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Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation leased 14,894 square feet in One Main Plaza (above) located at 4435 Main St. in Kansas City, Mo.  Jeffrey Kembel and R. Matthew Kiehne of NAI Capital Realty negotiated the transaction along with Dean Heueisen and Jennifer Carroll of Jones Lang LaSalle.

City Center Square Equities II, LLC leased 14,407 square feet of office space to Country Club Bank located at 1100 Main Street, Kansas City, Mo. Evan J. Warwick and Phillip L. James of Grubb & Ellis|The Winbury Group represented the landlord in the transaction.

Edel Weiss Development Company, LLC leased 5,888 square feet of office space to Tangent Rail Energy, Inc. located at 15700 College Blvd., Lenexa, Kan. Evan J. Warwick and Bryce A. Beasley of Grubb & Ellis|The Winbury Group represented the tenant in the transaction.

Top of the Arc, LLC has leased 2,832 square feet at the Cliff I Office Building at 4801 Cliff Drive in Independence, Mo. Allan S. Kaufman, SIOR and Michael VanBuskirk, SIOR, CCIM, CRE, of Zimmer Real Estate Services, L.C., represented the landlord, J.W. Franklin Co., in the transaction.

Industrial

Three companies have signed deals combining for more than 80,000 square feet of warehouse space (above) at Mid-Town Park in Kansas City, Mo. KC Store Fixtures has leased 70,000 square feet, while Hodes & Sutter, Inc. and Belfonte Ice Cream and Dairy Co. each signed deals for 7,200 square feet, respectively. Mark Long, SIOR, CCIM, LEED AP and John Green, of Zimmer Real Estate Services, L.C. represented the landlord in each of the transactions. Wally Bredemeier, of Victor Ross & Co., represented Belfonte Ice Cream and Dairy Co.

Art and Frame Warehouse leased 2,000 square feet of space at Merriam Industrial Park, 9339 W. 53rd Street, Merriam, Kan. Matthew Severns, CCIM of Kessinger/Hunter & Company and Pam Peterson of Block & Company negotiated the lease.

Special Product Company renewed their lease of 32,000 square feet at 8540 Hedge Lane Terr. in Shawnee, Kan.  Phillip Algrim, SIOR of NAI Capital Realty negotiated the transaction along with Scott Cordes of Block Real Estate Services.

Burdiss Lettershop Services Co. leased 20,000 square feet in Widmer Place 5 located at 9765 Widmer in Lenexa, Kan.  Phillip Algrim, SIOR and Erik Lund of NAI Capital Realty negotiated the transaction along with Richard Hamill of Block Real Estate Services.

Color Art Integrated Interiors of Kansas City, LLC renewed their lease of 15,000 square feet in Pflumm Business Center located at 9828 Pflumm Rd. in Lenexa, KS.  Phillip Algrim, SIOR and Erik Lund of NAI Capital Realty negotiated the transaction along with Ed Elder, SIOR of Grubb & Ellis|The Winbury Group.

Retail

Radio Shack has leased 1,923 square feet of retail space at 16010 W. 65th St. in Shawnee, Kansas and 2,728 square feet of retail space at 7588 W. 119th St. in Overland Park, Kan. Radio Shack has also leased 2,100 square feett of space located at 7206 W. 119th Street in Overland Park, Kan., which will be used as the company’s district office. Tony DeTommaso of Block & Company, Inc., Realtors represented Radio Shack in all three lease transactions.

J & J Co., LLC sold 1,292 square feet of retail space to DJC Holdings, LLC located at 823 Massachusetts, Lawrence, Kan. Allison Vance Moore and Marilyn Bittenbender of Grubb & Ellis|The Winbury Group represented the seller in the transaction.

T-Mobile will join Noodles & Company and America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses in the 7,000 square foot building that sits on the northeast corner of Chipman Road and Blue Parkway in Lee’s Summit, Mo. David M. Block and Becky Goodman of Block & Company, Inc., Realtors negotiated the leasing for the building on behalf of the landlord, Summit Northridge LLC. Block & Company Construction was responsible for the construction management of the building.

