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Blue Hills Community Services Center construction moves forward

An exciting transformation is taking place at 5008 Propsect (above) in Kansas City, Mo. After being vacant for several years, a 14,168-square-foot building is being completely renovated and will become the new Blue Hills Community Services Center and Contractor Incubator.

The facility will include space for green career development, as well as training and business development for small construction contractors. Office space will also be available for progressive community development, programs and services.

BHCS Executive Director Joanne Bussinger says the original plan for the building was a multi-family, low-income housing complex, yet as BHCS pursued funding for the project, it wasn’t identified as a priority.

“We went back to the drawing board, and that’s when the market changed and allowed us to see how we can repurpose this building and develop a solution that’s a priority for the urban core, the surrounding neighborhoods and the Third and Fifth districts.”

Under the direction of development partners including developer Blue Hills Community Services, architect JUNK Architects, Inc., and construction management agent Rau Construction Co., interior demolition and asbestos abatement is now complete. Bussinger says that contractors should begin work in April, with a completion scheduled for October or November.

Because the facility is going to include space and resources to help those interested in green careers and projects, it’s only fitting that the space will be renovated to fit LEED silver standards.

Once the building is complete, it will house several business offices for Blue Hills Community Services, as well as offices and gathering spaces for neighborhood associations, training, etc. The south side of the building will feature 10 business offices for small business contractors seeking to build their ability to bid on projects and grow capacity. Parameters for qualifying businesses are still being established, but Bussinger says BHCS has already received letters of intent from more small business contractors than the building has space.

The community center has become a truly collaborative project, made possible by a number of strategic partners: Blue Hills and Town Fork Creek neighborhoods; the City of Kansas City, Mo.; EnergyWorks KC; Greater Kansas City LISC; Mid-America Regional Council; Green Impact Zone; Kansas City Power & Light; Missouri Small Business Development Division; and Full Employment Council.

“We could not have done this without each of these strategic partners,” Bussinger says.

The new building will become a cornerstone of BHCS’ ongoing efforts to improve neighborhood growth, empowerment and sustainability. The organization provides community development, programs and services focused on enhancing the quality of life for urban residents and neighborhoods through coordinated and innovative strategies.

“We can now better use this building to meet the demands of the community,” Bussinger says.

KC CREW gathers for annual IMPACT awards

KC CREW members gathered this week at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts to mingle and celebrate the organization’s annual IMPACT awards ceremony. Each year, KC CREW honors individuals and projects that have made an impact in the local commercial real estate industry as part of KC CREW’s larger mission, “to advance to the success of women in commercial real estate by working toward parity in opportunity, influence and power for women in the industry,” according to the organization.

The architecturally impressive Kauffman Center made for a stunning backdrop for the ceremony, which kicked off with remarks from current KC CREW president Linda Laurence of Missouri Bank. Laurence recognized presenting sponsor Stewart Title, represented by Diana Ennis (pictured below.)

Outgoing KC CREW President Marcia Charney (below) with Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP received a gift of jelly beans and a clock to pay homage to her sweet tooth and her ability to keep things running smoothly and on time.

Laurence recognized Integra Realty Resources’ Shanna Vance (below) as the KC CREW 2011 Member of the Year, thanks to her dedication to the organization that includes fulfilling communications and Board of Director responsibilities, among a myriad other duties.

KC CREW’s 2011 Project of the Year was presented to Chatham Apartments, represented by developer Tony Krzsnich (below). Located at 3701 Broadway in Kansas City, Chatham Apartments is a restored 40-unit apartment building for those over 55 years of age. The project opened in October and is nearly full.

Last, but certainly not least, Laurence and KC CREW presented the 2011 Impact Award to the women of the Kauffman Center of the Performing Arts, including the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts Board members: Chairman Julia Irene Kauffman of the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation; the Honorable Peggy J. Dunn, mayor of the City of Leawood; Shirley Bush Helzberg, civic leader; and Jan Kreamer, civic leader. Kauffman Center President and CEO Jane Chu was also recognized.

