Mid‑America Real Estate sells Summit Fair, a leading Lee’s Summit retail destination

Mid‑America Real Estate Corporation’s Investment Sales Group announced the sale of Summit Fair, a well‑known retail and dining destination in the southeastern suburbs of Kansas City. Principals Ben Wineman and Joe Girardi served as the exclusive listing brokers on behalf of the seller, Phoenix‑based RED Development. On the buyer’s side, Block & Company, Inc., Realtors — represented by David Block and Zach Albrecht — acquired the property on behalf of a private investment group.

Located off Interstate 470 and U.S. Highway 50 in Lee’s Summit, Summit Fair is an open‑air “lifestyle center” boasting roughly 510,000 square feet of retail space and an occupancy rate near 90%. Anchors in the center include top national names like Dick's Sporting Goods, H&M, DSW and shadow‑anchors such as JCPenney and Furniture Mall of Missouri. The property also supports a broad mix of inline tenants, from retailers and fitness studios to restaurants and specialty shops — including Lululemon, Sephora, Orangetheory Fitness, Pure Barre, and many others.

According to the buyer’s announcement, Summit Fair attracts more than 4.3 million visits annually — placing it among the top 7 percent of shopping centers in Missouri by foot‑traffic performance. The lifestyle center’s pedestrian‑friendly layout, landscaping and walkable storefronts contribute to its popularity as a community gathering place.

With this acquisition, Block & Company now manages ten multi‑tenant centers in Lee’s Summit and plans to build upon Summit Fair’s success. The firm intends to expand the tenant mix, lease available space, and program community‑oriented events — efforts aimed at enhancing Summit Fair’s role as a long-term retail and social hub for area residents.

While earlier listing materials from Mid‑America reported a square‑footage figure of approximately 241,923, the buyer’s and public‑market sources align on the 510,000 SF benchmark. This suggests the larger number likely reflects the full center footprint rather than a subset — underscoring Summit Fair’s scale and regional importance. 

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Header image: The central courtyard of Summit Fair retail center in Lee's Summit, Mo. Image | Mid-American Real Estate

Kansas City TIF Commission approves $484 million redevelopment plan for historic Scarritt Building

Kansas City’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Commission has approved backing for a roughly $480 million redevelopment plan that would transform the Scarritt Building, a historic downtown skyscraper, into a mixed-use complex featuring a luxury hotel, apartments, retail, and a music venue.

Under the plan, the Scarritt Building at 818 Grand Boulevard would be adaptively reused as a 167-room destination hotel branded by Universal Music. The broader project, located on the 800 block of Grand Avenue, would also include a residential tower with 319 multi-family units, about 28,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, and a 1,400-seat music and entertainment venue.

Port KC, the public development authority driving the project, approved the resolution to issue up to $480 million in taxable revenue bonds to support the development. Construction is expected to take place in two phases over roughly five years, with work on the Scarritt Building renovation slated to begin in 2026.

The Scarritt Building, completed in 1907, is one of downtown Kansas City’s oldest skyscrapers. It has been largely vacant in recent years but carries historic significance, having been added to historic registers.

The redevelopment effort seeks to pair preservation of the landmark building with catalytic growth for the surrounding Grand Corridor. Officials argue that restoring the Scarritt Building — alongside new housing, retail, and entertainment — aligns with broader goals of revitalizing the city’s core and driving long-term economic vitality.

If all goes according to plan, the development could bring new residents, visitors, and cultural amenities to downtown Kansas City, anchored by the historic Scarritt Building and powered by modern investment.

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Header image: An aerial rendering highlighting the historic Scarritt Building at 818 Grand Blvd. in the Grand Corridor of downtown Kansas City. Image | Hoefer Welker

Indian Springs redevelopment nears $1 billion with updated plans.

The redevelopment of the former Indian Springs Mall site in Kansas City, Kansas, led by Eastside Innovation Kansas LLC in partnership with Arnold Development Group, has entered a new phase of expansion and escalation in cost. The site, a 90-acre parcel near the intersection of Interstate 635 and Interstate 70, will be renamed Midtown Station and is envisioned as a vibrant, mixed-use destination encompassing residential, retail, sustainable infrastructure and transit-oriented amenities. 

