Northpoint's $60 million CORE apartment complex heads to Berkley Riverfront

NorthPoint Development's $60 million apartment complex, CORE, is heading to the Berkley Riverfront area in Kansas City, Mo.

The Port KC board unanimously approved the development earlier this week, which includes a revenue bond for up to $49 million in financing. The bond will be repaid by NorthPoint and its financial partner in the project, Northwestern Mutual.

CORE, an acronym for Connecting Our Riverfront to Everyone - also named by NorthPoint - will be the second apartment development in the Berkley Park area and Northpoint's third development in downtown Kansas City in the past couple of years.

The 355-unit community will showcase studio, one- and two- bedroom apartment homes offering a modern and convenient lifestyle within the urban core.

Amenities include a heated, saltwater swimming pool, poolside pickleball and bocce ball, a two-story fitness center and yoga studio, a library lounge, private conference rooms, a 16-ft indoor rock climbing wall, a virtual sports simulator, a WIFI lounge with gaming systems, co-working spaces and a pet spa.

Apartment home finishes will include custom melamine cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, modern backsplash, wood-plank flooring, oversized windows, keyless entry and modern hardware and lighting.

The NorthPoint development includes eight acres, previously owned by Port KC, just east of the Bar K dog park, restaurant and bar. Additional plans include adding a private street through the development as well as 70 parking spaces for public use, including Bar K patrons.

Plans to extend the KC streetcar to the Berkley Riverfront area is also in the works, according to Port KC.

Construction is scheduled to begin this summer, with the first phase of the apartments estimated to be complete in Fall 2021. The entire development is estimated to be complete in Fall 2022.

To view a complete rendering portfolio of the CORE Apartments, you may visit NSPJ's website here.

QuikTrip announces new travel center in Gardner

QuikTrip Corporation (QT) has announced plans to build a new QT Travel Center in Gardner, Ks. at the southwest corner of South Gardner Road and West 188th Street.

“With KDOT and the City of Gardner making the investment to improve the interchange at I-35 and Gardner Road, it opens up the south I-35 corridor for more growth. The location is truly ideal,” said Greg Martinette, president of Southwest Johnson County EDC.

This will be QT’s second location in Gardner, but the first travel center in the area.

“We have a stellar relationship with QuikTrip, and we are thrilled they have chosen to extend their services to the south end of Gardner. QuikTrip is at the heart of the city and an asset to our community,” Mayor Steve Shute said.

KDOT will provide $3.925 million in funding for Phase One to realign 191st St. west of Gardner Rd. and signalization of the intersection ramps. An additional $6 million will be granted for Phase Two for the replacement of the existing Gardner Road Bridge over I-35, with construction set to start in 2022.

KDOT is currently designing a diverging diamond interchange for the area, an emerging concept in roadway design that aims to eliminate left-hand turns into oncoming traffic in an effort to increase safety.

“The location is a perfect fit for the expansion of our Travel Center Network. We hope to have the store open by Spring or Summer 2021,” said Jeremy Crosby, real estate manager for QT.

Coming Soon: Lane4's Liberty Logistic Center

by MWM Staff

LANE4 Property Group plans to break ground within a month on a major development in Liberty, Missouri.

The new development, named Liberty Logistics Center, will be located on a 68-acre tract of land at MO Highway 69 and Liberty Parkway, adjacent to the Ford Assembly Plant and visible from Interstate 35.

“We love this project for a variety of reasons,” said Hunter Harris, partner at LANE4. “Because of its immediate access to I-35 and 10-minute access to I-70, the site is ideal for distribution and logistics-focused users looking for supply chain advantages. Liberty is one of the fastest growing communities in the region, responsive to economic development and a prime location for a growing workforce. Overall, this project encompasses all the characteristics we look for when deciding where to invest.”

The development will feature three large buildings, built on a speculative basis, available for commercial manufacturing and distribution operations.

The largest and first to be constructed building will be 741,000 SF with 36-floor ceilings and up to 146 dock doors. The two smaller buildings will be 80,000 SF and 132,000 SF with 32-foot ceilings, accommodating smaller users. All the buildings will feature 50 by 50-foot column spacing with 60-foot speed bays, office storefronts and clerestory windows around the exterior.

Additionally, the development will include a retail portion, Liberty Parkway Plaza, containing eight pad sites fronting I-35 and the Logistics Park. These pads are ideal for restaurants and retailers to cater to the logistics center tenants and employees, as well as the surrounding population.

This development embodies LANE4’s evolution from a retail-focused brokerage firm to a geographically-focused, full-service firm developing multiple asset classes. The transition into multifamily, senior living and industrial projects began with the firm’s first mixed-use project, 39Rainbow in Kansas City, KS in 2012.

Since then, LANE4 has invested heavily in non-retail assets through both acquisition and development, and now maintains a well-diversified portfolio.

“We’ve developed a solid set of real estate fundamentals that guide our endeavors. Our strength is in understanding the commercial real estate landscape of Kansas City and the Midwest region, and recognizing the potential for successful projects, regardless of asset class,” Harris said.

Construction is expected to begin within a month and the first of three buildings will be complete in late 2020.

LANE4 Property Group serves as the developer for the entire project as well as leasing/sales agent of the retail component. Joe Orscheln with CBRE is providing industrial leasing services. Architecture and engineering services are provided by Davidson Architecture and Engineering.