Art Nails renewed its lease of 1,354 square feet of space at Center 63 Shopping Center, 6236 Raytown Trafficway, Raytown, Mo. Sher Blandford and Audrey Navarro of Kessinger/Hunter & Company negotiated the renewal.

Lamar Place Apartments Sold

CB Richard Ellis announces the disposition of Lamar Place Apartments in Mission, Kan.  Jeff Stingley of CB Richard Ellis’ Multi-Housing Group facilitated the sale of the 108-unit garden-style community. The offering generated significant interest when brought to market earlier this year, resulting in a local private-equity group purchasing the complex in July. The group paid $3.55 million for the property, a 7.5 percent cap rate on historic operations.  The buyer, which has had considerable success with similar vintage product in the area, sees an opportunity to raise rents in coming years through various capital improvement projects.  CB Richard Ellis represented the seller in the transaction.

Members of Urban Land Institute’s Kansas City Young Leaders Group recently mingled, ate, drank and toured the new JE Dunn headquarters building downtown. Called a ”Projects & Pubs Tour,” the first stop after the contemporary lobby (below) was the main hallway (above) that’s dedicated to all past and present Dunn employees and boasts photos and descriptions of the firm’s accomplishments over the decades.

Below, Russ Pearson with Harbinger (right), Stan Meyers with Bartlett & West, Inc., and Jamie Clark with IronStone Bank, began their tour of the LEED Gold certified building that features an impressive curved glass front and wide open office areas.

What good is a downtown loft without a view? Guests checked out these great views from the rooftop and deck (see pictures above and below) at the Liberty Lofts recently during an open house hosted by Boveri Real Estate. Groups toured models featuring high ceilings, contemporary spaces and kitchens, and state-of-the-art fixtures. The prices were right, too – $153,00o for a smaller unit and then up to $343,740 for a two-story loft.

The Boveri group served up dinner for guests in one of the models. Visitors got a chance to talk to agents and even the construction team: John Quinn (below), Evan Harding and Nick Callegari, president of Callegari Construction.

Below, Claudia Scanlon, Ray Orellano and Christina Boveri with Boveri Realty Group were excited to show off the new building that’s across from Union Station, Crown Center, Liberty Memorial and the Freight House & Crossroads Districts.

Below, a view of the building from the south side. Liberty Lofts has new management with Boveri and developer Atlas Properties. Another reason to buy: tax abatement – loft owners will not pay property taxes on the increased value of their units due to redevelopment for 10 years and will only pay 50 percent of the property tax for the following five years.

Good stats: Home prices show signs of stabilizing thanks to tax credit

Even though home sales have dropped, the trend in firming home prices solidified in the second quarter with more metropolitan areas showing increases from a year ago, aided by the past surge in home sales driven by the home buyer tax credit, according to an August report by the National Association of Realtors.

In the second quarter, 100 out of 155 metropolitan statistical areas had higher median existing single-family home prices in comparison with the second quarter of 2009, including 14 with double-digit increases; two were unchanged and 53 metros showed price declines. In the first quarter of this year, 91 areas had higher prices, while only 26 areas experienced annual price gains in second quarter of 2009.

The national median existing single-family price was $176,900 in the second quarter, up 1.5 percent from $174,200 in the same period of 2009. “All year we’ve been seeing relatively flat national home prices, which appear to be supported by market fundamentals,” said Lawrence Yn with the NAR. “Prices in some areas remain below replacement construction costs, so even with an elevated supply of existing homes on the market we don’t expect any consequential movement in home prices for the foreseeable future. Very low inventory of newly built homes also will help to support home values.”

Agents tour updated Leawood cottage

PJ Moody and Brett Pickett with Pickett Property Group stopped by Mary Payne’s Keller Williams listing in Old Leawood recently to check out the many updates on this $500,000 property in one of the most coveted areas of the city. Payne, below with Chris Collins of Keller Williams, show off the staircase and stone fireplace that highlight the living room. Other highlights: a spa-like master bath, gorgeous kitchen cabinetry and a dramatic great room.