Under the initial plan, the development was expected to include approximately 1,475 apartment units, 63 single-family homes and 150 townhomes, around 280,000 square feet of retail space, a 168-room hotel with conference facilities, a grocery store and a 30-acre solar microgrid powering the site. The projected cost at that time was up to $700 million. 

Recent reports, however, indicate the plan has grown in both scale and cost. As of November 2025, the estimated investment has increased to approximately $951 million. 

This reflects the added complexity and ambition of the project, including deeper commitments to sustainability, transit connections and inclusive housing. According to local coverage, the full build-out may extend over six to twelve years, depending on market conditions and partner negotiations. 

The redevelopment will remain oriented around transit, walkability and sustainability. The design leverages the site’s proximity to major highways and public transit hubs, while the inclusion of the solar microgrid and green building practices underscores its emphasis on future-proof infrastructure. Community stakeholders view Midtown Station as a long-awaited catalyst for renewal in eastern Wyandotte County, replacing the decades-old mall footprint that had become a symbol of decline. 

Approval of a formal development agreement with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas is expected in early 2025, with construction slated to begin by mid-2025. 

As details continue to evolve, the expanded budget and enriched program signal a strong commitment by Eastside Innovation and its partners to deliver a transformative project that redefines the site’s future and its place in the region’s growth.

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Header image: An aerial rendering of the Indian Springs Mall redevelopment, Midtown Station, in Kansas City, Kan. Image | Arnold Development Group

Kansas City Industrial Growth: Smarter Sites, Stronger Collaboration

MetroWire Media closed out its 2025 programming with a standout KC MWM Industrial Summit, hosted at Johnson County Community College. With rising construction costs, evolving tenant expectations, and major infrastructure needs, our expert panel explored what’s driving Kansas City’s industrial momentum—and how the region is positioning for what’s next.

Special thanks to our sponsors who made this event possible:

Platinum Sponsors: JE Dunn Construction, Miller Stauch Construction
Bronze Sponsors: Bartlett & West, ARCO, Seal-O-Matic, Armstrong
Brew Crew Sponsors: Capitol Federal, KC SmartPort, BHC, studioNorth Architecture

What Makes KC Competitive?

Chris Gutierrez of KC SmartPort opened the conversation: “Every company that comes here asks how we got Missouri and Kansas in the same room from the start. That collaboration is our edge.” He emphasized KC’s multimodal freight infrastructure, industrial developer base, and workforce reliability as top selling points.

Construction Cost Pressure and Preconstruction Strategy

Ryan Schroeder of Russell Construction pointed to a slowdown in private investment due to high interest rates, but stressed that early collaboration is a winning formula: “Clients want cost and schedule certainty. That means contractors must be involved from the design phase, not just at bid time.”

Above: Attendees at MetroWire Media’s 2025 Industrial Summit listen in as the panel discusses the current state of Kansas City’s industrial real estate market. Image | BGSTUDIOS PHOTOGRAPHY + FILM

Speculative vs. Build-to-Suit: Staying Disciplined

Brent Peterson of NAI Heartland provided perspective from the leasing and capital markets side: “KC has been disciplined about what we build, and that’s why we’re still absorbing. Most activity today is build-to-suit, but spec buildings remain vital—especially smaller footprints under 500,000 SF.”

Infrastructure Is Now a Front-End Issue

Krizia Diaz, leading JE Dunn’s industrial manufacturing sector, discussed how “pad-ready” doesn’t always mean infrastructure-ready: “We’re helping clients pivot mid-project to phase development or self-supply utilities like wastewater treatment or power generation. That shifts design, cost, and timeline significantly.”

Flexibility in Design: The New Standard

Kevin Polit of studioNorth Architecture explained how flexible shell buildings support long-term utility: “You’re not just designing for one tenant anymore. You’re building a platform that can support automation, manufacturing, cold storage, or ESG upgrades over decades.”

John Krudwig of Bartlett & West agreed, adding: “We’re designing spec with build-to-suit in mind—high-performing roof structures, flat floors, even modular under-slab systems for future use. It’s more rewarding, more strategic.”