Additionally, KC CREW honored the Kauffman Center’s design and construction team: Sarah Lindenfeld, Moshe Safdie and Associates; Kayo Kimotsuki Kallas, Nagata Acoustics; Amy Slattery, BNIM; Jennifer DeWitt, BNIM; and Candice Kucharzak, JE Dunn. Attending honorees gathered during the presentation for a group photo (below).

“A building like this only comes along once in a lifetime, and many women were instrumental in the realization of the project,” Laurence said. “It has been a remarkable journey for the Kansas Citians who have helped to make this vision a reality.”

~The Harvey Kronblum Jewish Food Pantry has a new place to call home~

The Jewish Family & Children’s Service has purchased the building located at 10601 Baur Blvd. at Warson Rd. in Olivette, less than a mile from their current location on Schuetz Rd.

The Harvey Kronblum Jewish Food Pantry moves to a new location to serve a growing need.

The JF&CS was able to keep the investment of the 21,000-square-foot, single-story building under the $1 million budget mark. According to Chairman Fred Steinbach, the total deal came in at $885,000 for the purchase of the building with another $115,000 in roof repair and other renovations.

The deal was closed on February 9, according to records filed with the Missouri Secretary of State. The seller was SPD LLC, led by principle Steven Dix of Naples, Fla., and was represented by Jeff Hawley of Block Hawley.

Harvey Kornblum Food Pantry moves to their new location on Baur Rd.

Stan Hoffman of St. Louis County Realty represented JF&CS.

The building was previously occupied by MC2, a New York-based exhibit and event management business, now located in Maplewood.

According to board member, Carol Staenberg, the pantry has outgrown its current space and the need continues to increase. The Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry was started in 1991 and serves people from 110 ZIP codes regardless of race or religion.

The pantry has gone from serving 2,500 people every month one year ago, to feeding 5,000-6,000 per month currently, said Steinbach. He noted that some of those who previously donated to the pantry are now among its clients.

“Shockingly, we’re serving 63124, Ladue, and 63017, Chesterfield,” he said.

The organization is conducting a fundraiser to help cover some of the purchase costs and operating expenses. They are also looking for a $1 million donation in exchange for naming rights to the new building. Steinbach said the organization plans to have the pantry up and running by July 5, but hopes to make the move sometime in June.

 ~Gannon gets a buyer for West Pointe Apartments~

Gannon International, owner of the West Pointe Apartment complex in west St. Louis county, has found a buyer. The struggling real estate group could even net a $15 million profit in the deal, as long as U.S. Bank doesn’t sell the property first.

West Pointe Apartments in west St. Louis county may soon have a new owner.

Gannon has a contingency contract to sell property to Everest Financial Inc. of Pasadena Calif., for $56 million — $15 million more than they owe U.S. Bank.

Concurrently, the property’s receiver has scheduled a trustee’s sale of the apartments for March 9. According to Bill Schierholz, president of Gannon Capital Partners, an affiliate of Gannon International, his firm was aware of the trustee’s sale date and was working to complete the sale of the West Pointe property to Everest prior to the impending March 9 sale date.

Bill Schierholz, president of Gannon Capital Partners hopes to have the property ready to sell before March 9.

“There are five teams on site doing due diligence on the property, and they are aware of the deadline,” Schierholz said. “Gannon is cognizant of the time frame and is acting diligently to close on time,” and, he added, will act to protect its rights under the law.

West Pointe is the largest of five local developments controlled by Gannon International that have been placed in receivership since April 2011. According to Schierholz, if Everest completes the current contract, it would be the majority owner and Gannon International would have no interest in West Pointe.

 ~The Renaissance draws grand attention from interested buyers~

The 1,100-room Renaissance Grand Hotel & Suites has drawn the attention of more than 50 potential buyers since bondholders placed the convention hotel up for sale this past November.

Renaissance Grand Hotel & Suites is attracting attention from hoteliers around the world.

Interested buyers have not been named. However, Paul Ricotta, an attorney for the bond trustees maintains that they include “well-known hotel operators” from around the world.

“We’ve received a tremendous amount of interest in the hotel,” Ricotta said. “We can’t predict how many potential bidders there will be, but we are very pleased with the number and quality (of potential bidders).”

