place and they have to feel that they have 'arrived' somewhere.” -Mike McKeen, EPC Properties

“I think Kansas City-- the municipality-- really wants to expand opportunities for economic diversity. A lot of projects that we are seeing in the Historic Northeast area are all mixed-income products, so you are divvying up affordable versus market rate and really bringing more diversity into the neighborhood.” -Rachel Treanor, 4Sight Construction Group

Check out our slideshow below or head to our Facebook page slideshow and tag yourself! 

Multifamily projects create tipping point for Downtown Overland Park office development

JONNA LORENZ | Contributing Writer

Downtown Overland Park redevelopment got a shot of adrenaline this week with news that Freightquote.com founder Tim Barton plans to develop a 130,000-square foot office tower on a site that includes the Overland Park Presbyterian Church near 81st and Marty streets.

Longtime Kansas City broker and developer Jim Harpool of Evergreen Real Estate Services helped Barton assemble the land, which amounts to almost a full city block. Harpool said the office project arose in response to an uptick in luxury multifamily and mixed-use projects under construction downtown Overland Park.

“Millennials look for a place to live first, and then they go look for a job. They want to work wherever it is cool and where it’s happening,” Harpool said. “We’ve had some office users who have called us and said, ‘Hey, I’m located in an office park, and there’s nothing to walk to, and we can’t get Millennials to come and work for us.' "

"Everything is really going fantastically," Mayor Carl Gerlach said of several mixed-use projects that are "building the density downtown which we were looking for in the Vision Metcalf plan" adopted in 2007.

Over the next two years, a total of four new developments are set to bring more than 500 new apartment units, an estimated 22,000 square feet of retail space and over 17,000 square feet of office space in Downtown Overland Park. 

On April 4, Hunt Midwest Residential Development officially broke ground on The Vue high-end mixed-use project just steps away from Barton’s planned office tower. Located at the southeast corner of 80th and Marty streets, The Vue will include 219 luxury apartments, 10,000 square feet of retail space, and a structured parking garage.

Leasing for The Vue won’t begin for at least another year, but three other multifamily projects are set to begin welcoming residents throughout 2017:

•Residents will begin moving into InterUrban Lofts at the southwest corner of 79th and Conser streets beginning April 29. Developed by Real Property Group LLC, InterUrban Lofts includes 41 residential units, 7,500-square feet of office space, and a 54-space parking garage.

•Completion is expected in August for Avenue 80, a five-story project being developed by EPC Real Estate Group LLC. Located at the southwest corner of 80th Street and Metcalf Avenue, Avenue 80 will offer 220 residential units, 10,000 square feet of office space, 7,000 square feet of retail, a courtyard and parking garage.

•Market Lofts, developed by Goehausen & Co. at northwest corner of 80th and Marty streets, is scheduled for completion in the late fall. It will offer 36 residential units, 5,700 square feet of retail space and two levels of parking.

In February, representatives from those projects participated in a panel discussion hosted by the Downtown Overland Park Partnership, discussing everything from the status of their projects to amenities and public parking in the area. The area's charm and character, unique shops and urban environment were among the draws.

"We're excited for the new foot traffic and to introduce this really one-of-a-kind area to so many new faces," said Kate Sweeten, executive director of the Downtown Overland Park Partnership. 

Public art including and other aesthetic improvements will encourage people to get out and explore what the downtown area has to offer. Such perks will complement the area's unique businesses that appeal to people with interests ranging from quilting and beading to culinary skills and home brewing, Sweeten said.

The development will benefit the city's farmer's market and the annual fall festival, Mayor Gerlach said. Time will tell whether future development will include bringing a grocery store back to the area, but with Barton's acquisition of a full square block downtown, there is renewed optimism 

"It would be great if there could be a small neighborhood specialty market in the area," Gerlach said.

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.