Kansas City: New Life for the Old Kmart Site
Kansas City is buzzing with exciting news! The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) is looking to sell a 16.4-acre piece of property that used to be home to a Kmart. This vacant lot is located at 2821 NE Vivion Road, and the KCATA has listed it for sale through Newmark Zimmer’s Kansas City office. It’s all part of an initiative to encourage redevelopment with a focus on transit-oriented uses—essentially, creating spaces that seamlessly connect housing, jobs, and healthcare.
The Prime Location
The site’s highlight is the enormous 113,600-square-foot Kmart building, which sadly closed its doors in 2014. The property not only includes the Kmart structure but also boasts plenty of surface parking, making it a prime candidate for a new lease on life. It’s important to note that the sale doesn’t encompass surrounding buildings like Taco Bell, Papa Johns, and Advance Auto Parts, but it certainly presents an incredible opportunity for future mixed-use development.
What’s the Plan?
KCATA initially purchased the property last May for $4.45 million with high hopes. The agency wanted to transform it into a crucial part of Kansas City’s transit goals, enhancing connectivity between housing, jobs, and medical access through potential new transportation routes. In March 2023, they even released a request for qualifications (RFQ), seeking developers for a project that aligns with their vision of a transit-oriented community.
By October, the KCATA was deep in discussions with a preferred developer, Drake Development LLC. Their ambitious plan involved tearing down the old Kmart to make way for a new apartment complex, complemented by offices for workforce training, a childcare facility, a new transit station, and interactive green spaces. Sounds like a vibrant little neighborhood in the making, right?
Changes in Direction
However, this past year has seen some unexpected turns. The President of Drake Development, Matt Pennington, recently revealed that KCATA decided to “go a different direction” midway through the planning phase of the project and ended their relationship. Why? Well, that seems to be one of those unanswered questions lingering in the air. Michael Riley, the director of transit-oriented development at KCATA, mentioned, “We have encountered obstacles which prevent further progress on our original vision.” But fear not! The agency remains committed to selling the property to any buyer who shares their enthusiasm for transit-oriented development and working together with Northland stakeholders.
Recent Usage and Other Plans
Interestingly enough, the former Kmart property hasn’t just been sitting quiet. KCATA recently utilized it as a temporary park-and-ride facility during the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade in February, showing that there’s still life and potential in the area. However, it’s worth noting that there have been various development proposals over the years that didn’t make it through, such as a $45 million plan from 2017 to relocate a Hobby Lobby and create an indoor trampoline park.
A Key Opportunity Awaits
Now, as the KCATA looks for new buyers, the possibility of transforming this site into a hub of activity is on the horizon. Representatives from Newmark Zimmer—Michael VanBuskirk, Chris Robertson, and Raegen Root—are handling the listing, and they are eager to see what comes next for this high-visibility property. Could this be the start of something great for Kansas City? Only time will tell!