According to Ricotta, there is no set asking price for the property. However, bondholders are looking to recover $98 million that they were owed upon the 2009 foreclosure of the Renaissance from its former owners, Dallas-based Kimberly-Clark, subsidiary Housing Horizons and HRI Properties of New Orleans.

Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels has been hired to broker the Renaissance, which will eventually be sold to the highest or best bidder, according to Brian Krippner, a senior vice president with bond trustee UMB Bank.

Zimmer adds property managers, takes on management and leasing for historic building

Mark Twain Tower

Zimmer Real Estate Services Property and Facilities management division added two seasoned property managers to its staff.

Dawña Garza-Calbi brings 15 years of commercial real estate experience to the position, and has extensive experience with managing large commercial offices.

“Garza-Calbi is driven to provide the highest level of service for both her clients and tenants, and exemplifies Zimmer’s ‘Whatever It Takes’ attitude toward property management,” according to Zimmer. “With experience in both leasing and management, she fully understands the processes that affect a tenant during the leasing process. This critical insight helps alleviate issues that often arise after occupancy.”

Garza-Calbi joined Zimmer when the company took over the management and leasing for Mark Twain Tower, a historic 204,095-square-foot office building in downtown Kansas City. She had previously served a dual role as leasing agent and property manager, and will continue those same responsibilities for Zimmer, allowing for a seamless transition for the building’s tenants.

“Retaining Garza-Calbi provides important continuity and stability for the tenants,” according to Zimmer. “The Mark Twain management team is complemented by new on-site building maintenance staff, supervision from Zimmer’s chief building engineer and a strong leasing team that specializes in downtown leasing.”

Additionally, Phil Staley brings seven years of experience in facilities and property management for both corporate owner/occupants and investors.

“He has a proven ability in resolving issues on behalf of tenants and clients by remaining hands-on and seeing issues through to satisfactory resolution for all parties,” according to Zimmer. “Staley’s resourceful problem-solving and effective communication skills make him another asset to the Zimmer team.”

Staley’s position includes responsibility for the daily operations of a multi-building portfolio of office, industrial, retail and residential properties. Staley will manage property maintenance, lease enforcement, tenant relations, rent collection, contract negotiations and administration, budget preparation and implementation.

Adding Garza-Calbi and Staley to the Zimmer team brings even more experience to an already knowledgeable group.

“The addition of Dawña and Phil continues to strengthen our team and provides an even greater depth of industry knowledge and service,” said Ellen Darling, executive vice president and chief operating officer. “They both have a strong grasp of real estate operations and the important role property management plays in maximizing the value of an asset, all while maintaining a high level of service for our clients.”

Sports retailer to relocate from Washington to Kansas City

Image via Zumiez

Zumiez Inc., a specialty retailer of action sports-related apparel, footwear, equipment and accessories, announced that the company will relocate its ecommerce fulfillment operations from the company’s headquarters in Everett, Wash., to the Kansas City area.

Zumiez will lease 153,000 square feet at 9911 Woodend Road just 15 minutes west of downtown Kansas City in Edwardsville, Kan. The relocation will create 100 new jobs for the area.

According to a company press release, Zumiez assessed several cities, including Chicago, Corona, Calif., Indianapolis and Louisville before selecting Kansas City. The company cited several factors, including the importance of increasing speed of productive deliveries to online customers as rationale for the move.

“As a company, we continually evaluate opportunities to increase the speed of delivering products to our customers while also improving our costs,” said Marc Stolzman, Zumiez Chief Financial Officer, in a release. “The move to Kansas means that, across the continental U.S., our customers should receive their Zumiez order in three days or less.”

Bob Marcusse. Image via KCADC

Several businesses and organizations helped bring Zumiez to the Kansas City area, including the Kansas City Area Development Council, KC SmartPort, Kessinger/Hunter & Co., LC, the Kansas Department of Commerce, the Wyandotte Economic Development Council, the City of Edwardsville and Westar Energy, Inc.

“We have seen a strong trend of these types of facilities locating in the Kansas City region, which is ideal for ecommerce distribution due to our central location and low transportation costs,” said Bob Marcusse, president of the Kansas City Area Development Council, in a release.

