Feature Image: A 25-story, 385-foot-high mixed-use building is set to break ground in 2025 at 800 Grand Ave., replacing an existing parking garage. Image courtesy of BR Cos. | Rendering credit: Hoefer Welker
Kenco Logistics Services, LLC has selected a 295,600-SF warehouse and distribution space for their new facility at Liberty Logistics Park in Liberty, Mo.
“We are excited that Kenco Logistics, one of the top ten logistics companies in the world, selected the Liberty Logistics Park and our community for their new facility,” said Lyndell Brenton, mayor of the City of Liberty.
“Their decision to locate here reinforces Liberty’s place as a growing logistics and distribution hub in the Midwest. While Liberty Logistics Park is still under construction, we believe our community values, location and "can do” attitude are the differentiators that attract new businesses, like Kenco Logistics, to Liberty, Brenton said.
In the past five years, the KC region has successfully attracted eCommerce and distribution companies pledging to create more than 10,200 jobs, invest $1.8 billion and occupy 16.7 million square feet, according to a release.
“The KC region’s central location and access to a skilled workforce are key drivers of a successful eCommerce strategy,” said Tim Cowden, president and CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council.
“The KC SmartPort team and our partners in Liberty continue to elevate our region’s competitive advantages to position KC as a leading logistics hub,” Cowden said.
The Kansas City Area Development Council worked with a number of regional partners in attracting Kenco to the Kansas City region, including the State of Missouri, Missouri Partnership, City of Liberty, Missouri, Liberty Economic Development Corporation, CBRE - Joe Orscheln, Evergy, Spire Energy and KC SmartPort.
“It is fantastic to see and support the growth in the logistics and distribution industry in Liberty and the entire KC region,” said Subash Alias, CEO of Missouri Partnership.
“The status of Missouri as North America’s Logistics Center is already well known, and more and more companies, such as Kenco, are taking advantage of one of the best river, road, air and rail infrastructure systems in the nation. When it comes to logistics and distribution, Missouri is a global leader.”
Kenco Logistics Services, LLC
Kenco is the largest woman-owned third-party logistics (3PL) company in the United States. The company provides integrated logistics solutions including distribution and eCommerce fulfillment, comprehensive transportation management services, material handling equipment services, engineering and innovation consulting, and information technology. For more information, visit kencogroup.com.
The stabilization of four historic buildings at Lee’s Summit’s Longview Farm has been completed, setting the stage for full restoration of several structures central to the former show farm’s future redevelopment.
“These buildings serve as a historic cornerstone for Lee’s Summit’s New Longview development area and its $80 million in ongoing housing and commercial projects,” said Mark Moberly, Director of Development with Sunflower Development Group.
The stabilization project included structural repairs and weatherization related work to prevent further deterioration of two red-roofed barns, a farm house, a dairy manger house, and the show farm’s signature arch on the north end of the property.
The City of Lee’s Summit, along with Mariner Real Estate Management, now called Platform Ventures, and Sunflower Development Group, used tax-increment financing to cover costs of the stabilization effort. Full restoration projects will be completed with assistance from TIF district revenues to fund the additional improvements.
The City of Lee’s Summit worked with developers to inspect, plan and design the stabilization work, which will help ensure responsible redevelopment of both Longview Farms and the New Longview area, according to Lee’s Summit Mayor Randy Rhoads “Because historic redevelopment can be complicated and costly, the City was mindful of not over-investing in these structures. The goal was to stabilize, weatherize and shore up the buildings in anticipation of future investment,” said Mayor Rhoads.
In December, Sunflower Development Group announced it would complete $3 million in renovations to the 101-year-old Longview Mansion, 1200 SW Longview Park Dr., by late 2018.
Sunflower Development Group is known for historic restorations of several downtown Kansas City properties, including conversions to hotel, housing and other commercial uses.
Sunflower will secure private financing for the restorations, but public financial support is still needed to cover the extraordinary costs associated with stabilizing and rehabilitating the unique structures, according to Moberly.
“Working with the City of Lee’s Summit, State of Missouri and National Parks Service to secure the TIF and historic tax credits is extremely important due to the financial gap that exists with rehabilitating each property,” Moberly said.
While work on the Mansion began in February, the timeline for full rehabilitation of the remaining structures is uncertain due to the need for significant new construction commercial projects in the TIF, like a new theater, to happen first.
Sunflower Development Group maintains ownership of buildings it restores and leases them to tenants.
**Picture provided by Sunflower Development Group
