What’s new for 2022 in south KC

By Kathy Feist

This year’s list of new construction and new businesses is shorter than usual, most likely due to developers trying to sidestep the long wait and higher prices driven by the supply chain imbalances and worker shortages. Nevertheless, change can be pretty exciting….and there are some very exciting developments happening in south Kansas City.

Along State Line Rd./Leawood

UMB Bank/Van Trust Office Bldg –  On January 24th, UMB Bank employees moved into a temporary structure built at State Line Rd and I-435. The vacated UMB building is scheduled for demolition this spring. UMB will start construction on their new branch bank building in the southwest corner this summer and hopes to be open for business in the spring of 2023. Developer VanTrust Real Estate will not break ground on the new office building until an anchor tenant is identified.  

Three Hallbrook Plaza – Construction is underway for Three Hallbrook Place on approximately 8.5 acres at the southwest corner of State Line Road and College Boulevard. The four-story building will contain about 120,000 square feet of office space with 475 surface parking spots when completed.  Developer VanTrust Real Estate has lined up KBP Foods to occupy a portion of the space.

IDEA Space – Barstow School’s 32,000-square-foot STEAM center in the former HyVee building at 12200 State Line Rd will open to public, private and homeschool students throughout the metro area. The center will be a resource for K-12 students to explore science, technology, engineering, arts and math.  J.E. Dunn is expected to complete construction in the fall. 

Homestead Estates of Leawood – The assisted living facility at 12720 State Line Rd., in Leawood, began a complete renovation, adding 18 new rooms and expanding the kitchen and dining facilities as well as overall updating of the facility. It will soon have 28 assisted living units and 18 memory care units. Completion is expected in early spring. 

QuikTrip – A new QuikTrip will be built at 13201 State Line Rd., replacing a former Applebee’s restaurant. Plans include 14 filling station stalls, the company’s fast food kitchen, and landscaping. Opening date is planned for February 17. 

Regents Park – The plan for a $135 million mixed use development at 135th and Kenneth Rd (southwest corner) is the first major residential project approved in Leawood’s 135th Street corridor. The high-end village-style community will include 60 townhomes, 81 maintenance provided villas, and 193 luxury apartments built above a retail and office space. Amenities include a pool, clubhouse, two pickleball courts and walking trails. Developer Rick Lashbrook says he is still working on infrastructure details and construction of the apartments is imminent.  

Cameron’s Court – The proposed 120-acre site along the north side of 135th St and State Line to Pawnee Ln. will consist of apartments, townhomes, a retirement center and office and retail space. The plan was recently approved by Leawood for zoning. Once plans are approved, Oddo Development expects to break ground in Spring 2023.

Red Bridge

Minor Park Townhomes – Iron Door Development is proposing 34 townhome-style condominiums just south of the Minor Park Golf Course. The townhomes would range in size from 1,700 to 2,000-square feet and would sell for $350,000 to $450,000.The two-story townhomes would be grouped into six duplexes, six triplexes and one quadplex on 3.4 acres. Each unit would include three bedrooms, 2 ½ bathrooms, one single-car garage and one covered space for a second car. A private road would wind through the complex, and a detention pond would be built on the east side. Developers are at the beginning stages of seeking rezoning for the properties.

Martin City 

Sana Lake Recovery Center – Plans are still underway for the 14-acre residential drug and alcohol addiction treatment center at 12942 Wornall Rd. An 80-bed facility with a fitness center, meditation room, and several group meeting rooms will replace the former Kansas City Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing. The apartment complex at the west end of the property will be demolished to make way for a recreation area. A mulched walking trail will wind through the woods on the property.  

Martin City Retail Strip – A25,000 square-foot retail shopping strip with 14 retail spaces at 131st and Holmes Rd. has been approved by the city and will break ground in February, according to Rick Ramsey, owner of the property. 

Ramsey’s – Ramsey’s Burgers closed in November but will reopen as a bakery serving donuts, pastries and homemade bread. Drip coffee will also be available. Owner Rick Ramsey expects the bakery to serve wholesale and retail customers. The shop is expected to open in late February. 

Forest Ridge Villas – Construction has begun at the 10 acres on 133rd and Charlotte St., behind Margarita’s in Martin City.  The 194-unit ski lodge style apartment complex will overlook 300 acres of scenic Jackson County parkland.  Amenities include a clubhouse with an exercise room, theater room and pool, as well as a tornado safe room. Developer Ray Jagoda expects a completion date by next year.  

135th & Holmes Apartments – Expect to see apartments at the southeast corner of 135th & Holmes sometime in the future.   

Sutherlands – It has been confirmed that the Sutherland’s property has been purchased by Edward Merriman with Americo Life. The company has recently been involved in the development of multi-family buildings in north Kansas City and midtown. No word on what is planned for the Martin City property. 