Expansion begins at The Roasterie

Image via The Roasterie

Local coffee brewer The Roasterie has started a $3.7 million expansion of company headquarters at 1204 W. 27^th St. The project, which was announced in June 2011, will include a new café with covered outdoor seating, a trellis and garden area, as well as a gutted DC-3 airplane that will be stationed above the new café, complete with an illuminated runway.

The plan is an homage to The Roasterie’s logo, which includes a DC-3 plane as an homage to the company’s air-roasted process.

LightEdge Solutions signs Corporate Woods lease as a result of Google Fiber

Image via Corporate Woods

Since Google announced that Kansas City, Kan., and Kansas City, Mo., would be the first cities in the nation to receive the high-speed Google Fiber network, the technological infrastructure has been expected to draw new businesses and economic development to the area.

And as the network is being installed throughout both cities, it appears the premonitions are coming true.

Des Moines-based LightEdge Solutions, an information technology company, has signed a three-year lease for nearly 2,500 square feet of space in Overland Park’s Corporate Woods office park. The lease begins on April 1. Stolz Management’s Jennifer Carroll represented both the landlord and the tenant in the transaction.

The company is spending $40,000 to improve the space, and once the work is complete, additional employees will move into the office. LightEdge is also leasing local data center space from 1102 Grand LLC.

Fiber optic cable. Image via Gizmodo.

As the Google Fiber network comes to fruition, LightEdge may further expand its investment in the Kansas City area. The company has already built data centers in Des Moines, Minneapolis and Moline, Ill., and, depending on consumer demand, may also build a data center in Kansas City that could bring an investment of between $18 and $20 million to the metro.

Google Fiber engineers began laying fiber earlier this month, and initial service is expected to be available during the first half of 2012.

“As we build out Google Fiber, we’ll be taking thousands of miles of cables and stretching them across Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri,” wrote Kevin Lo, General Manager, Google Access, on the Google Fiber blog. “Each cable contains many thin glass fibers, each about the width of a human hair. We’ll be taking these cables and weaving them into a fiber backbone—a completely new high speed infrastructure that will ultimately be carrying Kansas Citians’ data at speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have today.

Brightergy expands St. Louis presence with City of Clayton contract

Rooftop solar installed at the Robert A. Young Federal Building in St. Louis.

Kansas City-based Brightergy LLC will expand its presence in St. Louis as a result of a $1.1 million contract from the City of Clayton to install a 105.6-kilowatt solar array at the Clayton Police Station.

The 10,000-square-foot installation will power the parking garage, and also provide power for a portion of the police station’s main building.

Brightergy already had a presence in St. Louis with projects like the Robert A. Young Federal Building, Thomson Reuters and Novus International, among others. The company continues to expand in the St. Louis metro area, and will add an office in Webster Groves to handle the increased project demand and company growth as solar becomes an increasingly attractive and affordable option.

Novus International in St. Charles, Mo.

“In contrast to some of the recent headlines, the solar energy industry is a strong, thriving industry in the United States that is creating jobs and lowering costs for the consumer,” said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association. “Solar’s growth is leading to rapid innovation across the spectrum—from factory improvements to new financing and sales mechanisms—that allow more and more Americans to turn to solar energy.”

Images via Brightergy

Global giving campaign nears kick-off date

Everyone Gives, an eight-day global giving campaign, will kick off on Feb. 22 in more than 60 countries.

“Everyone Gives promises to be the most extensive and inclusive global giving event ever attempted,” according to a press release.

Throughout the duration of the event, participants make a small donation to the charity of their choice through www.everyonegives.org, then use their social networks on sites like Facebook and Twitter to invite friends, co-workers and family to give, too.

Colliers International is a founding sponsor of the event, and President and CEO Doug Frye says Everyone Gives offers an unprecedented opportunity for people around the world to unite for a good cause.

“It’s exciting because it’s never been done before,” he said. “This isn’t another one-off charity donation. This is about enabling individuals to engage their personal connections to give more to the charities they are passionate about, and watch as the power of one donation multiplies.”

