What’s to come in 2021: A Boom in Industrial Parks

By Kathy Feist

(Our series “What’s to Come in 2021” looks at new development and businesses in south KC. – Ed)

Despite the pandemic, south Kansas City continues to experience growth. Perhaps the largest growing sectors for the area are industrial parks and apartment complexes. The two feed off each other: one creating jobs and the other housing employees and their families. 

Industrial Parks

Along the I-49 corridor are four industrial developments in the works, amounting to over 8 million square feet of development. That number is over half of the total square footage of all new industrial park developments in the metropolitan area, according to the Kansas City Business Journal. 

Blue River Commerce Center — NorthPoint Development will invest $135 million to redevelop the former Bannister Federal Complex. Work recently began on the 242,353 square foot building Blue River 1, estimated to cost $16 million and scheduled for completion by April 15. The site at 9311 Troost will include seven buildings totaling 2.6 million square feet of new construction and creating around 2000 jobs. 

I-49 Industrial Center — At the former Richards-Gebaur airport, Platform Ventures will build six industrial buildings, ranging from 67,600 to 770,640 square feet on 410 acres.  The $250 million development may include a Home Depot distribution center. 

Raymore Commerce Center — At I-49 and North Cass Parkway in  Raymore, a 136-acre industrial park is in the works. Plans by VanTrust Real Estate LLC include three to four buildings, totaling 1.9 million square feet. 

Southview Commerce Center — This 148-acre industrial park in Belton has already leased all three buildings after Chewy Inc. announced it would build its $143 million, 769,000 square foot fulfillment center there. The NorthPoint Development park will have a total of 1.8 million square feet of industrial space.