Metro North Crossing Apartments begins construction, sets fall 2021 opening

Vertical construction began this week on the $60 million Metro North Crossing Apartments at the intersection of Highway 169 and NW Barry Road in Kansas City, Mo.

The redevelopment of the former Metro North Mall site includes 249 luxury one and two-bedroom apartments nestled into a community of 36 two-story townhomes; and 30,000 SF of retail, office and restaurant space.

General contractor, MW Builders and architecture firm, Rosemann & Associates, have joined forces to bring an impressive array of amenities for the apartments, including a large resort-style swimming pool with multiple outdoor lanais, equipped with an outdoor grilling kitchen and comfortable seating.

The outdoor space also features a large clubhouse for private parties and events, pickleball courts and a walking trail. Other amenities include a designated off-leash area for pets, a private exercise facility and covered garage parking.

From the onset of the redevelopment, the development team envisioned a “Main Street Village” concept for this area of the project, with walkable shops, restaurants and outdoor gathering areas. The ground level retail and office aspect of the townhome building is the initial step in the realization of this vision, according to the developer.

The announcement comes on the heels of the anticipated September grand opening of T-Shotz, a three-story, next-generation golf and entertainment complex featuring 66 climate-controlled hitting bays with state-of-the-art technology.

“It’s exciting to see different phases of our project come to life. With T-Shotz opening soon and the apartments underway, we feel like we’ve got some great momentum going,” said Dan Horn, project manager for the Metro North Crossing redevelopment.

T-Shotz guests can enjoy playing beginner-level games in the bays and virtual replicas of world-famous golf courses. Other amenities include a sports bar, an upper level restaurant with an elevated menu and multiple event spaces for private and corporate events.

T-Shotz is on track for an early September grand opening. The retail space and apartments are anticipated to be ready for occupancy in the Fall of 2021.

Read related October 2019 MWM article: Construction underway at Metro North Crossings' T-Shots

Construction underway at Metro North Crossings' T-Shotz

Metro North Crossings' main tenant anchor, T-Shotz, is taking shape at the northeast corner of Highway 169 and NW Barry Road, the site of the recently demolished Metro North Mall.

Earlier this week the driving range netting and pole installation were installed and general contractor, B Dean Construction, began erecting structural steel this week for the 55,000 SF golf simulation complex.

“We are very excited to be a part of this project. T-Shotz will be an outstanding golf and entertainment destination for Metro North Crossing and the surrounding area," said Randy Dean, B Dean Construction partner and project manager.

T-Shotz will feature 66 climate-controlled, technology-enhanced hitting bays and suites on three levels where guests can eat, drink and socialize while overlooking the expansive 200-yard green-turfed target range.

Designed for all ages and skill levels, the new venue will differ from other golf entertainment complexes in a variety of ways, including:

• Guests can “play” several famous golf courses, play unique golf games and compete on target golf games from their hitting bay as their golf shots are projected to both a high-definition monitor and television displaying games, courses or targets.

• Experienced golfers will enjoy advanced golf ball tracking technology (the same golf professionals use) and get real-time data on every swing, including club-head speed, spin-rate and distance.

• T-Shotz will include two restaurant/bar venues. Both restaurants will offer local farm-to-market comfort food and shareables, with the top-level venue having an added oyster bar and lounge area.

• More than 125 high-definition televisions will broadcast sports programming, making T-Shotz the hub for sports and entertainment viewing in the Metro.

• T-Shotz will offer dedicated special event and private event spaces for small to larger groups for corporate outings, tournaments, fundraisers, kids and teen parties and more.

“T-Shotz will provide an entertaining atmosphere to compliment the redevelopment’s retail, other entertainment and upscale contemporary apartments. With enticing food and beverage, and outstanding service, T-Shotz will attract more than just golfers,” said David Horn, project manager for Metro North Crossing Redevelopment.

The grand opening for T-Shotz is scheduled for the Spring of 2020.

Vertical construction of a 249-unit luxury apartment complex will also begin this Spring and will include 30,000 SF of boutique retail and restaurant space. The final phase of the apartments is expected to be complete by 2021.

West Bottoms’ first micro apartment project moves forward

A Cleveland-based developer has secured $52 million in financing for its West Bottoms Flats multifamily project, clearing another hurdle in its effort to redevelop five historic warehouse buildings into so-called micro apartments.

The $66 million redevelopment includes 265 one-room apartments plus structured parking and more than 5,000 square feet of commercial space. Grandbridge Real Estate Capital LLC and Brown Gibbons Lang & Co. LLC facilitated the finance package on behalf of MCM Co. Inc.

With an average footprint of about 600 square feet, micro apartments-or microflats- are considered the next frontier in multifamily housing. Designed to appeal to Millennials, the units are self-contained living spaces that include a kitchenette, sitting space, sleeping space, and bathroom. With completion targeted for 2020, West Bottoms Flats apartments are expected to rent for between $1,000 and $1,200 a month.

