Academy Bank's new flagship retail banking hits KC Crossroads

Academy Bank, a full-service community bank and wholly-owned subsidiary of Dickinson Financial Corp., is opening a new flagship retail banking center and home office in KC's Crossroads Arts District.

The new branch, located at 1881 Main Street, comprises 4,214 SF of the first floor of the stand-alone building adjacent to Corrigan Station and plans to offer a full range of personal, business and commercial banking services.

“Kansas City’s Crossroads Arts District is anchored by its eclectic, creative spirit. As a dedicated member of this vibrant community, we’ve designed Academy Bank in the Crossroads to be a collaborative, inviting environment that embraces the future of banking,” said Paul Holewinski, president and CEO of Academy Bank.

As part of its new approach to community banking, the Crossroads branch shares an outdoor courtyard space with neighboring businesses including The Roasterie and WeWork Kansas City. Community conference rooms and comfortable workspaces with free WiFi can be reserved at no charge by area businesses and organizations.

In addition to smart ATM and mobile services, Academy Bank in the Crossroads will offer the latest in banking technology with walk-up video banking that offers personal face-to-face service. With the touch of a screen, customers can speak with a video banker to help with most banking services with the convenience and flexibility of extended banking hours, seven days a week (8 am to 10 pm Mon - Fri; 8 am to 5 pm Sat; and 11 am to 4 pm Sun).

By the end of this year, Academy Bank also will introduce Academy Express - an innovative, drive-thru video banking and ATM service — also in the Crossroads Arts District. Academy Express will connect drive-up customers to a live banker outside of traditional banking hours, seven days a week.

This year, Academy Bank plans to open retail banking centers in Lenexa, KS. and the Northland in Kansas City, MO. In August, the bank opened a new retail banking center in Overland Park, KS.

Academy Bank ranked third on the Kansas City Business Journal’s list of the “strongest large banks in 2018” with a loan portfolio growth of 22.2%. The $1.5 billion-asset bank has 20 branches in the Kansas City bi-state region, making it the seventh-largest bank based in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Twin Creeks Village infrastructure breaks ground

The North Platte Purchase Drive, Line Creek Parkway, and North Tiffany Springs Road improvements broke ground yesterday in Kansas City, MO.

McClure, MD Management, Superior Bowen, and the City of Kansas City are working together to complete an infrastructure project that will open up the adjacent ground for development opportunities within the Twin Creeks Village area.

“With today’s transportation infrastructure groundbreaking, the City of Kansas City, Missouri will see opportunities for growth in population, property tax base, and sales tax,” said Alicia Stephens, executive director of the Platte County EDC.

“Our Northland TIF’s do exactly what is intended—fund our infrastructure," Stephens said.

The project, led by MD Management, consists of an extension of Line Creek Parkway and Tiffany Springs Road, North Platte Purchase Drive improvements and sanitary sewer extensions throughout the area. These improvements will facilitate the development of a new sports complex, future development of Platte County R-3 School District facilities, as well as new commercial and residential development areas.

"This project has been a long time coming, and it’s good to finally see it kick-off,” said Councilman Dan Fowler. “I’m very excited about the opportunities it will bring, not only to the Northland, but to the entire city,” Fowler added.

“Today, we are taking steps to bring positive enhancements to this community,” said Erika Feingold, VP of MD Management. “We are fortunate to be able to form a productive public/private partnership with the City to produce an area that will be home to educational, recreational, and commercial endeavors,” Feingold said.

This is the first step towards the full realization of the Twin Creeks Plan, the largest planned growth area in Kansas City.

CoWork KCI to open soon in the Northland

EnCorps Partners, LLC. will soon open Cowork KCI, a 283,000 SF Class-A property located in the Platte County, MO., KCI corridor.

Co-working experts and EnCorps partners, Robert L. Curland and Terri S. Turner, who also helped launch iWerx North Kansas City and iWerx Gladstone, say CoWork KCI features traditional and co-working office options.

“Co-working and flex real estate solutions are reshaping the U.S. office market,” said Turner, who also serves as president of the Kansas City Coworking Alliance.

“We are excited to provide an innovative approach to office space designed to meet the needs of contractors who are rebuilding the airport terminal and growing the KCI corridor,” Turner said.

CoWork KCI plans to promote business growth in the KCI corridor and serve as a catalyst to local and visiting business professionals.

“Our vision is to provide a resource to contractors and vendors who need turnkey offices and collaboration spaces on a month-to-month basis as they build the airport,” Curland said.

The Kansas City AFL-CIO and Veterans Community Project have endorsed the CoWork KCI vision and project.

“As Kansas City continues to grow, we are experiencing a shortage of Class-A office space,”stated Edward Collins, founder of Collins Cook Realty and buyer of 12200 NW AmbassadorDrive, the property which houses CoWork KCI.

Whether members choose traditional or co-working office space, all are afforded access to dozens of amenities including community kitchens, free parking, marketing support and 24/7 secured access. Co-working space is offered on a month-to-month basis with no large upfront deposits or fees.

EnCorps Partners, LLC works with developers and city officials to create sustainable, flex office spaces tailored to community needs. Curland and Turner currently are offering a pre-opening special and can be reached at info@CoworkKCI.com.