Leawood mixed-use expected to kickstart activity along 135th Street corridor

Leawood leaders say a just-approved $135 million mixed-used project along 135th Street near State Line Road may be exactly what the city needs to energize development activity on the east end of the well-traveled corridor.

Lashbrook Cos. on Monday received city approval for its development south of 135th Street between Kenneth Road and Chadwick, which includes 117 high-end villas, 182 luxury apartments, and retail space. The project also includes plans for an 81-unit assisted living facility developed by Johnson County Management.

“I’ve said for a long time that this is a great corridor, but it just needs a kickstart. It needs something to happen to bring the momentum,” said Bob Regnier, president of Bank of Blue Valley and whose family owns the land. “Rick (Lashbrook) has great product and the timing is right.”

The development strays from 135th Street Corridor development guidelines adopted by the Leawood City Council in 2013, so securing approval required some give-and-take.

“This is a good compromise and allows for forward movement. Just since the announcement, I have received a couple phone calls from people interested in that area,” Regnier said. “A nice project like this is announced, and all the sudden people are talking about it. People see the possibility.”

In addition to filling strong demand for attached villa-type property in Leawood, the project will allow the City to connect 137th Street from Kenneth Road to Metcalf Avenue.

“That route, like 133rd on the north side of 135th, will become a major east-west connector for not only vehicles, but for pedestrian and bicycle traffic as well,” said Kevin Jeffries, president and CEO of the Leawood Chamber & Economic Development Council. “The office, retail, multifamily, and senior living components proposed for later phases will also be a welcome addition to the 135th Street Corridor.”

Construction on the unnamed project is set to begin in late 2019 with completion expected 2-3 years later.

Opus' mixed-use poised to trigger Westport Road redevelopment

The Opus Group's new six-story mixed-use apartment project at the corner of Westport Road and Broadway Boulevard is expected to serve as a catalyst for neighborhood redevelopment along Westport Road between Broadway and Main Street. 

Although it won't be completed until the spring of 2020, the 254-unit multifamily project with 10,000 square feet of ground-level retail already is attracting tenant interest.

"Westport hasn't seen a project of this size in 50 years. This redevelopment will revitalize the neighborhood," said Chris Kamberis, a Kansas City-based commercial developer who owns property adjacent to the multifamily project and is seeking tenants to add to the unique neighborhood feel and expansion.

With plans in the works to extend the Kansas City Streetcar to Westport, Kamberis added, the OPUS multifamily project is right on time.

"With the addition of OPUS' mixed-use apartment complex and new tenants, Westport will continue to be an attraction for both locals and city visitors," said Kamberis, owner and president of CTK Real Estate.

The Opus Group began construction of the mixed-use project this fall. Opus Development Company, LLC is the developer in partnership with CTK Real Estate; Opus Design Build, LLC is the design-builder; and Opus AE Group, LLC is the interior designer, architect and structural engineer of record. Financing for the project is provided by Central Bank of the Midwest.

Fogel-Anderson will manage Mission Gateway construction project, timetable

Fogel-Anderson Construction Co. has been named Construction Manager for the long-awaited Mission Gateway redevelopment project at Johnson Drive and Shawnee Mission Parkway, marking a departure from the typical General Contractor model.

“The complexities of Mission Gateway and our determination to use the best in class contractors led us to utilize a construction manager over a single prime general contractor,” said Tom Valenti of The Cameron Group, which is co-developing Mission Gateway with GFI Development Company. “We believe that Fogel-Anderson Construction, with their more than 100 years of experience in the Kansas City market, will enable us to deliver a development that residents of the area will be proud to live, work, play and stay in.”

Emery Sapp & Sons began site preparation in September, setting the stage for the first phase of construction that includes apartments, building pad sites and public road improvements. Future phases include a hotel, office building, 40,000-square foot food hall, and destination entertainment venue, all slated for delivery in 2021.

“Mission Gateway has a number of moving parts that are interrelated. Fogel-Anderson’s role as Construction Manager is to build and maintain the master budget, schedule, and plan the logistics of the entire development,” said Roger Summers, Fogel-Anderson vice president. “As construction ramps up on the separate buildings, our team will coordinate the activities of dozens of prime and subcontractors working on site.”

Neighbors Construction will serve as General Contractor for Mission Gateway’s first vertical construction, a multifamily-over-retail building adjacent to a parking garage. Located on the development’s north side along Shawnee Mission Parkway, the residential portion of the project is targeted for a spring 2020 completion.

Kansas City-based architecture design firm El Dorado, Inc. designed the overall master plan.

Bluhawk Apartments prepare for blastoff

Work has blasted off at the Bluhawk Apartments located at 167th Street and Lowell Avenue in south Overland Park, with mass blasting taking place over the past month. 

Haupt Construction has been busy clearing the site of native limestone with the help of three surface drill rigs. A rock crusher then processes large chunks of limestone to be recycled as gravel filler for use throughout the entire project. In October, HarenLaughlin Construction will begin laying footings and foundations in preparation for vertical construction to begin.

“It’s rewarding to see this project move closer to vertical construction. Bluhawk Apartments are a critical component of the overall 300-acre Bluhawk mixed-use development,” said Bart Lowen, vice president of Price Brothers Development.

When completed in early 2020, Bluhawk Apartments will include eight buildings and a total of 201 apartment units ranging from one- to three-bedroom floor plans with higher-end interior features such as granite countertops. Each building will have garages as well as open-space parking.

The community will include a basketball court and convenient location adjacent to the Shawnee Mission Health-Blue Valley full-service hospital, Cosentino’s Market, and Bluhawk’s many shops and restaurants.

Opus kicks off construction of Westport multifamily mixed-use project

The Opus Group (Opus), along with Central Bank of the Midwest and CTK Real Estate, officially began construction on a 256-unit mixed-use apartment community at Westport Road and Broadway Boulevard. Completion is targeted for spring 2020. 

“We’re pleased to be building our presence and business in Kansas City by contributing a modern mixed-use project in the vibrant neighborhood of Westport,” said Joe Downs, vice president/general manager of Opus Development Company, LLC. “Westport has a unique, historical aesthetic, and this project will bring that attitude to life in a contemporary way.”

The six-story project will feature 10,000 square feet of ground-level retail, two suites, and 254 apartment units in a variety of floor plans, ranging from junior studio to two-bedrooms. Standard luxury finishes include nine-foot ceilings, stone countertops, designer backsplash and lighting packages, vinyl plank flooring, stainless steel appliances, oversized windows, and in-unit washers and dryers.

The project features a club room and roof-level terrace with views of Westport and the Country Club Plaza, as well as a larger, lower-level amenity terrace with pool, fire pits, lounge areas, grilling and dining capabilities and an adjacent club room. Additional amenities include fitness equipment with Fitness On Demand™, conference rooms, co-working vestibules, spa, dog wash station, secure bike storage and storage space for residents , as well as two levels of secure underground parking with direct access to residential floors.

Opus Development Company, LLC is the developer, Opus Design Build, LLC is the design-builder and Opus AE Group, LLC is the interior designer, architect and structural engineer of record.