“The target market is young professionals who desire smaller units at a lower price point in a heavily dense, urban community with strong neighborhood amenities and connectivity,” said Doug Bates, Grandbridge vice president for the Kansas City market. “The concept is relatively new to Kansas City, but other Midwestern cities have a seen a great deal of deliveries and success with this concept.”

Situated on 2.4 acres between Ninth Street and St. Louis Avenue, Hickory and Wyoming streets, West Bottoms Flats is the first historic multifamily project in the West Bottoms neighborhood just west of Downtown Kansas City and the first metro-area project for MCM Co. Inc.

“Given its linkages to and the strong demand drivers in the neighboring River Market, Downtown, and Crossroads markets, the West Bottoms is well positioned to be the up and coming urban lifestyle community in Kansas City,” Bates added.

The financing package includes more than $24 million in federal and state historic tax credits equity secured through partners Enhanced Capital and Historic Equity Inc., as well as a $31.85 million senior construction loan and $20 million historic tax credit bridge loan. Project lenders include Kansas City-based Blue Ridge Bank & Trust, Jefferson City-based Hawthorn Bank, and Ohio-based Huntington National Bank.

A variety of incentives and abatements were secured through programs administered by the City of Kansas City and Jackson County, Missouri.

With new tenants and timeline, Mission Gateway seeks financial partner

Mission Gateway has landed a 90,000-square foot destination entertainment tenant that “will be like nothing in the Kansas City market.” That’s the word from Tom Valenti of The Cameron Group, which is redeveloping the former Mission Center Mall site in partnership with GFI Development.

“The lease is signed. These are seasoned operators, with six units throughout the country, mostly in the south. They know what they are doing,” Valenti said of the unnamed tenant.

The concept will be an ideal complement to the 40,000-square foot food hall concept celebrity “Top Chef” Tom Colicchio is bringing to Mission Gateway and comes as plans for an Element by Westin hotel are being finalized.

“These new tenants have caused us to accelerate our business plan,” said Andy Ashwal of GFI Development. “We originally told the City (of Mission) we will build in phases, but we will now go ahead with the entire project.”

The new timeline also is accelerating the need for working capital.

“We just finished the offering memorandum to go out and raise money,” Valenti said. “We’ve hired Mission Capital to put together a capital stack that will add up to $140- $150 million for the entire project. That way we can move forward all at once.”

Mission Gateway’s first phase began last fall and includes 170 market-rate apartment units located above ground-floor retail in three buildings. Neighbors Construction is expected to complete the multifamily portion of the project in April 2020.

Fogel-Anderson Construction Co. is serving as construction manager for the entire redevelopment project at Johnson Drive and Shawnee Mission Parkway.

El Dorado, Inc. designed the overall master plan. NSPJ is architect of record for the Element hotel.

Oggi Lofts redevelopment brings 25 market rate units to downtown KC

The former Oggi Modern Furnishings building at 600 Central St. in downtown Kansas City’s former Garment District has found new life as Oggi Lofts, a 25-unit market-rate apartment project.

Ted Murray of Colliers International teamed up with Andy Homoly of Homoly Construction on the $6.7 million redevelopment designed by architecture firm Clockwork Architecture + Design. Rosin Preservation helped secure historic tax credits for conversion of the 110-year old, five-story brick building located on the National Register of Historic Places.

As with any historic redevelopment, Oggi Lofts offered its share of surprises and conundrums.

“Anytime you get into an older building that needs to be gutted, there are always surprises,” said Murray, who pursued the project independent of his role as Co-CEO of Colliers’ Kansas City office. “This project was so different and really created a need for problem solving during the construction process.”

For example, the building’s entire stair tower required full replacement, yet historic preservation standards required that the original hardwood flooring remain. Another hurdle involved successfully obtaining approval from the National Park Service to add windows on the north side of the brick building. But perhaps the biggest challenge involved designing and constructing units around the building’s many columns, which could not be touched in the name of structural integrity.

“We had to conserve space, and Andy (Homoly) and the construction team really thought through how to integrate all the vertical columns into the various units,” Murray told MetroWire Media during a tour of the project.

A hallmark of Oggi Lofts is a rooftop deck with panoramic views of the Missouri River, and Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport. The property includes a basement fitness center and dedicated storage units as well as on-street parking and door locks and utilities with smartphone access. With rents between $1,000 to $2,265, each unit includes hardwood flooring, onyx countertops, and washer/dryer.

For Murray, the historic redevelopment was a refreshing departure from his work with Colliers, which involves primarily office, retail and industrial leasing and sales.

“This has been so much fun,” Murray said. “I love downtown and I’m just thrilled with how this turned out. It’s been a labor of love.”

Oggi Modern Furnishings vacated the property in 2007. Tax abatements were approved through Kansas City’s Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority (LCRA).