Construction of the state-of-the-art performance center is on time; several construction milestones have been reached

Construction of the 284,470-square-foot Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts remains on track for the facility’s completion in 2011. Several project milestones, including completion of the center’s upper ceiling, are finished, yet other tasks remain and must be finished before winter weather arrives.

A crescendo of curved steel and glass, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is the latest addition to Kansas City’s skyline. Scheduled for completion in 2011, the state-of-the-art creation promises to not only revolutionize the local performing arts experience, but also serve as an iconic addition to a city that boasts renowned examples of various architectural styles.

Perched on a prime 14-acre slope in downtown Kansas City, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is 284,470 square feet of carefully engineered performing space that hosts two halls: the proscenium theater (the Muriel Kauffman Theatre) and the concert hall (the Helzberg Hall).

Thanks to a cutting edge acoustical joint designed by Nagata Acoustics, the dual event spaces (as well as the glassed-in lobby) remain isolated in terms of sound, meaning they can host simultaneous events without the worry that sound from one will bleed over to another. Kyle McQuiston, vice president of JE Dunn Construction Co. and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts’ project manager, says the acoustic technology has aided the building’s construction.

“The two halls are actually separate within the bigger structure, primarily because of the acoustic separation,” he said. “It keeps bad sound out and, to some level, water, so we’ve been able to move the interior finishes along at a similar rate to the exterior work.”

McQuiston said the project is on schedule, and one of the bigger interior milestones has been reached: the completion of the upper ceiling and its intricate finish work. The temporary scaffolding has been dismantled, and “the venues are wide open so we can get a sense of how the finished space will feel,” he added.

Although construction is on track, McQuiston said there are seasonally sensitive tasks that need to be completed in the coming weeks, namely “a concentrated effort to enclose the building. This includes precast on all vertical surfaces and stainless roofing on all of the roof except the south side, where cable-supported glass is used instead. I think we’re on pace to have that work completed by November.”

Other project components will be completed next year, including the installation of a custom-built Casavant organ that is being built off-site and is expected to arrive in April.

Despite the appearance of the mostly covered structure, McQuiston said many people “are surprised to see how far along we are. We’re actually using permanent heating and cooling, which is important to control humidity for the wood and plaster products.”

Numerous technical and engineering details have contributed to the project’s complexity, including a low-velocity duct-work system, comprised of over-sized ducts, that will pump cooled or heated air into the center by way of individual vents installed under each seat. The larger vents ensure adequate heating or cooling while eliminating the noise produced by traditional duct-work systems.

The project has also required a larger contracting responsibility from JE Dunn. Because of the extended scope of the project — including intricate interior work and the building’s curved steel and glass exterior — JE Dunn has been joined by 70 additional subcontractors, when the typical project requires 50.

“We’ve expanded to split up some scopes and include some specialty scopes because of this project,” he said.

The Midtown Real Estate Exchange (formed to keep realtors, organizations and others updated and connected as to what’s available on the commercial market in the urban area) hosted a property bus tour this week, followed by a lively lunch at MainCor, 32nd and Main. Above, Jamie Lowe, National Bank of Kansas City, Lisa Provence (center), Alpha Title, Kerrie Tyndall, Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, and Kim Bartalos, Block Real Estate Services, hopped off the bus to tour the Reeves Wiedemen redevelopment project at 3637 Main. Below, Courtney Beaumont with Chartwell Realty donned his hard hat as well.

“We had a Broadway/Westport bus tour in May and that went really well,” said tour organizer Susan Scott, vice president of Greg Patterson & Associates, a commercial real estate firm that focuses on the Midtown area and the urban core. “This time, the bus was full, and it focused on properties basically from Crown Center to 47th, State Line to 71 Highway.” Scott said the Midtown Real Estate Exchange meets every quarter. The bus tour also included folks like Ruben Alonso (at lunch, below left with Scott, Tyndall, and Greg Patterson of Patterson & Associates). Alsonso is manager of the New Market Tax Credits Program in Kansas City. He came along because much of what’s on the market is eligible for these tax credits.