Urbane Apartments off 87th St and I-435 is planning to open its first 28-unit building April 1st. Photo Urbane Apartments

Along Bannister Rd

The Glade/Urbane – The Glade is a 325-acre mixed-use community that will contain 263 garden-style apartments and townhomes, two single-family home communities, a senior center, 4 million square feet of office space within a biotech campus and a mixed-use village that will  include a library, amphitheater, farmer’s market, parks, and walking/biking trails. Indianapolis-based Milhaus is developing the first phase of the project, a 263-unit apartment complex called Urbane at the corners of 87th St. and Drury Ave. The first tenant building, consisting of 28 units, will open in April with the other buildings opening in phases throughout the year. 

 Oakwood Country Club

Oakwood Country Club at 9800 Grandview Rd is undergoing a $5 million upgrade thanks to its purchase in 2020 by Kenneth Block, managing principal of Block Real Estate Services. In July Block purchased the neighboring 29-acre property at 9700 Grandview Rd, with plans to expand the country club golf course with a 9-hole, 3-par golf course and add villas on the property, according to Block. The location was the former Spofford campus owned by the nonprofit Cornerstones of Care.

Cerner’s Village at Three Trails – The 33.4-acre retail area surrounding the Cerner campus, will soon see a Hampton Inn at Bannister and I-435. A Residence Inn by Marriott, Arvest Bank and a Whataburger is planned to open sometime next year. A Taco Bell opened in 2021.  Another six retail pad sites behind the restaurants and bank have been opened for development. Employees will return to the Innovation campus on March 31. 

Blue River Commerce (Bannister Federal Complex) – NorthPoint Development has completed its first of seven buildings at its industrial park at Bannister and Troost. Stainless steel HVAC products maker A.J. Manufacturing will move in early this year. A 438,000 square-foot-building will be completed in February and will house a 5,000-square-foot career development center involving partnerships with the Center School District, Metropolitan Community College and South Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. Construction of a third 391,000 square-foot facility to be partly occupied by plastics manufacturer ALPLA has recently started. The industrial park will bring 1,500 jobs to the area. 

Steeplechase Montessori – The Filson Group says their long-standing (and much COIVD-delayed) plans to repurpose 9201 Wornall Rd are underway. The former All Saints Episcopal Church is being transformed into a state-of-the-art Montessori Elementary School and Preschool.  The new Steeplechase Academy (with a subtle nod to its cathedral roots) will educate nearly 300 students from birth to grade 6 in a Modified Montessori curriculum. The new school will also bring at least 40-50 new jobs to the area.  Steeplechase Academy will develop natural, lush and integrated playgrounds to the south and east of the building.  Numerous sidewalk and street access improvements are also being incorporated into the renovations on the west side of the property.  Completion is expected this summer.

Waldo

Leawood  Village – A mixed-use development is planned for 12 acres at 8680 State Line Rd. The property, originally an overflow parking lot for Ward Parkway Center, will consist of 24 townhomes, 182 luxury apartments above office and retail space, two one-story office spaces and 520 parking stalls. The complex will include a swimming pool and walking/biking trails. Groundbreaking for the apartments is expected this spring followed by the townhomes in the fall, according to developer Doug Weltner, CEO of Weltner Equities. 

Ward Parkway – Ward Parkway Shopping Center has announced that Coldstone Creamery will replace Starbucks with a spring opening. Crumbl, a cookie franchise, is under construction near Trader Joe’s. It is also planned to open in the spring. 

Grandview

Libertad Grandview – The mixed income housing planned for 127th and Lemon Tree Rd off I-49 was voted down 4 to 2 by the Grandview City Aldermen after a petition signed by surrounding neighbors was presented. But attempts are still being made to revive the Vecino Group development with new modifications. Stay tuned. 

Popeyes – The Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen off Blue Ridge Blvd and I-49 has been demolished to make way for a larger, more efficient Popeye’s. Completion is expected by year end. 

Belton

The Encore – NorthPoint Development has broken ground for its $44 million, 322-unit apartment complex at the intersection of 163 St and Turner Rd.  The 11.6 acres will consist of six 4-story buildings, a swimming pool, clubhouse, walking trail and dog park. Plans call for an impressive list of top-of-the-line clubhouse amenities including a chef’s demo kitchen, deluxe coffee bar, state-of-the-art fitness center with separate yoga and spin studio, massage suite, theater/pub room, plus a coworking space and private conference room.  Completion is expected in summer 2023.

Center 301 – Belton’s second apartment complex in 20 years will be located near the Encore, at Towne Center Dr. and Markey Pkwy (behind Target). Center 301 will have 306 units and offer a private dog park, outdoor pool and cabana, and fitness center. The apartments, developed by Case Development out of Tulsa.