Conexon sets sights on Crown Center with new downtown headquarters lease

Conexon, a leading rural fiber broadband design and deployment firm, has signed a lease for a new headquarters at 2300 Main St., an 11-story Class A office building near Crown Center and Union Station in Kansas City. The move underscores the area’s growing appeal as a destination for corporate tenants.

The 2300 Main building, which spans approximately 520,000 SF, recently underwent more than $7 million in upgrades, including modernized building systems, lobby improvements, landscaping, and elevator enhancements. These improvements helped raise occupancy from 76 percent to roughly 90 percent.

Conexon, founded by co-CEO Randy Klindt, will consolidate its operations in the new space, which will house network design, construction management, operations, sales, and marketing, as well as a state-of-the-art network operations center and technical support call center. Klindt said the location allows the company to stay close to partners and clients while benefiting from Kansas City’s central location in the Midwest tech and rural broadband markets.

The lease highlights Crown Center’s evolution as a walkable, amenity-rich district combining office space, hotels, restaurants, retail, cultural venues, and open green spaces. Plans for a nearby streetcar expansion, expected to begin operations in 2025, will further improve connectivity for employees and tenants.

Conexon’s headquarters is seen as a boost for downtown Kansas City, reinforcing the city’s emerging status as a hub for tech and infrastructure companies while attracting and retaining talent.

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Header image: 2300 Main Street Building near Crown Center and Union Station will be the new HQ for Conexon. Image | Van Trust Real Estate

Swope Health breaks ground on new 'Village' project

Swope Health has broken ground on Swope Health Village, a 12-acre, multi-phase campus designed to knit affordable housing, behavioral health, primary care, and community amenities into one destination along Swope Parkway in southeast Kansas City. Early site work followed demolition that started in January 2024; a ceremonial groundbreaking was held Aug. 7, 2025.

Planned in phases, the $126 million initiative will introduce senior housing, residential behavioral health care, a health clinic, and supportive services, with outdoor and community spaces that encourage wellness. Public support includes $5 million from the City of Kansas City, Mo., and $7.5 million in state American Rescue Plan Act dollars, alongside a capital campaign to complete funding.

Design and construction partners include Perkins Eastman, HFG Architecture, and Moody Nolan, with McCownGordon serving as general contractor. Perkins Eastman’s plan envisions senior apartments and behavioral-health rooms anchored by health and community buildings; subsequent phases contemplate additional services and adaptive reuse elements. Swope Health has indicated it will add a development partner for later phases.

Above: A conceptual street view rendering of Swope Health Village in Kansas City, Mo. Image | Perkins Eastman

The Village advances Swope Health’s 55-plus-year mission to expand access for patients regardless of ability to pay. The organization opened in 1969 as Model Cities Health Corporation—part of President Lyndon Johnson’s Model Cities program—in the basement of Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church. From serving about 2,000 patients with a $100,000 budget in its first year, Swope Health now provides integrated primary care, dental, and behavioral health to more than 50,000 patients annually across western Missouri and eastern Kansas as a federally qualified health center.

Local leaders describe the Village as a health-forward neighborhood model intended to reduce barriers to care on the city’s East Side. Early concepts have called for affordable senior apartments, residential behavioral-health units, expanded substance-use recovery services, community gardens, and space that could house civic and retail uses—bringing everyday services closer to residents.

As construction begins, Swope Health and its partners say the project will generate construction employment and, upon opening, new clinical and support roles. The campus is also planned to prioritize local hiring and participation from minority-owned firms, aligning the physical build-out with the organization’s long-standing equity mission.

With planning led by a national design team and backed by city and state support, Swope Health Village marks a significant reinvestment in a historic corridor—and a tangible step toward affordable, accessible health care and housing for Kansas Citians from all walks of life.

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Header image: A conceptual rendering of the mixed-use campus of Swope Health Village in Kansas City, Mo. Image | Perkins Eastman

MWM KC Multifamily Summit Recap

The Kansas City multifamily market is evolving fast, and the recent panel hosted by Capitol Federal brought together some of the region's top voices to share insight, strategy, and predictions for the sector's future. Alex Goodpaster, Senior Commercial Lender at Capitol Federal, was the trusted moderator who led the conversation with key players in the industry including:

• Austin Bradley, Development Partner, EPC Real Estate Group

• Theresa Sipe Curtis of NSPJ Architects

• Devon Coffey of Milhaus

• Alex Goodpaster, Commercial Lender, Capitol Federal

• Mike Langford, President, Ronco Construction

• Scott Rosemann, Principal, Rosemann & Associates

The panel opened with optimism about the strength of the KC market. Despite national uncertainty, Kansas City continues to lead the Midwest in rent growth and occupancy. With fewer new deliveries in the pipeline, many expect demand to remain strong in the coming year. The market’s mix of affordability, quality of life, and increasing institutional investment keeps it on the radar for developers and investors alike.

