What’s in store for 2024: Construction in south KC

By Kathy Feist

Permits pulled for new multi-family housing in Kansas City were down in 2023, only 35 pulled according to the Home Builders Association. This is apparent in our annual report on new construction and development in south KC where very little headway has been made on many plans.   

Martin City area

Arrowhead Lakes – A housing development consisting of 549 single-family homes and a clubhouse are planned for 363 acres on the southeast corner of Holmes Road and 150 Hwy. Home values will range from $500,000 to $2 million. Amenities to the property will include a clubhouse, swimming pool, basketball or tennis/pickleball courts, connecting sidewalks and pedestrian trails throughout the property. The property includes three lakes of varying sizes. 

Blue Ridge & Wornall – Despite much activity to the vacant assisted care facility, no permits have been pulled or plans submitted that indicate a sale.  Owner Brook Chateau Land LLC appears to be remodeling the building to improve sales potential. (For the record, Sana Lake Recovery Centers , is no longer associated with the property. There are no plans for a drug and alcohol residential treatment facility.)

135th & Holmes – Both the Martin City Paintball and Sutherland’s properties at 135th and Holmes have been purchased by Edward Merriman with Americo Life. No plans have been forthcoming. 

G’s Garage  – G’s Garage, a 21,500 square foot car museum with a 22-space parking lot received plan approval in the fall of 2022. There has been no activity since on the project which is the dream child of car collector/technology guru Gary Fish. 

The Edge Apartments – JCM Ventures proposed a $26 million multifamily housing development consisting of 93 units at 138th and Madison Avenue, behind the Mercedes Benz dealership. The property was for “workford affordable housing” for those making between $20,000 and $73,000 a year. Rent is expected at $1100 monthly. According to developer Jake Mooney, the plans did not meet state requirements but he plans to resubmit in the fall with design changes requested by the state. 

Tilden Station  – The $30.1 million multifamily housing development planned for 1 W 135th Street, (former Nigro building) consists of 211 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments.  The four-story building is intended to provide workforce housing. In August, Revive Capital extended their deadline to 2026. 

Red Bridge 

Limeview Development – A residential plan by Limeview Development proposes 19 single family homes on 5.6 acres of wooded property at 12800 Holmes Rd. Activity to clear trees has begun despite efforts to stop the development.  

115th & Holmes Rd – The plan for 34 townhomes at the southeast corner of 115th and Holmes Rd. are on hold as Iron Door Development seeks the purchase of one adjacent property.  Original plans depicted two-story townhomes grouped into six duplexes, six triplexes and one quadplex on 3.4 acres. Each unit would include three bedrooms, 2 ½ bathrooms, a single-car garage and a short driveway. Plans are currently on hold. 

112th & State Line Road – The property at 112th Terrace and State Line Road will eventually have five homes on five lots. For now, the property is constructing infrastructure for the property. 

Van Trust Office Bldg –  Construction of the new UMB Bank building was completed in 2023. However, developer VanTrust Real Estate will not break ground on an adjoining office building until an anchor tenant is identified, which has yet to occur.   

Barstow Schools – Barstow Schools, 115th and State Line Rd., is constructing a new $3.9 million athletic building which will include locker rooms for home and visiting teams, restrooms and concession stand, a large dance studio/multipurpose space and a covered outdoor patio. A second floor will feature golf simulators, a viewing area and press box. Completion is expected during the 2024-25 school year. The second driveway from State Line Road (south of the original entrance) is underway with curbs, gutters and a first layer of asphalt. It will be completed in the spring, alleviating traffic on State Line Road. 

Leawood

Regents Park – The infrastructure for Regents Park mixed use development along the south side of 135th Street, west of State Line Road, is now complete. A new entry street, the future “High Drive” off 135th street will be completed before summer. The high-end village-style community will include 60 townhomes, 81 maintenance provided villas, and 193 luxury apartments with retail and office space on the first floor. According to developer Rick Lashbrook, the foundation has been poured for the first twin villas. Construction on townhomes will commence later this year. An age-restricted condo, Village Co-op is being built on the northeast corner of the site.   

