A collaborative effort to transform the Westside neighborhood adjacent to the Crossroads Arts District is underway for the corner of 17th and Washington streets in Kansas City, Mo.
Streamline Designs, Axis Construction Group and Collins Webb Architecture have united to bring an outdoor entertainment area, office space, greenery and restaurants to refresh the location, formerly known as the Screenland Theater.
Denver-based developer Ken Wolf, with Streamline Designs, purchased the property along with other properties in the downtown and West Bottoms area, {1656 Washington, 1532 Grand, 2045 Broadway and 335 Southwest Boulevard} all planned to be uplifted to new purpose. The trio team is working together on all of the properties.
Washington’s courtyard, formally named Washington Plaza, is of key interest as Wolf aspires to “activate the corner with hospitality.” Washington Street concepts include a bakery, market, sandwich shop, bar and a full-service restaurant with a rooftop patio.
“Axis, as the general contractor, is very excited to partner with Streamline and CW to bring this great building back to life and help revitalize the Westside neighborhood. This building has so much potential and just needed vision, which it has now,” said Elliott Heitman, Axis Construction Group co-founder.
Collins Webb Architecture, a local Lee’s Summit, Mo. firm, has outlined a plan that will breathe life into the properties. Their design reshapes Washington’s current parking lot into a lively courtyard with amenities for the entire community including an outdoor stage complimented with outdoor seating, allowing for events, concerts and other social outings.
In addition, space for future restaurant patrons will keep the courtyard lively at all times of the day. Collins Webb plans to refresh the concrete cityscape by creating a greenspace within the courtyard; a design that provides a pedestrian-friendly streetscape and a welcoming environment.
“While working with Ken Wolf and his team, we took advantage of the building’s form to create an inviting urban oasis. The thought of activating this corner with entertainment, food trucks and restaurant components will energize this part of the downtown core,” said Roger Webb, principal of Collins Webb Architecture.
Other partners on the project include PKMR Engineers and STAND Structural Engineering Inc.
The redevelopment project is in the design phase and the team anticipates to have a permit in 6-8 weeks to begin construction by this fall, with an anticipated courtyard completion date by the end of 2021.