BoxDevCo breaks ground on Blume Shawnee

Box Real Estate Development (BoxDevCo) and its partners have begun construction on Blume Shawnee, a European-inspired, vertical mixed-use townhome project located in downtown Shawnee, Kan.

Comprised of nano-sized commercial space with residential lofts and flats above, Blume Shawnee provides the notable, unique feature of living above a commercial storefront.

“Vertical mixed-use townhomes are rare in the United States despite being the quintessential building style throughout many parts of the world,” said BoxDevCo founder, Russell Pearson.

“A vertical mixed-use townhome means people can live and/or work within the same vertical unit. That subtle and/or distinction from a code perspective means Blume Shawnee appeals not only to those who want to work from home, but also small business owners, entrepreneurs, investors, and residents looking for a condo-quality living option,” Pearson said.

Blume Shawnee is comprised of twelve, three-story townhomes surrounding a European-inspired courtyard totaling 29 individual units.

The ‘A’ style building has two units with a +/- 600 SF main-floor commercial space and a two-story +/- 2,200 SF two-bedroom loft. The ‘B’ style building has three units including a +/- 800 SF main-floor commercial space and two +/- 1,550-1,590 SF two-bedroom flats.

Each residential unit is designed to feel like a custom home with attached garages, covered patios, walk-in closets, quartz countertops, dual vanities/showerheads and plenty of other upgrades.

Unlike a traditional mid-rise apartment project, each Blume Shawnee building is fully separated from the next with very few common internal spaces. The shared amenities instead are external – a private dog agility park, bike racks, nearby walking trails and a feature corner designed for rotating art exhibits.

Each unit features all-electric, high-efficiency, mini-split HVAC systems, generous balconies, and operable windows throughout - providing plenty of livable, open space and individual control.

“The medium-density nature of the project blends the economies of larger buildings with traditional single-family construction, allowing the exterior to utilize only durable and low-maintenance materials including Cordova stone, brick, fiber-cement panels and concrete roof tiles,” said Justin Larson, director of development services for BoxDevCo.

The entire project combines practical luxury with contemporary flare to provide long-term value to its residents, the surrounding area and the community at large. Design inspiration for the project came from studying Google Earth imagery of Shawnee’s European sister cities and current design trends.

Pearson traveled to Erfurt, Germany in October 2019 and toured its historic downtown with local city planners, staff and parliament members.

“Experiencing parts of the world that have seen centuries of development and redevelopment changes your perspective on sustainability,” said Pearson.

“We designed Blume Shawnee to stand the test of time so that 100-200 years from now people will decide the buildings are worth saving and can identify what time period the architecture was from once today’s contemporary style is given a name.”

Blume Shawnee is located along the Nieman Now corridor improvement project that included $40+ million in roadway, streetlight, utility, bike, amenity and walking trail improvements.

The downtown Shawnee area is located near Shawnee City Hall and features a diverse mix of restaurants, breweries, coffee shops and other regional and neighborhood amenities.

Founded in 2016, Box Real Estate Development is headquartered in Kansas City and seeks to identify real estate investment opportunities that yield above market returns relative to risks. BoxDevCo focuses on real estate acquisition and development in the central US and provides a full spectrum of services including fund creation and administration, asset and construction management. For more information on BoxDevCo, please visit www.boxdevco.com.

Read previous, related MWM article here: July 2020: New live-work transformation approved for downtown Shawnee

Click here to watch "Behind the Concept - Blume Shawnee" video.

What does a Kansas City CRE comeback look like to you?

This week's MWM Broker Spotlight features Logan Rose, who shares his positive perspective, energetic drive and contagious determination as an associate, industrial properties for NAI Heartland.

RT (Rachel Treanor): What does a Kansas City CRE comeback look like to you?

LR (Logan Rose): This year has been a unique challenge for everyone and a year most people would like to forget. Kansas City is full of hard-working and resilient people that can see light at the end of the tunnel. Getting through tough times can open doors to new opportunities.

RT: What was your lightbulb moment to get into commercial real estate?

LR: I came into the CRE world directly out of college, while interviewing and getting a better understanding of what industrial brokerage is all about, I thought my personality traits aligned with what it takes. Having the chance to be a part of a successful industrial team while simultaneously expanding my own brokerage career was appealing to me. I grew up in a commercial construction family, so I was fortunate to have basic knowledge of industrial buildings and their functionality.

RT: Who is your mentor and why?

LR: Russ Pearson and Nathan Anderson at NAI Heartland have served as great mentors to me.  They have taught me the dedication, effort and the attention to detail it requires to be successful in our industry. I continue to learn from them every day – they are excellent teachers.

RT: Who do you mentor?

LR: I mentor my clients on the sales and leasing process and figuring out their true needs in a space. For some of my clients, this is their first-time leasing or purchasing a property and they might have a general idea of what they want, but it’s my job to work out the details and find them a space that will aid in their success.

RT: What gets you excited to get to work every day?

LR: The opportunity to expand my business on a daily basis keeps me excited and motivated. You get out what you put in. Trying to get a little better each day will eventually get me to where I want to be. 

RT: How do you keep your skills sharp in this competitive climate?

LR: The CRE world is certainly a competitive profession. Knowing other young brokers are also trying to advance their careers keeps me motivated to constantly improve and not stay stagnant. Trying to stick to a detailed schedule and plan keeps me sharp.

RT: What deal do you wish for in your future portfolio?

LR: I wouldn’t say I have a specific deal in mind; I’m more interested in continuing to increase the number of transactions I take on. Every deal is different and there is always something you can take away to keep in your tool belt for future use.

RT: What leads do you look for?

LR: My primary areas of focus are Landlord and Tenant representation with regard to leasing, property acquisition and disposition of flex/industrial properties in the KC Metro. I am always looking to make new connections with anyone involved in the CRE world.

RT: How can prospects contact you for more information?

LR: Contact me by email at lrose@nai-heartland.com or by phone at 913-890-2013.

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Staying true to MetroWire Media’s focus on all things commercial real estate, we have added a new, feature column: MWM's BROKER SPOTLIGHT.

The goal is to provide our readers with direct insight to Kansas City’s brightest, up-and-coming CRE professionals.

Discover the true brains behind the build - including their professional focus, career paths, future plans, goals and more.

Know a broker, developer or other KC CRE pro who deserves to be featured in the MWM Spotlight? Please send details to kcnews@metrowiremedia.com.