Automation Expectations Are Real—and Rising

Karley Felz, an automation systems expert, shared how tenant demands are shifting: “Automation is no longer optional. With labor tight, tenants want high-speed connectivity, stronger slabs, and wider column spacing. We’re seeing higher employee satisfaction too—robots aren’t replacing people, they’re supporting them.”

Data Centers: Boon or Bottleneck?

The discussion turned to KC’s growing data center market. With Meta and Google investing billions, power availability is now a gating factor. “These aren’t one-and-done builds,” said Gutierrez. “They upgrade every two years. But they also generate secondary demand—construction, manufacturing, automation. It’s an ecosystem.”

Panelists noted the need for better long-term planning around power generation, with Kevin Polit citing innovations like small modular nuclear reactors as viable mid-term solutions. Brent Peterson explained that the “$100 billion” data center numbers are cumulative over decades, reflecting upgrades, infrastructure, and equipment, not just construction.

Above: Guests mingle at the MWM 2025 Industrial Summit at Johnson County Community College before the panel discussion.

Looking Ahead: Where's the Growth?

The panel identified I-35 south of Olathe, Liberty/Northland, and Lee’s Summit as key corridors for future development. “We need more product,” said Gutierrez. “When interest rates drop, we’ll need those buildings ready to go.”

John Krudwig confirmed that multiple spec projects are in design across the region. Peterson added: “Post-2008, speculative development changed our market. If you build it—smartly—they will come.”

The Workforce Pipeline Starts Now

Several panelists praised Kansas City’s workforce development infrastructure, with Ryan Schroeder sharing a personal anecdote about a Rockhurst student exploring trade school: “This generation sees the trades differently—and we should be encouraging that.”

In Closing: Collaboration Remains KC’s Superpower

Angela Dicioccio, MetroWire’s Event Director, wrapped the event: “What makes Kansas City work is the collaboration between developers, designers, builders, and economic partners. We’re already planning for 2026—and with the World Cup coming, Kansas City is about to take the global stage.”

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Header image: Panelists discuss what's driving the Industrial real estate market in the Kansas City region at MetroWire Media's 2025 Industrial Summit at the Regnier Center- Johnson County Community College. Image | BGSTUDIOS PHOTOGRAPHY + FILM

Country Club Plaza owners file Master Plan, detailing vision for revitalization

The new owners of the Country Club Plaza have filed a comprehensive master development plan with the City of Kansas City, outlining a long-term vision to preserve the district’s historic character while reshaping its future as a modern, mixed-use destination.

Submitted by Gillon Property Group, the master plan serves as a roadmap for improvements over the next 10 to 20 years across the landmark shopping center. It aims to balance the Plaza’s century-old charm with new investment, evolving retail trends, and growing demand for residential and office space in Kansas City’s urban core.

At the heart of the plan are five guiding goals: enhancing the public realm, improving walkability, promoting a mix of uses, allowing flexibility in redevelopment, and maintaining the Plaza’s iconic Spanish-Mediterranean architecture.

Proposed updates include wider sidewalks, expanded outdoor seating, and reconfigured streets to make the area safer and more pedestrian-friendly. The plan also calls for more green space, community gathering areas, and event programming designed to increase year-round activity. Vehicle traffic would be reduced or redirected in select areas to create a more pedestrian-focused environment.

The redevelopment framework envisions a broader mix of uses beyond retail, with space reserved for offices, hotels, and potential residential projects. Building height limits ranging from 200 to 275 feet would ensure that new construction remains compatible with the district’s existing scale and architectural identity.

In addition to preserving the Plaza’s terra cotta facades, tile roofs and ornamental details, the proposal outlines a phased approach to investment — beginning with immediate improvements to streetscapes and landscaping, followed by longer-term adaptive reuse and infill development.

City officials will now begin reviewing the plan, which will include opportunities for public input and further refinement. Community meetings are expected later this year before the plan moves to the Kansas City Planning Commission for consideration.

The submission represents a significant milestone for one of Kansas City’s most recognizable destinations, signaling a commitment to revitalization that honors its past while adapting to new patterns of how people live, work, and shop. If approved, the plan could guide the Plaza’s evolution well into the next generation.

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Header image: A rendering showing some changes proposed in the latest master plan for the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Mo. The plan highlights less retail and more green space for visitors. Image | Charter Holdings