Savoy Tea Co. joins The District at Lenexa City Center

Copaken Brooks has announced Savoy Tea Company will be joining the Shops at The District at Lenexa City Center.

This is the first Kansas City location for the company, which has locations throughout northwest Arkansas and Oklahoma City, Okla.

Founded in Rogers, Ark. in 2011, Savoy Tea Co. carries over 150 specialty and rare teas sourced from tea gardens and family farms spanning across the world. Each of the specialty flavored teas are crafted by Savoy Tea Company, formulated to perfection by their professional team of Tea Specialists at the Savoy Tea Laboratory in Fayetteville, Ark.

“Kansas City has such an incredible small business community, and we’re thrilled to join those ranks,” said Bill Beyer, a Certified Tea Specialist and Tea Blender who co-owns Savoy with his wife, Tina Beyer, an Internationally Certified Tea Sommelier.

Bill and Tina Beyer have been educated by the Specialty Tea Institute of America, an accredited institution that leads the nation in tea education curriculum.

Savoy Tea Co. plans to use its team of experts to teach a diverse arrangement of tea classes, specialty tastings, and communal workshops partnered with fellow local Kansas City businesses to educate the community on all thing’s tea.

“We’re excited to plant our roots in Lenexa, which we hope will be the first of many locations throughout the metropolitan area,”Beyer said.

Erin Johnston, vice president of retail brokerage at Copaken Brooks, represented both Savoy Tea and The District in the deal.

“We toured various spaces throughout the greater metro with Savoy, but it was clear that The District was the best fit for their expansion into the Kansas City market, Lenexa’s new downtown continues to be a top destination for small businesses, and we’re proud to have a unique specialty shop like Savoy at our property,” Johnston said.

When fully developed, Lenexa City Center will consist of more than 2 million SF, including civic components for the City of Lenexa, nearly 1 million SF of office and retail and 375 residential units. The District Shops will include a variety of unique stores, restaurants and cafes in the heart of Lenexa’s new downtown.

Lenexa moves forward with sizable residential development

On Monday, the Lenexa Planning Commission approved a sizable portion of a residential development that will be located at the southwest corner of Monticello Rd. and 90th St. in the heart of Lenexa, Kan.

The planning commission unanimously recommended approval of eight out of nine items of the development, including a concept plan for the site; a preliminary plan for the Copper Creek Apartments and Townhomes on the north end; and rezoning required for nearly all components of the project.

The commission voted 8-1 to recommend approval of rezoning for the high-rise apartments.

Located on 187 acres, the proposed Watercrest South and Copper Creek project totals 1,239 housing units.

The project includes preliminary plans for 44 townhomes in seven buildings, 688 multifamily apartments in 14 buildings and 257 lots for single-family homes.

Conceptual plans were approved for the mix of a 100-unit multifamily apartment, 150 senior living units and 187,000 SF of commercial space to potentially include two hotels.

Because of the recent decline in demand for office space, previously included office space plans were removed from the city’s future land use map and replaced with additional single-family homes to the west of Watercrest Landing North.

The project also hinges on completion of Woodsonia Dr., which will run north and south through the area. City staff proposed completing the new street in one phase in conjunction with early phases of the private development, owned by Q.C. Development, P & L Development LLC. and Watercrest South LLC.

The next Lenexa City Council meeting will be held August 18, 2020, where they will continue to discuss other components of the development.

$60 million 'The Residences at Galleria' to open in 2022

The Residences at Galleria, a $60 million multifamily complex located adjacent to the former Sprint World Headquarters in the Galleria 115 development in Overland Park, Kan., is set to begin construction this summer and slated to open in 2022.

The four-story, luxury apartment complex is included in the first phase of the 5-plus acre development by Block Real Estate Services, LLC (BRES). The $350 million Galleria mixed-use development master plan includes two apartment buildings, office space, retail and entertainment.

JLL Capital Markets (JLL) arranged $21 million in joint venture equity partnership with Hartford Investment Management Company (“HIMCO”) on behalf of BRES for the development of the 322-unit, Class-A, podium multi-housing community.

"We are excited to partner with HIMCO on this project, and, from the beginning of discussions with them, it was clear that we had a shared vision for the quality of this project and its high-demographics location within Overland Park” said Ken Block, BRES managing principal.

The Residences include 322 one-, two- and three-bedroom units and will average 927 SF. Features include high ceilings, large walk-in closets with custom shelving, high-end appliances and finishes, European-style cabinetry, outdoor terraces, in-unit laundry rooms with full-size washers and dryers, double-paned windows and more.

A hallmark of the new community, designed by Hoefer Wysocki, is the walkable lifestyle. Adjacent to the site is a thriving commercial corridor, multiple entertainment districts, theaters, and endless restaurant choices. Outdoor patios are linked to The Residences by walking trails that encircle greenspace, sitting areas, a rolling rock waterfall and dog park.

"We are very excited to work with Block Real Estate Services on the Galleria. This community will raise the bar on luxury living in the area,” said Hoefer Wysocki vice president and director of multifamily design, Chris Armer, AIA, NCARB.

The project will feature the best community amenities offered in the submarket and include a large resort-style swimming pool with shallow ledge features; pool deck with cabanas, hot tub, sports courts and water features; fitness center with Peloton bikes, massage therapy and virtual training; outdoor group fitness areas; clubhouse with fireplace, game room and social media room; executive business center; dog park and pet spa; and covered and surface parking.

“Galleria will be BRES’ most exciting project to date, building on our successful experiences with this high-end podium product, which allows for a large, outdoor amenity deck and other amenities that are unique in this market,” Block said. 

The JLL capital markets debt placement team representing the borrower was led by executive managing director Jody Thornton, senior director Mark Erland, director Matt Benson and analyst Kellan Liem.

Other partners on the development team include Titan, Polsinelli and McClure.

The Donovan prepares for June opening in Lee's Summit

Phase two of Summit Square's luxury apartment complex, The Donovan, is expected to open this summer at 837 NW Donovan Rd. in Lee's Summit, Mo.

Developed and managed by NorthPoint Development, the 327-unit, multifamily community will showcase one and two bedroom units, highlighted by a cross-sharing amenities program with their phase-one counterpart.

The long (and impressive) list of unique and modern amenities includes a grotto-style plunge pool and meditation spa, zero-entry pool, 16-ft rock climbing wall, 24-hr cyber cafe + gourmet coffee bar and a private yoga studio.

"In my twenty-nine years of managing, leasing and opening brand new apartment communities in the Kansas City metro, I have never been so excited about a project. We can not wait for everyone to see how spectacular this community will be," said Pam Lakey, multi-site manager for NorthPoint.

The apartment amenities also include:

• 24-Hour cardio blast fitness center

• Poolside BBQ center

• Media lounge with jumbo screen sports simulator

• Resident event kitchen

• Detached and attached garages

• 24-hour emergency maintenance

• Poolside ping-pong & foosball

• Hammock garden

• Three-seasons solarium resident lounge

• Steam/dry sauna

• Controlled-access buildings

• Elevator-serviced building

• On-site guest suite

The Donovan plans to move in their first residents on June 20th and hopes to stabilize occupancy in less than a year. One-bedroom units start at $959/month; two-bedroom start at $1,449/month.

Summit Square opened in December of 2017 and reached stabilization in April 2019. To date, Summit Square is 96% occupied, increasing occupancy during the COVID-19 shutdown. 

Project partners include NSPJ Architects and Neighbors Construction. Construction will continue on the remainder of the five-building multifamily community, expected to be complete by January 2021. 

For more info, photos and leasing information, you may visit their websites at www.thedonovankc.com and www.summitsquarekc.com.