Downtowners hear from Cleaver about downtown revitalization

The room was packed at the August Downtowners luncheon as McKellar Consulting sponsored the event featuring Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, who talked about his efforts on the national level to help KC, as well as downtown revitalization and the “green impact zone.” Above, Babette Macy, past president of the Downtowners, talks with  Michael Burke, an attorney with King Hershey who is also a mayoral candidate.

Marvin Manlove (left) and David Rezac, both with 360 Architecture, and Kathy Schikevitz with KS Consulting, attended the luncheon. They learned about The Green Impact Zone initiative is an effort to concentrate resources — with funding, coordination, and public and private partnerships — in a 150-square block urban core area to demonstrate that a targeted effort can literally transform a community. This national model for place-based investment is now underway in the heart of Kansas City‘s urban core. Below, Zach Flanders and Akeem Clark with BNIM head back to work after the event.

Golf tournament benefits medical outreach

The World Outreach Foundation Golf Classic will be held Oct. 12 at the Country Club at Loch Lloyd. This year, (above) former Chiefs wide receiver Eddie Kennison will chair the benefit for medical outreach, and James and Teresa Lippert of C.R.E.S. Management will serve as honorary chairs.   James Lippert encourages everyone to form a foursome, consider a sponsorship, and join them for a great day of golf and fun activities, followed by a banquet with delicious food and drinks as well as live and silent auctions.  The auction items, Lippert added, are fantastic – last year he bought a week vacation in Hawaii.  And if you can’t fill a foursome, don’t worry. Lippert has several retired Chiefs players who will be happy to join you on the golf course! The golf classic begins with a 10 a.m. registration, lunch and putting competition, and then a noon shotgun start. The awards banquet, raffle and auction start at 5:30 p.m.  The World Outreach Foundation Kansas City was formed to develop alternative ways of delivering healthcare to the needy in the world, with the specific goal of developing facilities that would stay in recipient countries. For every dollar donated, this mission provides $100 worth of medical services. Last year alone, the medical clinic in the Philippines brought care to 13,377 patients. For more information and registration information, contact Joe Taylor at 816-305-4088 or jostyalo@pga.com. To register online or download a tournament brochure, go to www.worldoutreachfoundation.com and click under “events.”

The challenge in urban living these days is that most buyers want “new,” but they also want “old.” For example, when searching for the popular loft, buyers still want lots of space, but often that’s hard to come by in much of the newer construction to which they’re attracted. That’s why the over-sized, modernized Rockhill Condominiums near the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art at 44th and Rockhill Road are popular with buyers.

“We took the building down to the stone foundation and the brick exterior,” said Mike Tiehen of Tiehen Realty, which markets, manages and oversaw construction of the 15 condos that are in three buildings. Each condo (see kitchen and living room below) is completely new, from the wiring to the plumbing to the ceilings, and stretches through an entire floor, he said, with the smallest one at 2,000 square feet. “The location in the old, historic Southmoreland neighborhood is so appealing to people,” Tiehen said. “This area made the top 10 best historic neighborhoods in the nation, and that’s quite a stamp of approval, and when empty nesters see our price per square foot, they realize this is great space for the money.”

The condos range in price from $315,000 to $360,000 and include a garage. Of the 15 condos, seven have sold and two are reserved, Tiehen said. Lauren Hruby of Chartwell Realty is helping to sell the properties; Dana Blay with DBL Architecture is the project architect; Rob Morgan with First Community Bank is the mortgage lender; and subcontractor Chris Eakin completed the construction. For more information, go to www.rockhillcondoskc.com or call Tiehen at 913-208-0085.

Home-ownership still has many benefits, study shows

Homeowners are more active in their communities, benefit from improved education opportunities, and report higher levels of self-esteem and happiness when compared to renters, according to leading research. A new report from the National Association of Realtors explores the impact of stable housing and the positive social outcomes resulting from home-ownership. “Home-ownership is an investment in your future – home is where we make memories, build our lives and feel comfortable and secure,” said Vicki Cox Golder, owner of Vicki L. Cox Real Estate in Tucson, Ariz. “Owning a home has long-standing government support in this country because home-ownership benefits individuals and families, strengthens our communities and is integral to our nation’s economy.”

