JE Dunn's Chiles stands outside Lee’s Summit High School with his high school sweetheart, now wife, Bethany. Photo courtesy of Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council.
Flexibility, adaptability will drive multifamily market forward
New construction continues at John Knox Village
John Knox Village has broke ground on the Meadows II apartment building, an $18 million, 121,410-SF addition that will tie in with the existing Meadows building built in 2017.
“This is a very top-end, very nice facility,” said Jeff Wasinger, vice president of the Haren Companies, the general contractor on the project. “To be part of something that is as first-class as this project is going to be a lot of fun for us.”
The four-story building will sit atop a 52-space parking garage and add 52 apartments with full kitchens, washers and dryers, sunrooms, walk-in closets, balconies and common spaces on each floor for amenities. There will also be ample space for residents, with floor plans averaging 1,257-SF per unit.
“The Meadows II project is a continuation of the redevelopment of our campus. ‘Reimagining John Knox Village’ was a phrase we used a few years ago and still holds true today. Our new project development has continued full speed ahead even through the pandemic. Now more than ever, retirees are seeing the value of community and all the support possible through living at John Knox Village,” said John Knox Village president and CEO, Dan Rexroth.
The Meadows II is part of John Knox Village's redevelopment plan and is expected to be open to residents in late summer 2022.
“People who are ready to move to senior living are at a life transition and John Knox is successful because they care about their tenants and clients and they do it the right way,” said Wasinger.
In addition to senior living, Haren also specializes in municipal projects, fire stations, retail, commercial, historic renovation, mixed use, multifamily and daycare.
Haren Companies, a fourth-generation, family-run business based in Lenexa, Kan., has been in the senior living market for around 15 years and has done multiple projects for John Knox Village — including the Village Assisted Living 400 wing, renovations for the original Meadows building and a memory care unit.
Leawood's Park Place adds seven new tenants
Seven new local and national retail tenants will soon call Park Place Village, a 484,002-SF office and retail property in Leawood, Kan., home.
Commercial real estate investment firm, KBS, recently announced the new tenants to include: national day spa MassageLuXe; Plate, a modern Italian restaurant; Bamboo Penny’s, a Thai restaurant and rooftop lounge; Ice Cream Bae, a creative ice cream shop; an all-new island-themed coffee shop and bar concept, Outta the Blue; Moda Domani, a provider of custom-made men’s suits, clothing and accessories; and Moshiri Jewelry, who sells custom-designed jewelry.
Matt Rau of CBRE represented KBS in the seven recent lease transactions, which range in size from 803 SF to 5,972 SF.
“We have seen strong interest from retailers who want to set up shop at Park Place Village, a highly desirable location in the Leawood market that attracts a steady stream of visitors from near and far,” said Rau.
The seven new tenants complement the existing retail offerings at Park Place Village; including popular restaurants 801 Chophouse, BurgerFi and RA Sushi Bar; and fitness options, Orangetheory and The Bar Method, among others.
“We thoughtfully curated retailers that align with what local residents are demanding. This includes innovative concepts that are unique to this market,” said Dan Park, senior vice president and asset manager for KBS.
In addition to Park Place Village’s one-of-a-kind shopping experience, numerous events are held at the property’s outdoor community courtyard – a place Kansas City residents gather for events throughout the year – including the upcoming summer concert series, movies in the square and the all-new Park Place Farmers’ Market, according to a release.
“Park Place Village has become the central gathering spot for residents and visitors of all ages and interests in Kansas City,” said Park.
Completed in 2013, Park Place Village consists of 10 buildings that include a mix of office, retail tenants and nearby residential space. In addition to the retail offerings, amenities for office tenants at the property include a fitness center, bike storage, EV car-charging stations, on-site parking, a rooftop view terrace, an energy-management system, nearby shopping, transportation and entertainment.
The surrounding area features parking garages, the Aloft Hotel, 201 apartments, 30 townhouses and 27 lofts. Future planned phases of development for the area surrounding the property include another hotel and additional multifamily rental housing.
“The new retail tenants accentuate the exceptional office experience at this center, making it even more attractive for companies in the area,” said Park.
Park Place Village is located at 11549 Ash Street in Leawood, part of Kansas City’s South Johnson County submarket.
Please click here for photos of Park Place Village.
LANE4 names new managing partner
After serving eleven years as the firm’s director of investments, LANE4 Property Group has announced Michael Berenbom as its new managing partner.
“Mike’s experience as a producer puts him in a prime position to lead this firm. He has a deep understanding of what makes our business function, and how to capitalize on individual opportunities in a cohesive and strategic manner, leading to broad-based success,” said Owen Buckley, LANE4 president.
Owen founded LANE4 in 2006 and will remain in place as the firm’s president and leader of the brokerage team. The shift will allow him to focus further on the firm’s clients and real estate projects, identifying and executing new deals and advising the firm’s producers.
A Kansas City native, Berenbom has spent his career in real estate focusing on asset management, investment brokerage and equity procurement. Prior to joining LANE4, he served as vice president of asset management for Lincoln Property Company in Chicago, Ill., where he was responsible for the portfolio management of Class A office properties totaling over $800 million throughout the United States.
Berenbom has been instrumental in many of LANE4’s most prominent projects, including the acquisition and redevelopment of 95Metcalf South (formerly Metcalf South Mall) and several shopping center acquisitions throughout the metro. He also has led the firm’s efforts on many municipal projects, including the Downtown Olathe Library and the recently announced Lee’s Summit Downtown Market Plaza project.
He has been personally responsible for over $200 million in acquisitions on behalf of LANE4, and an additional $75 million on behalf of third-party clients, both buyers and sellers.
“There are two parts to successful real estate projects: the idea and the execution. LANE4 has a proven track record of succeeding in both. Having the tools and people in place to generate and execute successful deals leads to strong partnerships and repeat business with clients, partners and communities,” said Berenbom.
Since its founding, LANE4 has developed a niche for executing creative, successful projects and partnerships within Kansas City’s commercial real estate market. Collectively, the firm has spearheaded nearly $900 million in acquisition and development projects, served hundreds of clients and completed countless traditional brokerage transactions.
The company is preparing to break ground on a new Downtown Library and municipal building in Olathe, Kan., serving as the owner’s representative and project manager on behalf of the City of Olathe.
LANE4 was recently selected as the master developer for the City of Lee’s Summit’s Downtown Market Plaza project — a 2.75-acre, mixed-use infill project that will blend civic and public amenities with private uses (potentially including a hotel, multifamily, restaurant and retail buildings).
In addition to its growing portfolio, the LANE4 team has recently expanded its team, adding veteran brokers Adam Abrams and Mike Levitan, who bring over 30 years of collective experience in the Kansas City market.
Berenbom is also an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, sits on the Olathe Economic Development Council Advisory Board and serves as the vice president of investments for the Menorah Heritage Foundation.