McCarthy Building grows JoCo presence with $300M in projects awarded

Five years after restarting its presence in the Kansas City construction market, McCarthy Building Companies is touting over $300 million in business booked in Johnson County and a full-time staff of 40 employees. 

McCarthy's largest KC-area project to date is the $267 million Tomahawk Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility expansion. As the Construction Manager at Risk for the project, McCarthy is overseeing demolition of the existing facility at 107th and Lee Boulevard in Leawood and providing construction services for a new plant that almost triples existing capacity. Delivery is set for 2021.

The project represents an unexpected growth opportunity in public infrastructure for the St. Louis-based contractor that averages more than $3 billion a year in business. When McCarthy re-entered the KC market in 2013 after a five-year hiatus, its goal was to build on its traditionally strong markets of health care, education, and advanced technology and manufacturing.

“Those are the three markets we targeted, but we have found our way into both the municipal and water/wastewater markets,” said Barry Sutherland, who leads business development for McCarthy’s local office. “As a national contractor, we have the ability to offer robust service to deliver a project on budget and on schedule. We help clients think through ways to meet their budget and work to build trust early.”

Additional recent public projects include design-build services for Merriam’s new $30 million 66,000-square-foot aquatic and community center, as well as construction of Johnson County’s new $16.5 million, 32,500-square-foot facility to house medical examiner operations.

Steve Meuschke, McCarthy's vice president of KC operations, said his team plans to build on the recent string of local government projects while continuing to chase McCarthy’s traditional bread-and-butter markets.

“There’s a lot of work out there,” Meuschke said. “I think clients are now spending money that they weren’t willing to spend in the past. That’s just how the economy is right now. All the markets are very active.”

Village at View High vision comes into focus with multifamily site prep

Site preparation and infrastructure construction officially is underway for Meridian at View High, a 312-unit luxury apartment community planned for the northeast corner of 3rd Street and View High Drive within Lee's Summit's Village at View High mixed-use development.

"Over the next few months, construction crews will build sewers, roads, and a retention pond on the development site. It is exciting to see this important first piece of Village at View High begin to take shape," said John Bondon, president of Parrot Properties LLC, master developer of the Village at View High.

Parrot Properties chose Indianapolis-based Cityscape Residential to develop Meridian at View High's 18 buildings, with vertical construction expected to begin in early 2018 and units available for lease by the spring of 2019. 

"The partners of Cityscape Residential have seen the attractiveness of investing in Lee's Summit since making our first luxury apartment investment in the city over 15 years ago," said Jim Thomas, Cityscape Residential partner. "High quality of life, excellent schools, proximity to good jobs, and thoughtful local leadership have all led Cityscape to make Lee's Summit a significant part of our $250 million investment in the Kansas City metro area."

When completed, the 74-acre multifamily project will feature walkability, high-end retail and a true "live-work-play" lifestyle desired by Millennials and empty nesters alike, according to a release.

Village at View High is located in the heart of Lee's Summit's View High corridor on the city's west side and overlooks the Fred Arbanas Golf Course in Longview Lake Park, a 4,800+-acre green space with plentiful outdoor recreational opportunities. 

"It is rewarding to see dirt moving on Meridian at View High, as it is a critical 'domino' for the overall Village at View High project," said Rick McDowell, president of the Lee's Summit Economic Development Council. "A high-quality, plentiful, and diversified housing stock is central to our mission of promoting Lee's Summit as a model community for economic innovation and growth."

KC land transfer plan offers key piece for Paragon Star development, infrastructure

The Paragon Star development team is hopeful Kansas City leaders will see a 96-acre annexation request from the City of Lee’s Summit as a win-win for both cities.

The undeveloped land sits on the north side of Paragon Star’s sprawling development area and would provide the final piece of land required for an $8 million extension of View High Road connecting Bannister Road to I-470.  

“A parkway with a similar route has been on the city’s master transportation plan since the 1970’s, and city staff believes this would be a good way to get the road built. We think it's a win-win for both communities,” said Bill Brown, Paragon Star principal. “There’s not a lot of development on that land right now, so it isn’t producing significant tax revenue. However, the creation of a new regional trafficway would stimulate new development in both Lee's Summit and Kansas City.”