Homeowners move far less frequently than renters, and therefore are embedded into the same neighborhood and community for longer. This allows for social cohesion, ultimately resulting in social benefits and stronger communities. The report also found that homeownership has a significant impact on educational achievement. For instance, the decision by teenage students to stay in school is higher for those raised by parents who are homeowners compared to those whose parents are renters. Access to economic and educational opportunities are also more prevalent in neighborhoods with high rates of homeownership. Furthermore, studies have shown that changing schools frequently due to moving impacts negatively a child’s educational outcome. Civic participation is another social benefit resulting from homeownership and stable housing. Homeowners are proven to be more politically active and are more likely to vote in local elections compared to renters. In addition, homeowners have a higher membership in voluntary organizations. Studies have shown that homeowners are more likely to believe that they can do things as well as anyone else, and they self-report higher ratings on their physical health. “The research shows that homeowners report higher self-esteem and happiness than renters, resulting in better overall health, both physically and psychologically,” said Golder.

Fry-Wagner has all the right moves

The Fry-Wagner name is nearly synonymous with Kansas City.  Since the Fry family has been in the transportation industry since 1908, it’s no wonder.  Fry-Wagner has a large footprint in the Midwest, with branch locations in Lenexa, Kan., St. Louis, Columbia, and Springfield, Mo., and Belleville, Ill.  With over a century of service as their foundation; Fry-Wagner’s extensive knowledge and experience has prepared them for the unexpected in any unique moving situation. They have the resources and stability to invest in good equipment, hire motivated associates and provide in-depth training. This results in a relocation company that is dedicated to providing the right relocation solutions for all customers’ personal and business needs.  They value their customers and will do everything they can to gain and retain their  trust. The residential team (above) includes Gary Meier, Relocation Consultant, Dan Kulp, Relocation Consultant/Manager, and Darrell Bandel, Relocation Consultant. Fry-Wagner wants to be the mover of choice in the Kansas City area.

One satisfied customer wrote: “Everything was so well taken care of! We really appreciated the personal attention you gave us. We are now settled, and are happy to report that our items arrived in wonderful shape. The phone calls we received throughout the process to communicate with us and to see if things were going well with the move were so terrific too. Moving is a stressful time, and you made it go as well as it could.”

They provide do-it-yourself to full-service moving and storage. Fry-Wagner wants to make moving into a new home a pleasant and positive experience.  That is why they embrace every aspect of moving.  If a customer wants to do most of the work alone and pay little out of pocket – they offer United Containers.  It’s as easy as 1 – 2 – 3.

1) They deliver to your door

2) The customer packs what they want, when they want

3) They keep the container at the customer’s place or they can move it wherever the customer wants it to go

If their services are needed, they are just a phone call away – whether a customer needs a little help or a lot.  They can help the customer inventory, pack, crate, clean, load, deliver, unload, unpack, un-crate, place and polish. They are here to do whatever the customer needs them to do to make their transition to their new home a happy one. Their diversified services include:

• United containers: do-it-yourself or let-us-help (below)
• Household goods moving: local, long distance & internationally
• Expert packing and crating
• Fine art handling
• Short term, long term, and permanent storage
• Customized relocation services for seniors
• Commercial re-locations
• Office and Industrial re-locations
• Project management
• Asset disposition and disposal
• Asset management
• Technical disconnect – reconnect
• Business records storage (HIPAA Compliant)
• Library and high density file re-locations
• Warehousing and distribution
• Trade show hauling and set-up
• Laboratory and clean room re-locations
• Hospitality and FE&E, and installations
• Government services: GSA contract-holder

Fry-Wagner is proud of the significant steps they have taken toward becoming more environmentally conscience.