East Village of Leawood – The 120-acre property that travels along the north side of 135th St between State Line to Pawnee Ln. will consist of 648 apartments, 84 townhomes, 26 twin villas, 35 single family homes, 40 condos, a 100-unit assisted living center and office and retail space. Construction has begun on the first phase, infrastructure for the first phase, which is the infrastructure for the single family homes and twin villas, according to developer Rick Oddo.  

Leawood  Village – A mixed-use development on 12 acres at 8680 State Line Rd., west of Ward Parkway Shopping Center, is expected to be completed this summer, according to developer Doug Weltner, CEO of Weltner Equities. It will consist of 24 townhomes, 182 luxury apartments above office and retail space, two one-story office spaces and 520 parking stalls. 

Waldo

1500 Meadow Lake Apts – EPC Real Estate Group is in the midst of building a three- to four-story apartment complex with 213 units and 237 parking garage stalls at 1500 Meadow Lake Parkway, northeast of State Line and 76th Street (near HyVee). Plans include 6,500 square feet of commercial space, and two courtyards, a pool, including a fitness center, lounge and golf simulator space.

Waldo 74 Broadway – EPC Real Estate Group is also developing Waldo74Broadway, formerly the location of The Well at 74th and Broadway. The Well has been demolished and a foundation is being dug for the five- to six-story complex.  The $90 million project 15,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor, 25 studios, 176 one-bedroom units, 77 two-bedroom units, and a 364-space garage divided for resident and customer parking. A small outdoor courtyard sits in the middle of the development. 

Romanelli Reserve – This three-story apartment complex at 200 W Gregory Blvd. will consist of nine units with 10-foot ceilings, high-end kitchen amenities, hardwood floors and 8×12 foot balconies. Developer Marshal Blount, known for condo conversions on the Country Club Plaza, says the apartments will begin leasing in April and be move-in ready in June. Monthly rent is $2000.   

Marlborough School – The Marlborough Community Land Trust has been filling dumpsters with debris and roofing material at the Marlborough Elementary School site near 75th and Troost. The school will become a community hub, with plans for the first floor to fill with tenants sometime this year. 

Bannister Corridor

The Villas at Oakwood – Located at 9700 Grandview Rd., 29 acres have been transformed into a 9-hole per Par 3 golf course surrounded by 16 stucco villas, four cottages and other amenities. The villas are complete. The cottages are expected to begin construction soon, according to developer Ken Block. The property connects to Oakwood Country Club, 

Trails at Bannister – PedCor Investments’ affordable housing plans have been approved for a 342-unit apartment all-income community on 24 acres south of the Cerner campus, 93rd and Hillcrest near the Kansas City Southern railroad tracks. The plans include 19 three-story buildings featuring one-, two- and three-bedrooms and garage parking. Thirty-three units will be reserved for families dealing with disabilities. 

Grandview

Falcon Trails Subdivision – The new townhome development is planned for 3501 Blue Ridge Extension and will consist of 20 townhomes (40 units) on about 10 acres south of the Fountain Lake Subdivision. Plans include a small playground and nature trails along a nearby creek. The three-bedroom, 2-½ baths, 1-car garage units plan to rent for $1800 to $2000 per month. Development begins in March.

Goode Ave. Townhomes  – Another townhouse development is planned near City Hall on four acres at 1401 Goode Ave. The Goode Townhomes will consist of 30 two-story townhomes (60 units) and 12 three-story single family homes. The plans are still awaiting final approval. 

Belton

Arrowhead Airpark – The Arrowhead Airpark LLC has submitted plans to the Cass County Commissioners for a 159-acre luxury housing development located at 203rd St. and Prospect (east of Holmes). Homeowners in the luxury home village can park their single-engine airplane in individual hangars adjoining their homes. Newly adjusted plans include realigning the runway to avoid flying over homes, adjusting flight path limits, eliminating hangars for storage only and allowing only estate homes with large hangars or stand-alone hangars with attached apartments. Plans for the septic system and water drainage are under review by the county. A public hearing for the airpark and rezoning plans are expected in early spring.