Kassie Murphy with Newmark Grubb Zimmer

This week’s MWM Broker Spotlight features Kassie Murphy, associate with Newmark Grubb Zimmer, who specializes in sales and leasing of retail properties in the Kansas City metro and surrounding areas.

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

I have always been fascinated by the structure and set up of communities, specifically how our communities are built and changed. Commercial real estate has always sparked my interest because you are at the forefront of seeing properties change hands, tenants making moves and ultimately how that shapes the communities we live in.

RT: Who do you mentor?

I enjoy mentoring clients on the process of commercial real estate – whether they are leasing or buying. I also love when I talk with somebody considering starting a new business. Being an entrepreneur myself, it is exciting to talk with like-minded people who are ready to take risks and make big changes. I also enjoy mentoring those that are just starting out in commercial real estate, and am always happy to help in whatever ways I can.

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

I love that every day is different in the brokerage world. I get to talk with a variety of people - from a new business concept, somebody that is just starting to look for their perfect space, or a landlord that is looking to reinvent their shopping center to name a few. I also get excited to learn about new projects, discover new properties and learn about how our city is changing through the commercial real estate world.

RT: What keeps you up at night about commercial real estate?

Questioning the true impacts of COVID-19 on commercial real estate and business in general. I think we will continue to see the impacts, both positive and negative, in the coming months and even years.

RT: When did you get your CCIM/other continuing education and how has it affected your career?

I received my Masters in Entrepreneurial Real Estate from UMKC in 2017. During the program, I was working at Newmark Grubb Zimmer as a property manager. Continuing my education, focused on commercial real estate, it really opened me up to other possibilities within the world of CRE. It also gave me more confidence in my knowledge and abilities that I gained and already had to pursue a different path in commercial real estate.

In addition, I have real world experience of owning a women’s clothing boutique - en·sem·ble in downtown Overland Park (Kan.). Going through the commercial real estate leasing process firsthand in the retail world gives me the ability to relate to tenants who are going through the same process. I am also able to talk about the current environment with COVID-19 and how that has impacted retail.

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

I stay in tune with what is happening in the Kansas City market and beyond through networking groups and events (CREW, ICSC, ULI, etc.), talking with everyone from business/retail owners, landlords, tenants and participating in market update calls, both in the Kansas City market and beyond. Above all, the collaboration between our brokerage team at NGZ has been crucial to not only sharpen my skills, but keep me motivated.

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

I would love to connect with a new retailer/franchisee that sees the opportunity of Kansas City and is looking to grow with multiple locations in the market.

RT: What does a Kansas City CRE Comeback look like you?

I envision commercial real estate, specifically related to the retail sector, seeing a world of retailers recreating themselves to provide an elevated experience to customers. COVID or not, I think customers are asking for more when it comes to shopping and dining. Efficiency, customer service and unique experience are going to be key when it comes to retailers making a comeback. This will inevitably impact the types of deals being made in commercial real estate. I also think we will see more creativity for use of the larger department stores/retailers going dark. Kansas City has always been great at creativity and thinking outside the box – so I am excited to see what the next world of retailers brings to the CRE world!

RT: How can prospects contact you for more information?

I can be reached via my cell phone at 913-424-5418 or by email at kmurphy@ngzimmer.com. I can connect over the phone/via email but also enjoy meeting new prospects in person to really to get to know them!

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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.

ULI 2017 Developments of Distinction: 10th & Wyandotte Parking Garage

The 10th & Wyandotte Parking Garage replaced a blighted, 30-year old parking garage at a busy intersection in Downtown Kansas City. Because the structure was an integral part of the neighborhood with high visibility, BNIM enlisted the support of artist Andy Brayman to quite literally breathe art into the design of the parking garage. 

"(BNIM was) interested in having an artist work on the project and not have it be just sort of a piece made that would be tacked onto the garage at the end. The thought of (the art) kind of being integrated into the process early on seemed really different to me and really exciting," Brayman said.

The goal was to create a structure that contributes to the neighborhood and environment rather than merely serving as a placeholder. 

"It was just an opportunity within the garage to do something fun and unique and interesting," said BNIM Principal Craig Scranton. "The holes inside allow for ventilation within the garage so that allows us to be an open parking garage... it was a cost effective, low energy solution to a parking structure, so it’s very functional and also artistic."

According to BNIM Designer Elvis Achelpohl, BNIM sought an artistic yet functional solution to "puncture" the garage and create pattern to ensure air would flow through the structure. 

"The concept is just creating ornamentation with the rules inherent in precast garage typology," Achelpohl said. "I think there are about 5,000 or 6,000 holes in the piece, and Andy was able to make about 10 percent of those have a ceramic tiles that are embedded, and that’s the color you see (from the outside)."

Brayman worked to ensure movement of air within the facade while creating different panels with decorative ventilation holes in a variety of colors, shapes and patterns. 

"It wasn’t just a cookie-cutter thing where every panel was the same as the next," he said.

The result is a functional yet aesthetically pleasing community improvement, one that caught the attention and respect of ULI Kansas City's Developments of Distinction panel of judges. 

"We think this garage is a lot more interesting than before, and I hope it has a positive impact on the next door neighbors," Scranton said.

Project partners include: MC Realty Group, developer; BNIM, architect; Burns & McDonnell, general contractor; Bob D. Campbell, engineering services; Custom Engineering, engineering services; Taliaferro & Browne, engineering services; The Matter Factory/Andy Brayman, artistic services.