Earth-moving moment in Lee's Summit as industrial spec moves ahead

For Lee's Summit development leaders, seeing industrial spec inventory come out of the ground has often felt akin to moving mountains. That's why seeing dirt finally move at The Grove at Lee's Summit mixed-use site near M-291 and Bailey Road on the south side of the city is so gratifying.

"The Grove will allow Lee's Summit to finally 'get in the game' and compete for industrial relocation and expansion projects," said Rick McDowell, Lee's Summit Economic Development Council president. "Lee's Summit has not even been able to submit proposals for dozens of projects through the years simply because the city lacked viable industrial buildings."

The project's timing is just right, according to Mark Long, executive managing director of Newmark Grubb Zimmer: "The Grove is coming to the market at the same time as some key infrastructure improvements including the Bailey Road overpass and more importantly the new interchange at Highway 50 and M-291. There is a lack of available Class A product in the area, and this project will fill that gap in supply."

On Friday, local dignitaries, city staff and project partners took their shovels to the dirt, signaling the beginning of land clearance for infrastructure to support construction of The Grove's first building, a 200,000 square spec industrial facility. 

"We are excited about beginning this new chapter of development in the city of Lee's Summit. The Grove will be the premiere mixed use destination for people to work, shop and play for years to come. We are grateful to the mayor, city council, city staff and the LSEDC for supporting our vision for the future," said Steve Singh, CEO and managing partner of The Grove.

The mixed-use development will include an additional 200,000 square feet of light industrial space, as well as the donation of property to the City of Lee’s Summit for a future fire station. With an upscale design loosely based upon successful, world-class properties like The Grove at LA and Santana Row in San Jose, California, The Grove promises to transform Lee’s Summit's southern gateway.

Project partners include A.L. Huber, general contractor; BHC Rhodes, civil engineering services; Klover Architects, architectural design, Newmark Grubb Zimmer, real estate broker, and White Goss, legal services.

For more information about The Grove, contact Daren Fristoe, project manager. 

Insight: How business leaders drove Lee's Summit's $16 million interchange investment

Reconstruction of the 40-year-old bridge and interchange at Route 291 South and U.S. 50 in Lee's Summit has been a long-standing priority for the business community. 

Its bottlenecks and congestion actually led Chip Moxley, owner of Tingle Flooring, to choose a location farther north for his headquarters. Going through the site selection process enlightened Moxley that prosperity for south Lee's Summit would be held hostage until the intersection was improved. As a result, Moxley joined forces with the Gateway Business Alliance to lobby for public awareness and investment in transportation projects.

"This interchange is among the most important initiatives we have undertaken, and it is hugely gratifying to finally break ground on this project," Moxley said at the recent groundbreaking for the $16 million, taxpayer-funded diverging diamond project, which includes reconstruction of the Route 291 overpass bridge and an adjacent roundabout.

The interchange won't be completed until late 2018, but Lee's Summit Economic Development Council President and CEO Rick McDowell said its benefits from a business recruiting standpoint are immediate.

"This project opens up hundreds of acres for commercial development," McDowell said. "With The Grove mixed-use development to the southeast slated to begin spec industrial construction this year, and Pinetree Plaza shopping center on the northwest quadrant targeted for redevelopment, this new interchange truly will serve as a new gateway to the south side of Lee's Summit."

The interchange also will help ease congestion through a heavily traveled residential and commercial route while enhancing safety and improving access for pedestrians and cyclists, according to Lee's Summit Mayor Randall Rhoads. 

Radmacher Brothers Construction based in Pleasant Hill, Mo., is providing general construction services for the project, and GBA Architects and Engineers of Lenexa, Kan. provided engineering and design services. Additional project partners include the Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Lee's Summit Main Street, and Friends of Lee's Summit.

The interchange is funded through a three-part cost sharing agreement, with the City of Lee's Summit paying $8 million; the US Department of Transportation paying $6.8 million through funds secured through the Mid-America Regional Council; and the Missouri Department of Transportation paying the remaining $1.22 million.

California developer plans 1M SF business park in Lee’s Summit

On March 31, the Lee’s Summit City Council will deliver its decision on whether to hand over the lead development role for an 85-acre tract of land to California-based Westcott Investment Group. The developer is planning a 1 million-square-foot business park, consisting of commercial office, warehouse, and light manufacturing space. If all goes as planned, Westcott would commence construction on the first phase of 200,000 square feet by the summer of 2017.

Last week, Westcott asked the Lee’s Summit City Council to approve the assignment of development rights granted to Exergonic LLC in 2011 through a public/private partnership development agreement. The City Council voted to direct staff to draft the documents necessary for the assignment to Westcott to take place; That assignment heads back to City Council on March 31 for approval.

Westcott is associated with Diede Construction Inc., a firm with 15 million square feet under management. The local team for Westcott includes Aaron March with White Goss, Daren Fristoe, Jon Plaas, Danny Potts of Klover Architects, and Ryan Elam of BHC Rhodes.

Westcott CEO Steve Singh said Lee’s Summit is a perfect development fit for his firm.

“Approximately two years ago, Westcott began the due diligence process on a potential site for a development in Lee’s Summit. We were drawn to the area by the city’s core strengths of premier health care, schools, parks, historic downtown and the need for additional locally-based employers,” Singh said. “Through our discussions with Exergonix, we determined this specific location as the optimum starting point to deliver the first step in an expansive mixed-use development, ultimately resulting in the creation of new jobs. With our proven development track record, we look forward to partnering with the City of Lee’s Summit and bringing The Grove at Lee’s Summit to fruition.”