A newly created regional Transportation Development District would fully fund planning and construction of the new road adjacent to the future $220 million youth sports complex and entertainment destination just north of I-470 along View High Drive. At full buildout, Paragon Star will include sports fields, restaurants, retail, a hotel, residential, and office buildings.

Under the proposal, Kansas City would "detach" the 96 acres and Lee's Summit would annex the land. The new parkway and additional sports fields and other recreation opportunities envisioned on the 96 acres creates a strong value proposition, according to Brown. 

"The KCMO Plan Commission unanimously recommended approval of the plan to the KCMO City Council, and we're hopeful that the Council will agree with the recommendation," Brown said. "Otherwise, I don't see the parkway and the associated development occurring anytime in the near future, and that would be unfortunate.”

A decision should come in mid-December.

KC developers and brokers weigh in after KC voters clear #NewKCI for takeoff

Kansas City, Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved public financing for a new $1 billion single-terminal design for KCI. Local development leaders mounted a warrior-like effort to build the case for a new airport over the past month, educating voters about funding and regional business benefits.

Here’s what some of the region’s leading brokers and developers are saying about the vote:

"The new airport should be a big benefit to Kansas City in terms of business development in tourism. Right now connecting airlines are simply avoiding Kansas City, but in the future Kansas City will see increased connections and increased air traffic, and this will be great for new businesses that want to locate in our community." Ken Block, Managing Principal, Block Real Estate Services LLC

“The new KCI terminal is a very important step to for our metropolitan area to continue to compete and bring new business to the region.” –Mike Klamm, Managing Director, CBRE

“A new airport will put us in a position to achieve better connections to other major cities. That’s a must if we expect to attract and sustain Fortune 1000 companies.” –Owen Buckley, President, LANE4 Property Group, Inc.

"KCI airport is Kansas City’s 'front door' for both new companies considering a relocation or expansion of their operations. The convenience of direct flights to more destinations will result in more companies locating their central or regional distribution facilities in Kansas City.” -Ora Reynolds, President and CEO, Hunt Midwest

“The city government, civic and business communities put the time in to explain the importance of the vote, and the public responded.” -Jon Copaken, Principal, Copaken Brooks

“I am impressed by the effort of our Kansas City civic leaders. (This is similar to) bi-state or streetcar or other major big momentum changers, but this one is more important. Very big day for KC.” -Mark Long, Executive Managing Director/Principal, Newmark Grubb Zimmer

“This is a great day for the entire Kansas City metro area. The promise of a new KCI will have an immediate effect on our entire community, as we continue our steady ascent up the nationwide ladder of ‘best places to live and work’. Way to go KCMO voters!” -Nathan Anderson, NAI Heartland

“The new single terminal promises to usher in a wide array of new opportunities for the entire region. I’m excited for what that means for our city’s ability to grow and attract new businesses to the area.” –Russell Pearson, NAI Heartland

Vertical construction moves forward on Belton Gateway Phase Two

Infrastructure, pad site preparation and road reconstruction for the $63 million Phase Two of Belton Gateway are underway, with the first restaurant scheduled to open later this year and five new retailers on target to open in early 2018.

The future home of Kneaders Bakery is under construction at Christie Development Associates LLC's 47-acre, $136 million retail center just west of I-49 along Y Highway, and crews are preparing pad sites for Ross Dress for Less, Marshalls, Party City, Petco, and Five Below.

“Belton Gateway is quickly becoming Cass County’s premier retail destination, thanks to its location just west of I-49 and Y Highway,” said Belton Community and Economic Development Director Jay Leipzig. “We are seeing a tremendous amount of activity in this corridor, which offers retailers great visibility and convenient highway access due to a new interchange.”

Relocation of Turner Road is on target for completion in the third quarter of 2017 and will improve traffic flow from Y Highway/163rd Street to Belton's North Scott Redevelopment Corridor. 

Developed by Christie Development, Belton Gateway’s two phases include more than 182,000 square feet of developable space adjacent to the recently constructed I-49/Y Highway interchange that carries an estimated 85,000 vehicles daily.

The project’s $70 million Phase One developed in conjunction with Block & Company, Inc. included a 58,000 square foot Academy Sports and Outdoors store, 55,000 square foot Hobby Lobby, and two multiple-tenant retail buildings that are home to Belton Family Dental Care, Fazoli’s, and Cricket Wireless. The project's master plan includes construction of a 20,000 square foot hotel.