THE LARGEST ENDEVELOPED AREA DOWNTOWN AT LAST MAY HAVE STARTED ON THE ROAD TO CONSTRUCTION WHEN THE KANSAS CITY COUNCIL ENDORSED AN EAST VILLAGE SITE FOR A PROPOSED $175 MILLION OFFICE BUILDING BY THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.

 

The early-December endorsement should end debate over competing sites, while giving area congressional representatives and the GSA a green light to seek funding in the next federal budget.

Other significant projects, though, were already under way. A key East Village anchor opened in September: the stunning, J.E. Dunn headquarters, providing a visual and symbolic bookend for the Civic Mall between City Hall and the Federal courthouse. The city also moved forward with acquisition and demolition of old buildings in what is now likely to be the GSA site: the former ReStart location and a former bus terminal. A total of $12 million has been earmarked for buying and clearing in the East Village site.

Envisioned as a high quality, mixed-use development costing approximately $340 million, East Village is bounded by Eighth Street on the north and 12th on the south, from Charlotte west to Locust. The primary developer is Swope Community Builders, which is also awaiting approval by the Missouri Department of Economic Development of a revised schedule and financing.

The GSA decision is likely to be critical. The office would consolidate more than 1,200 federal workers now spread around metropolitan Kansas City and their location Downtown would be a notable addition. The decision had been delayed for several reasons, including a wavering decision over sites to build at East Village or on KC’s Riverfront.

Less controversial is the huge Richard Bolling Federal Building renovation. Built in 1963, this structure is in the midst of a 10-year, $250 million renovation that was accelerated this year with federal stimulus funding. With a boost of $103 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the project is moving forward with the largest office in the region, a structure that can hold 4,500 people.