Controversial Country Club Plaza Office Project Relocated to Valencia II
By Gabriel Circiog, Associate Editor The opponents of the Country Club Plaza office project have realized their objective as the developer has dropped the proposal for the controversial seven-story tower; therefore, the Neptune Apartments will survive. Kansas City Business Journal reports [...]
By Gabriel Circiog, Associate Editor
The opponents of the Country Club Plaza office project have realized their objective as the developer has dropped the proposal for the controversial seven-story tower; therefore, the Neptune Apartments will survive. Kansas City Business Journal reports the Kansas City Council’s Planning, Zoning and Economic Development Committee was considering withdrawing the rezoning ordinance granted to the developer. Instead, the Kansas City Council is set to endorse a building proposal for the Valencia II site located near 47th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue behind Valencia Place, the Lockton Cos. Inc. headquarters.
The group Friends of the Plaza, which managed to gather 18,000 signatures in a referendum petition drive opposing the initial project, have hailed the deal. Valencia II is comprised of a surface parking lot and a grassy slope which was once intended for a hotel.
The original tenant of the proposed project at the Neptune Apartments site, Polsinelli Shughart PC, has pulled out of the project. Chairman and CEO of the law firm, Russel Welsh said the firm is evaluating various sites. Polsinelli is one of the few big office tenants in the Kansas City market openly considering a large office tower. Committee Chairman Ed Ford confirmed Polsineli has not been involved in the negotiations although a lot of people are still hoping the law firm will call the Plaza home.
In other news, The Kansas City Star reports Independence officials are celebrating the expansion of the federal historic district that promotes Harry Truman’s time in their town. The new enlarged district covers 153 acres and contains 567 buildings. The inclusion of the new properties enables the residential property owners to take advantage of incentives to restore their properties. The owners of the commercial structure can benefit from state and federal tax credits. The commercial incentives are expected to increase investments in Independence Square.