• They are committed to recycling all unusable paper and cardboard.
• They are transitioning from corrugated carton to recycled plastic FastCrates.  Using FastCrates helps to save on fuel and resources, while eliminating unnecessary cardboard waste. Reusable, recyclable, and less expensive; FastCrates are a smart choice for greener moves.
• Their drivers use equipment that lowers emissions and are more fuel efficient, monitor vehicle tire pressure daily to ensure they are maximizing their mileage per gallon, and use Pre-Pass transponders to avoid stopping, starting and idling at weigh stations and tollbooths around the country.
• Our facilities utilize 6-lamp T5HO fixtures with occupancy sensors and our HVAC systems are programmed to conserve energy.
• Image scanning – through Trans Docs – has allowed them to become much more efficient and eliminated the need for reams of printed paper that in the past was filed away and stored in their warehouse.
• They have partnered with several other large businesses in the area to keep their end of life items, such as furniture and electronics, out of landfills through socially responsible asset disposition.

Fry-Wagner was voted “The best mover in America.” The American Moving and Storage Associate (AMSA) named Fry-Wagner Moving & Storage – Lenexa, Kan., the nation’s 2008 “Agent of the Year Service Excellence Award Winner. ” They have also received the AMSA Fleet Safety Award in 2008 and 2009. The highest United Van Lines achievable honor was bestowed upon Fry-Wagner in 2008 when named the “President’s Quality Award Winner.” For more information, go to http://www.fry-wagner.com/residential/kansas-city-moving-services.html, http://www.fry-wagner.com/residential/do-it-yourself.html, and http://movingforyou.wordpress.com/

Populous, Turner Construction oversee Arrowhead Stadium renovations

Totaling $375 million, the extensive renovations to Arrowhead Stadium have modernized the existing facility. The three-year project involved a number of local companies, including Populous as designer and Turner Construction as construction manager. The improvements include, among other amenities, expanded restroom facilities, an enclosed club level, an upgraded sound system and new video board displays.

The intimidation factor is a key part of the Arrowhead Stadium experience. Opposing teams cower at the deafening roar of Kansas City Chiefs fans, resulting in Arrowhead’s reputation as one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL. That sort of visceral feeling inspired by the stadium, as well as its iconic status, made it a challenging renovation project, says Kelly Kerns, a principal with Populous and project manager on the Arrowhead Stadium renovation.

“Working on a renovation is more challenging than starting fresh and with a clean slate,” Kerns said. “But when you start from scratch, you sometimes don’t have as many cues to work from or sometimes it’s just not as rich of a starting point because we’re able to take advantage of elements that cannot be repeated or created.”

Those older yet significant elements, most notably the stadium’s bowl-shaped seating and the large parking lot that allows plenty of pre- and post-game tailgating, now blend with new additions to make the stadium modern and functional while still preserving its rich history. The three-year project (which required an additional two years during the renovation’s initial stages, including design and planning approval) resulted in the addition of updated amenities that Kerns said “were expected and really needed from a business plan perspective of a modern stadium.”

Existing restroom facilities were doubled, increasing the men’s facilities by 50 percent and creating an equal number of men’s and women’s areas. Points of sale at which guests can purchase food and drink were also increased by 50 percent, and the stadium concourses “were, in many cases, doubled in width,” Kerns said, which allows for improved flow of pedestrian traffic and easier access throughout the stadium.

The existing clubroom area (as illustrated in the above rendering) also received a major face-lift and is now enclosed and air-conditioned. Kerns said the advantage is not only a better experience for Chiefs fans, but also for those seeking to use Arrowhead Stadium for other occasions. Stadium officials developed “a range of hospitality spaces of different types and sizes to be used on a non-game day basis,” Kerns added. “There are about 18 special spaces that can be rented, so the idea is that these areas will help transform Arrowhead into a year-round destination as opposed to just football, soccer and concert events.”

One of the most interesting additions to the stadium, Kerns said, is a new tower that houses a new concourse designed for ADA accessibility. It’s also “a new area for people who are seated in the upper bowl, so that’s really converting less desirable seats into highly desirable seats—they’re somewhat more protected from the sun and the elements,” Kerns added. “It’ll be a neat active zone, we think, for probably the younger, hipper, wilder crowd.”

Although Kerns admits the renovation proved challenging at times, the result produced a modern, more accessible stadium that also has an increased degree of sustainability. Because the facility was improved, as opposed to bulldozed and built from scratch, those involved with the project were able to “repurpose, retain and reinvigorate” the building, Kerns said, and “were able to save what is over a million square feet of existing space that was able to be re-purposed and extended through another generation as opposed to being torn down and sent to a landfill.”