Suburban markets have taken the spotlight in recent years due to construction cost advantages and land availability, although downtown continues to draw interest with major projects like the new soccer stadium and Panasonic plant. Panelists noted that the key to success lies in flexibility—both in design and financing. Creating spaces with adaptable amenities and building strong public-private partnerships will be critical to meeting future demand.

Another strong theme: people-first design.

Tenants are seeking resort-style amenities, smart tech integrations, and spaces that foster community. Panelists highlighted a shift in consumer behavior where renters are willing to pay more for thoughtful features like dens, concierge services, and communal areas.

Looking ahead, the panel addressed challenges such as new building code changes, rising costs, and shifts in investor expectations. Collaboration with municipalities, nonprofit partnerships, and creative planning were discussed as strategies to address housing affordability and workforce housing needs.

The panel wrapped with a lively Q&A, prizes, and a trivia challenge forecasting a projected rent increase of 4% in 2025-2026 — another sign that KC's multifamily market remains one to watch.

Mission Flats: Downtown Living with Style in JOCO

Big things are happening in downtown Mission, and they come in boutique-sized packages. Mission Flats, this ownership group’s first new-build project in KC, is bringing sleek design and walkable charm to one of Johnson County’s most connected neighborhoods.

Located just off Johnson Drive and Nall Avenue, this 89,795-square-foot multifamily development includes two buildings with 77 modern units—ranging from studios to two-bedrooms—plus two ADA-accessible residences and 25 attached garages. Designed by Klover Architects, the buildings blend thin brick and cementitious siding for a crisp, contemporary feel.

“This is our team's first ground-up build with Klover and Mission Flats, LLC, and we're proud to bring this new project into such a well-established neighborhood," said Travis Lavender, project manager for Neighbors Construction Co, Inc., the project's general contractor. "The site has pretty substantial grade changes, which presented some challenges getting out of the ground, but we've worked hand-in-hand with Klover to overcome those issues and now the buildings are really coming along. The City of Mission, and Johnson Drive in particular, are very dynamic areas that are always changing and improving, and we're excited to be a part of those improvements."

Inside, residents will enjoy upscale finishes like white shaker cabinets, granite countertops, stainless appliances, tiled showers, luxury vinyl plank flooring, and chic lighting. Shared amenities include a clubroom, fitness center, coffee bar, and concierge-style leasing office.

The first phase is expected to turn over in November 2025 with full completion by December.

“We’ve been deeply invested in downtown Mission, Kansas, and proudly serving its residents for nearly two decades. Our team is thrilled to bring this new project to life and expand the opportunity to serve even more members of the community through our in-house property management team, At Home Apartments of Kansas City,” says Justin Miller, Managing Partner. “Mission Flats will offer residents upscale apartment living, complemented by our high-quality management service and convenient walkability to all that downtown Mission has to offer. We’re honored to be part of Mission’s continued growth and look forward to contributing to the city’s bright future through further development.”

Steps away from bars, boutiques, restaurants, and breweries, Mission Flats offers the convenience of city life with suburban ease, and a whole lot of personality to match.

Gardner Gets Growing

Big things are taking shape in Gardner as Brinkmann Constructors, Panattoni Development Company, and Cushman & Wakefield break ground on the first phase of Crossroads Commerce Center — a massive new industrial park set to make waves in Johnson County’s booming logistics corridor.

The 467,000-square-foot, concrete tilt-up warehouse will rise on a 24-acre site, serving as the first of eight buildings planned for the master-planned development. Designed to meet the region’s growing demand for Class A distribution space, the facility brings modern functionality, scalable infrastructure, and strategic positioning to one of the metro’s fastest-growing areas.

“Our team is very excited to begin construction on our first building at Crossroads Commerce Center. This project is our firm’s first in the Kansas City market and we recognize it as an important opportunity to put our best foot forward," says Nick Cook, Development Manager at Panattoni.

The initial scope also includes extensive mass grading and new drainage and water retention systems — critical components that will support the future buildout of the entire park.

Gray Design Group is serving as the project architect, bringing a streamlined, tenant-flexible design that blends efficiency with long-term adaptability.

Crossroads Commerce Center is expected to attract tenants across manufacturing, distribution, and logistics sectors — all looking for a modern home in the heart of the Midwest.