Adds Ted Murray, CEO of Colliers International | Kansas City, “We in Kansas City have fully embraced this program. We are hopeful that our clients and friends will see how powerful this effort can be and participate alongside our office.”

Hundreds of charitable organizations have joined the Everyone Gives campaign, including Room to Read, United Way, World Vision, Charity: Water and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Locally, the Colliers Kansas City office has reached out to a number of charities, including Children’s TLC, Gillis Center, CASA (Jackson, Wyandotte and Johnson counties), Operation Breakthrough, Boys & Girls Club, MO River Relief, Caring for Carcinoid Foundation, KC Dream Factory and Mind Drive.

To learn more about Everyone Gives and to pre-register, click here.

A look inside EiKO Global Headquarters’ new digs

Step inside EiKO Global Headquarters’ recently renovated space, and you’ll find yourself in a modern, light-filled haven. It’s an aesthetic that makes perfect sense—after all, the Shawnee-based lighting manufacturer is in the business of illumination with an emphasis on green, eco-friendly products.

Kisha Nickell, IIDA, is a lead interior designer for davidson architecture & engineering, which completed the EiKO renovation. Firm owner John Davidson originally designed EiKO’s office building in the mid-90s, and an addition was completed in 2000.

Yet after EiKO changed its logo and became a certified green company, it was clear that the outdated space was in dire need of a makeover. And as with most renovation projects, an initial intention to start small quickly grew to a full-fledged transformation.

“The plan was to renovate an upstairs conference room to better showcase different types of lighting,” Nickell says. “The project soon expanded into the whole two-story facility.”

Drab walls were cut out to create windows, infusing the now-airy space with ample natural light. Stairs shed their carpeted covers in favor of hardwood wraps accentuated by glass railings and an illuminated LED handrail. Show-stopping light fixtures punctuate the space with a blend of drama, style and functionality.

“I worked closely with Bruce Yarnell [of Yarnell Associates] so that every fixture in the space is a custom fixture,” Nickell says. “We used lots of LED fixtures, too, in order to make the space more efficient and showcase many of EiKO’s products.”

Local artist Dierk Van Keppel of Rock Cottage Glasswork completed a custom chandelier that serves as a dramatic addition to the building’s stairway. By incorporating several lighting pieces, the new space not only reflects the company’s industry, but also serves as a state-of-the-art showroom.

“The renovation was fueled by a need for EiKO to refresh its image and create a place to which they can bring clients and showcase their products,” Nickell says.

The renovation was completed in late October 2011 and took about a year. Nickell says the full scope of the transformation is hard to grasp.

“I wish everyone could see before and after pictures of the offices,” she says. “It’s a completely different space now that went from gray and outdated to new and chic and modern. It doesn’t even look like the same place, and the EiKO team loves it.”

Images via davidson architecture & engineering

Michael Roane brings extensive HR experience to new position at JE Dunn

Michael Roane. Image via JE Dunn Construction

Michael Roane has only been with JE Dunn Construction for just over two months, but it took him an even shorter amount of time to realize he’d made a smart career move.

“It took me about a half-day to realize that I made the right choice,” Roane says.

Roane is the new Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for the Kansas City-based construction company. He brings a wealth of senior-level human resources experience to the table, most recently as Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Spartech Corporation.

Although no two days are alike, Roane says his main responsibilities include succession planning, business development, the employment process, company benefits—“everything under the HR umbrella,” Roane says.

His number one priority? “Bringing talented people to JE Dunn so that we can continue to grow and prosper, not just in Kansas City but nationwide, too,” he says. “Our markets are starting to turn around, and we want to gear up our operations staff so that when things really turn around, we’re ready to go.”

And despite having worked in just about every facet of HR, Roane says his new position with JE Dunn still presents some intriguing challenges.

“I’ve never worked in the construction industry,” he says. “This is also the first privately-owned company for which I’ve worked. I’m looking forward to really understanding the industry.”

The Syracuse, N.Y. native is in the process of relocating to Kansas City from St. Louis with his wife. Aside from making a home in a new community, Roane says he’s eager to make a lasting contribution to JE Dunn.

“I want to do what I can to contribute to JE Dunn’s future growth,” he says. “They have a wonderful reputation here in Kansas City, and I want to continue to build on that foundation.”