The Arrowhead Stadium renovation is another successful project in Populous’ diverse architectural portfolio. The firm has completed a number of sports projects, including the Kauffman Stadium renovation and creation of the Kansas City Wizards’ new facility in Kansas City, Kan., scheduled to open next year. Populous was also a member of the design team that created the Sprint Center, all projects that have not only had a positive impact on Kansas City but also highlight the company’s purpose.

“That’s really where we get our name, Populous, in that the types of projects we are involved in are all devoted to drawing people together,” Kerns said “We work with projects that create environments that people like to come to and have memorable experiences and enjoy.”

Images courtesy of Populous

The Fry-Wagner name is nearly synonymous with Kansas City.  Since the Fry family has been in the transportation industry since 1908, it’s no wonder.  Fry-Wagner has a large footprint in the Midwest, with branch locations in Lenexa, Kan.,  St. Louis, Columbia and Springfield, Mo., and Belleville, Ill.

The Fry-Wagner commercial team (above) includes (top row, left) Eric Gephart, Patrick von Holt, Sharon Buford, Jerry Wagner – all Certified Commercial Consultants; (bottom row left) Rick Dyer, Commercial Sales Manager; Chris Thacker, Commercial Sales Services; and Frank Senatore, Executive Vice President. Not pictured are Buddy Johnson, Commercial Account Manager and Gina Printy, Commercial Client Services.

With over a century of service as their foundation, Fry-Wagner’s extensive knowledge and experience has prepared them for the unexpected in any unique moving situation. They have the resources and stability to invest in good equipment, hire motivated associates and provide in-depth training; resulting in a relocation company that is dedicated to providing the right relocation solutions for personal and business needs.  The company values its customers and will do everything they can to gain and retain trust.  Operating as a full-service relocation company, Fry-Wagner provides diversified services, including:

• Commercial relocations
• Office and industrial relocations
• Project management
• Asset disposition and disposal
• Asset management
• Technical disconnect – reconnect
• Business records storage (HIPAA Compliant)
• Library and high density file re-locations
• Warehousing and distribution
• Fine art handling
• Trade show hauling and set-up
• Laboratory and clean room re-locations
• Household goods moving: local, long distance and internationally
• Customized relocation services for seniors
• Hospitality, FE&E and installations
• Government services: GSA contract holder
• Short term, long term, and permanent storage
• Expert packing and crating
• Portable storage

Jeff Cox, CEO and president of Haake Companies in Overland Park, called his experience with Fry-Wagner “excellent.” Cox added, “From the beginning your company’s representatives impressed me with their professionalism and organization, making our move easier, less stressful and minimizing our down time.” Even when the project’s move-in date changed, Fry-Wagner adjusted flawlessly, Cox said. “No matter how many times we relocated and changed furniture, files and art, etc, they did their job with a positive attitude.”

Fry-Wagner also said they are proud of the significant steps they have taken toward becoming more environmentally conscience.  These include:

• Committed to recycling all unusable paper and cardboard.
• Transitioning from corrugated carton to recycled plastic FastCrates.  Using FastCrates help save on fuel and resources, while eliminating unnecessary cardboard waste. Reusable, recyclable, and less expensive; FastCrates are a smart choice for greener moves.
• Drivers use equipment that lowers emissions and are more fuel efficient, monitor vehicle tire pressure daily to ensure the maximizing mileage per gallon, and use Pre-Pass transponders to avoid stopping, starting and idling at weigh stations and tollbooths around the country.
• Our facilities utilize 6-lamp T5HO fixtures with occupancy sensors and our HVAC systems are programmed to conserve energy.
• Image scanning – through Trans Docs – has allowed them to become much more efficient and eliminated the need for reams of printed paper that in the past was filed away and stored in the warehouse.
• Partnered with several other large businesses in the area to keep their end of life items, such as furniture and electronics, out of landfills through socially responsible asset disposition.

