Office, retail plans emerge to replace former Macy's

A massive, mixed-use vision has emerged for a state-of-the-art renovation to transform the empty Macy’s at 7000 Mission Road in Prairie Village, Kan.

Maryland-based First Washington Realty (FWR) plans to create a 120,000 SF, multi-tenant anchor space for the three-story building, which has sat empty since fall 2019.

The proposed redevelopment includes two levels of retail on Levels 1 and 2. The Offices of the Village would occupy Level 3 and include nearly 39,000 SF of space which can be demised down to as low as 11,000 SF, according to Mike Levitan and Tim Schaffer with AREA Real Estate Advisors, who are leading the office leasing efforts. Depending upon the configuration, tenants would also have access to their own private outdoor terraces.

The new development plans highlight the built-in convenience of dozens of nearby restaurants, retail and grocery shops, salons, a florist, banks and more. Only footsteps away are Tavern in the Village, Dolce Bakery, Cafe Provence, Hen House, TCBY and Rise Biscuits & Donuts, to name a few.

FWR currently owns 103 shopping areas valued at over $5.5 billion in 22 states. Local shopping centers include Brookside Shops, Corinth Square North, Shops at Fairway, Shops of Prairie Village and coming soon - Corinth Quarter.

According to minutes from the Oct. 5, 2020 Prairie Village city council meeting, representatives from First Washington Realty met with Prairie Village mayor Eric Mikkelson and city staff to discuss how the former department store space could be utilized.

If passed, the proposal estimates a completion date for the renovation by spring 2021.

Belton approves residential development trifecta

This week the  Belton (Mo.) Planning Commission voted to recommend approval to Belton City Council rezoning, redevelopment and new additions of three projects totaling over 500 units to serve young professionals, families and seniors.

Recommendations included rezoning from C-2 to R-3A and a preliminary development plan for Center 301 Apartments, at the southeast corner of Towne Center Drive and East Markey Parkway.

In the same session, the commission approved 137 lots for single-family and 10 lots for single-family attached homes in the Autumn Ridge subdivision as well as the addition of 53 senior living units to the Traditions subdivision.

“Growth in the development of single-family homes as we’ve seen today with the Autumn Ridge plan continues at a remarkable pace for the city of Belton,” said Dave Clements, director of planning and building.

“Combined with the 53 new Traditions units, which will help relieve the pressing demand our citizens have for quality senior living options, and the Center 301 multi-family units, we are adding capacity for what could be 1,000 or more Belton citizens depending on how many occupy each residence, Clements said.

The preliminary plan for the developer, Case & Associates, includes the $34 million Center 301 Apartments. The multifamily housing complex will house 306 Class-A units with a mix of one-bedroom / one bath, or two-bedrooms / two baths; many with first-floor garages. All residents will have access to a dog exercise area, walking trail, swimming pool and cabana as well as a clubhouse that features a fitness facility, business center and outdoor kitchen. The developer expects rates to range from $965 to $1,420, depending on market conditions.

In the third phase of the single-family development Autumn Ridge, located on the west side of South Mullen Road, includes 137 single-family and 10 lots for single-family attached homes with a neighborhood playground and trail.

Traditions Villas, a 55 year+ restricted community on the northeast corner of Mullen Road and Sycamore Drive, proposed an addition of 53 garden-level, 868 SF one-story villas with two bedrooms across a total of 10 buildings. Each will feature a front porch and back patio and laundry and has access to a community building which will have onsite management and maintenance offices and provide space for resident gatherings.

Partners on the Case & Associates developments include Architects Collective, Tanner Consulting, Schlagle & Associates and Quist Engineering.

The city council will make final determination on the rezoning for the Center 301 project from C-2 General Commercial District to a R-3A Planned Unit Development, and on its Preliminary Development Plan, at its October 13, 2020 meeting.

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.