 ~Alberici acquires CAS Construction~

St. Louis based-Alberici , the second largest general contractor in St. Louis, has acquired CAS Construction, LLC; a Topeka-based firm that concentrates in the building of water treatment plants using the design-build method.

Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

CAS has completed projects in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado and Iowa.

Alberici has also made significant contributions to the construction of water treatment facilities all over North America.

According to Mike Burke, executive vice president of Alberici, the move will help bolster Alberici’s presence in the market.

Mike Burke, executive vice president of Alberici

“The acquisition of CAS provides Alberici with additional design-build capabilities and the ability to reach new customers and markets,” Burke said.

The Platte West Water Plant is just one example of Alberici's projects.

The two construction moguls first began working together three years ago on project commissioned by the City of Wichita, Kansas. That $73-million project, completed last year, recently won a Design-Build Institute of America – Mid America Region award and an Associated General Contractors of Kansas award in the Design Build category.

Mike Hafling, president of CAS, and other senior managers will remain with the company, which has been renamed CAS Constructors LLC.

Earlier this month, Alberici formed a partnership with MFC Industrial Ltd. of Canada to buy the Pea Ridge iron ore mine near Sullivan, Mo.

Alberici, led by CEO Greg Kozicz, had revenue of $1.01 billion in 2011.

Greg Kozicz, chief executive officer of Alberici

~St. Louis CVC proposes big changes for the Jones Dome~

Kitty Ratcliffe, president of the St. Louis Convention and Visitor’s Commission, unveiled a $124 million dollar plan today involving the upgrade of the home of the St. Louis Rams.

Kitty Ratcliffe, president of the St. Louis Convention & Visitor's Commission

The concept is to make the Edward Jones Dome a top-tier facility in order to meet a clause from the original St. Louis Ram’s 1995 contract.

The plan calls for the addition of 1,500 club seats and an expanded club lounge area. Additionally, North Broadway would be closed on game days between Cole and Seventh Streets in order for the creation of a traffic free entertainment area.

An arial view of the St. Louis Rams Edward Jones Dome

The most significant change calls for a 20,000 square foot lounge across Broadway in Baer Plaza with a sky dome connecting the two structures. New scoreboard measuring 96 x 27 feet would also be added. Steel panels would be removed and replaced with glass to add a natural lighting effect.

In this plan, the concession areas also get an upgrade. General improvements will be added to give the Dome a more modern feel.

The Rams have a 30 day window to accept or reject the proposal. If the Rams decide not to go with the CVC’s plan, the team has another 60 days to come up with their own proposal that would then be subject to approval by the CVC. If both sides fail to agree, the plan will go into arbitration.

If no agreement can be reached to make the Dome a top-tier facility, the Rams can exercise their option to be excused from their lease following the 2014 season.

~ARCO Employees have a new place to call home~

ARCO Construction Company employees are moving into their new home. The eighth largest general contractor in St. Louis has recently moved their headquarters to a newly constructed building in Rock Hill. According to Jeff Cook, Arco’s president and CEO, the move is a “game changer.”

Jeff Cook, president of ARCO construction

Arco saw revenues in excess of $217 million last year. Cook plans to see that number increase in 2012.

“Decision-makers appear to be making decisions to deploy capital and reinvest into their businesses,” he said. “We are cautiously optimistic, anticipating significant revenue growth in 2012 from the pent-up demand of the last two-plus years.”

According to Cook, Arco has experienced significant activity across the geographic board, spanning various markets.

Colliers forecast event features CRE trends, KC’s entrepreneurial outlook

The beginning of a new year is always ripe with predictions for the coming months, and the recent Colliers 2012 Commercial Real Estate Forecast event proved no exception.

During a breakfast held at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Kansas City, hundreds of industry professionals gathered to hear what’s ahead for commercial real estate in 2012.

KC Conway addresses the crowd.

KC Conway, Executive Managing Director, Real Estate Analytics at Colliers, kicked off the event with a forecast and analysis. During his presentation, Conway said he sees “the return of intellectual property manufacturing in the U.S. as a result of our patent protection, currency and quality control in infrastructure.”