Fry-Wagner was voted THE BEST MOVER IN AMERICA. The American Moving and Storage Associate (AMSA) named Fry-Wagner Moving & Storage – Lenexa, Kan., – the nation’s 2008 Agent of the Year Service Excellence Award Winner.  They also received the AMSA Fleet Safety Award in 2008 and 2009. The highest United Van Lines achievable honor was bestowed upon Fry-Wagner in 2008 when they were named the President’s Quality Award Winner. For more information, visit their website and blog at http://www.fry-wagner.com/corporate/kansas-city-office-moving.html and http://movingforyou.wordpress.com/

The Kristin Malfer & Associates team braved the heat this week and held a tour of three upscale homes, including two at the Links At Lionsgate, a popular Overland Park golf course community that winds around the Nicklaus Golf Club south of 137th between Nall and Lamar. Most of the homes in the Links were built in the last 10 years. A quick look at what’s currently on the market shows about 15 properties for sale ranging from just over $2 million to $580,000. Above, broker George Burns with Reece & Nichols stops by the Malfer listing at 13724 Horton Drive with agent Krista Wilson. This $2.45 million home features a putting green, pool, indoor basketball court and a spectacular golf view.

Jeff Vaught

Any new projects that you, and the rest of The Vaught Group, are focusing on to finish out 2010?

First of all, I’m focused on hiring an administrative assistant.  We have seen a definite up-tick in activity and have managed to slide through the last 18 months with limited staff, but we are too busy to continue that.  I’m also focused on upgrading our technology and migrating to a more virtual environment.  As for real estate, our focus has always been to put deals together, whether it’s a $50,000 office building or a $1.5 million industrial building, we work to get the deal done.  One interesting project that has recently come about is our contract with the Unified Government to sell surplus property.  The UG has several great sites and we are just starting to get them listed and marketed.

Wyandotte County has been flourishing with large projects, such as the Kansas Speedway and The Legends at Village West. What is it doing now to make itself attractive for future development?

I think one of the better moves Wyandotte County has made was making Brent Miles the go-to guy for all of the Economic Development Council.  When there was a city staff EDC position as well as the Wyandotte Development Inc. position, it created confusion and sometimes conflict.  Shifting everything to Wyandotte EDC, everything from housing to large industrial projects, absolutely streamlines the process and creates a single point of focus.  Combine that with the current investment in new curbs, medians, pavement, etc., and Wyandotte County will start to capture some people’s attention.

In which direction do you see the Kansas City industrial market heading over the next three to five years?

I think the ability to borrow money, or lack thereof, will have a negative effect for at least the next two to three years.  For years all we saw were buyers, and now we have a whole lot of tenants with very few buyers.  Mostly what I’m getting now are businesses looking to lease rather than purchase, and the ones that want to purchase quickly find out how difficult it has become.  Owner/users definitely seem to be the borrower of choice for banks, so for strong companies now is the time to buy.  I do believe that Kansas City is one of the most stable markets in the country and we will recover quicker and stronger than other markets.

How do you see the industrial and land development side vs. the office and retail side taking shape for 2011?

I’m glad I focus on industrial and land and not on retail and office. I think Kansas City is very over retailed. It’s very tough; there are just a lot of vacancies in retail.

Word around town is that you have a passion for hunting and fishing.  Do you have a favorite area where you like to hone your skills?  Which is your favorite and why?

If I could make a living off of hunting and fishing, I would. I bird and deer hunt in northwest Kansas — in the Hoxie area.  I love the rolling hills and bluffs as you go further north. It’s an incredibly beautiful area. My new passion is fly-fishing.  I catch bass, channel cats, bluegill, crappie, everything on a fly rod but so far my favorite is to make a run down to the White River in northern Arkansas and do some trout fishing.

With the Chiefs getting ready for their first pre-season game on Friday, how do you think the team will fair this year?

After holding season tickets for about 20 years, I gave them up a few years ago; I don’t pay much attention any more. I did put heart and soul into it for a while, but then I gave up the season tickets. My passion is hunting and fishing now. I’m also busy with my three kids (the youngest is only four weeks old).