In fact, manufacturing proved to be a recurring theme during Conway’s presentation. He said that Kansas City is well positioned in the nation’s Heartland to capitalize on manufacturing growth, which, in addition to warehouse/industrial, will be the two growth sectors for 2012.

“We still have a long road to recovery on retail and housing,” he said. Yet positive indications of growth are visible, including the National Restaurant Performance Index, one of Conway’s preferred sources of information. Since people don’t go out to eat unless they can afford the expense, this metric depicts an accurate picture of the larger economic landscape. And recent data from the NRPI shows the nation is moving into recovery.

The Colliers forecast event featured a panel discussion with Unified Government Mayor Joe Reardon (left), Kansas City Mayor Sly James and Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jim Heeter.

After Conway’s presentation, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jim Heeter led a panel discussion with Kansas City Mayor Sly James and Unified Government Mayor Joe Reardon.

The two mayors spent much of the time talking about their shared vision to elevate Kansas City to the greatest entrepreneurial city in the nation, part of the Chamber’s Big 5 Ideas. It’s a quest that won’t just help fuel Kansas City growth and economic development, but will also have an impact on the surrounding area.

“We want to raise the stature of the region and help people understand the rich diversity and complexity of our area,” Reardon said.

The teamwork demonstrated by both mayors has created “an extraordinary example for bistate collaboration,” Heeter said.

And it’s a message that resonated throughout the audience as commercial real estate continues to be one of the prominent industries in the Border War, or the ongoing competition between Missouri and Kansas for projects, development and deals.

“Part of being a city isn’t watching and standing by as part of the area goes down in flames,” said James, whose comments were greeted by a vigorous round of applause. “We have, for too long, thought of the different lines that divide us. We need to be focused on our region’s economy.”

Added Reardon, “We can’t get to where we need to go without working together. We need to change what we reward and celebrate.”

Lockton extends lease, expands square footage at Plaza office

Lockton just renewed its lease for 171,000 square feet at Valencia Place Office Tower on the Country Club Plaza. The company also expanded the lease by 10,000 square feet. Lockton is committed to the office space through February 2030. No exterior changes to the building are expected as a result of the extended lease, but a $3.5 million interior renovation is planned.

The deal is a significant boon for the local office market and also a triumph for Highwoods Properties, which manages the Plaza.

“Congratulations to our Kansas City team for their hard work in fortifying and expanding our relationship with Lockton,” said Ed Fritsch, president and CEO of Highwoods, in a release.

Mark Henderson, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Lockton’s Kansas City Property Casualty operations, said the lease extension demonstrates the company’s continued commitment to Kansas City.

“This remarkable community has provided Lockton with a solid foundation for more than 45 years, and we look forward to continuing our growth and watching Kansas City grow from right here on the Plaza,” Henderson said in a release.

Kansas City Mayor Sly James called Lockton a “perfect example of a Kansas City success story” and “a pillar of our claim to be the city of entrepreneurs.” James thanked Highwoods Properties for their support in helping to keep Lockton in Kansas City.

Lockton was founded in Kansas City in 1966 and has grown to be the largest privately held insurance broker in the world and ninth largest overall. Lockton employs more than 4,000 people, nearly 1,000 of whom work in Kansas City, and works with more than 15,000 clients around the world.

Downtown streetcar project design approved by City Council

A proposed downtown streetcar project moves one step forward.

The proposed downtown Kansas City streetcar project moved one step forward after the City Council approved a design contract worth nearly $700,000 that provides for additional design work and conceptual engineering on a proposed two-mile streetcar route.

Although the plan is slowly moving forward, the streetcar faces at least one major hurdle: a possible special election in which a group of voters (mostly located in downtown Kansas City) would consider the creation of a transportation development district. As part of the district, a one percent sales tax increase and property tax assessments would go into effect to help provide funding for the project, which is estimated to cost $100 million as outlined in the project proposal.

A date for the election has not been set, although the Kansas City Council has officially supported the election. Voters could head to the polls as early as April to help decide the fate of the streetcar, which is praised by city officials as a tool to help increase economic development and growth within the city’s urban core.