Columbus
Kansas City Business Journal
Redevelopment of historic KC Star offices wins PACE financing
An ongoing redevelopment of The Kansas City Star's former brick newsroom has scored new financing to assist with energy efficient improvements.<\p> Grand Place, an office and mixed-use remake of the historic former newspaper building at 1729 Grand Blvd., in late May closed on a $21.8 million loan through the Show Me PACE program. The estimated $95 million project has been in the works by 3D Development since 2018, when the Star left. It becomes the largest project to take part in the statewide clean energy program since its establishment in 2015, according to a recent release.<\p>
KC banker is finalist for 'American Banker' award
NBKC Bank Chief Technology Officer Scott Ramon is one of 20 finalists across the U.S. hoping to win the American Banker Innovator of the Year Award. <\p> The annual award recognizes people who are leading innovation in banking and financial technology. The finalists have all “driven initiatives that substantially benefitted consumers, their businesses and the banking sector, while demonstrating exemplary leadership, teamwork and personal ambition.” <\p>
NAR settlement threw a wrench into VA loans but a fix is coming
The class-action lawsuits that rocked the residential real estate industry over the past year have resulted in nearly $1 billion in settlements so far — and also put in place changes that could have hurt veterans’ ability to shop for homes.<\p> The National Association of Realtors and big brokers such as RE/MAX Holdings Inc., Anywhere Real Estate Inc. and Keller Williams Realty Inc. agreed to prohibit mandatory so-called “cooperation agreements,” in which sellers pay both the selling agent and the buyers agent commission for a sale, in exchange for being allowed to list a home on a multiple listing service.<\p>
Former Salvation Army building in Midtown may dodge wrecking ball
A 101-year-old Midtown building that has housed a range of tenants, most recently including the Salvation Army, appears on track to stay intact amid a monthslong push among Old Hyde Park neighbors to save it from demolition.<\p> Pre-demolition permit activity for the Carmen Building at 101 W. Linwood Blvd., and resulting social media backlash, in late February led the Old Hyde Park Historic District neighborhood association to nominate the property to the Kansas City Register of Historic Places, the Kansas City Business Journal first reported. Owner Paramjeet Sabharwal at the time said the building was regularly vandalized and would be torn down for a future multiuse project, though no plan has been filed.<\p>
Prairie Village architecture firm upgrades to larger office
After more than two decades in the Bank of Prairie Village building, NSPJ Architects will move to a new, larger office in July.<\p> The Prairie Village firm will relocate to 9415 Nall Ave., which is near Meadowbrook Park. NSPJ Co-Presidents Tim Homburg and Clint Evans needed a bigger space to match the company's growth.<\p>
KC marketing company sees another CEO depart, names new leader
A Kansas City-based marketing company named a new top executive after its CEO departed from the company in May — the second CEO to exit in five months. <\p> Kevin Sherlock, the company's executive chairman of the board, will take over as CEO, he confirmed in an email to the Kansas City Business Journal. <\p>
KC firm's new practice focuses on government investigations
Kansas City-based Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP launched its Government Investigations and Litigation practice that will draw expertise from 23 trial lawyers throughout the nation. <\p> The new practice will represent companies and individuals in criminal, civil and regulatory government enforcement actions at the state and federal levels. Bill Corrigan and Patrick Oot will lead the practice. Corrigan, Shook's managing partner in St. Louis, is a former Missouri deputy attorney general. Oot, a Shook litigator based in Washington, is a co-founder of the Government Investigations and Civil Litigation Institute. <\p>
Ferrellgas faces $170M federal court judgment
Ferrellgas Partners LP continues to pay for its ill-fated 2015 acquisition of Bridger Logistics, adding a $170 million judgment to the huge loss it took after dumping the company and going through bankruptcy.<\p> Citing a breach of contract related to Bridger operations, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania issued the judgment June 7 against Ferrellgas Partners, the holding company for its propane business under operating partnership Ferrellgas LP. <\p>
Crown Center pop-up lets students try on entrepreneurship
A new women’s pop-up boutique in Crown Center is giving middle and high schoolers a first-hand look at entrepreneurship.<\p> “We didn’t want this to be where the adults really do everything, and the girls are here just straightening the clothes,” The Nia Project founder Terri Barnes said.<\p>
WeWork emerges from bankruptcy, appoints new CEO
After filing for bankruptcy protection in November, New York-based WeWork Inc. said Tuesday it has emerged from Chapter 11 and completed its operational and financial restructuring.<\p> The coworking giant's new era will include a new board of directors and a new chief executive. John Santora will become WeWork's new CEO, effective Wednesday. Santora joins WeWork from commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield PLC (NYSE: CWK), where he most recently served as the firm’s Tri-State chairman.<\p>
Plans advance for 260 apartments in Mission
After several months of discussion, plans are moving forward to develop hundreds of new apartments in downtown Mission. <\p> Indianapolis-based Milhaus Development wants to create the Mission Beverly Apartments on eight land parcels spanning about 4 acres near Martway Street and Beverly Avenue.<\p>
Leawood firm's acquisition adds $225M in assets
Leawood-based The Retirement Planning Group (TRPG) acquired Lee Financial Group Hawaii for an undisclosed amount, adding about $225 million in assets under management. <\p> TRPG is the employee-based registered investment adviser (RIA) business of San Diego-based Cetera Financial Group, which had about $505 billion in assets under administration and $213 billion in assets under management as of March 31. Cetera Financial's parent group, Cetera Holdings, acquired TRPG in June 2023 and has been building its RIA business around it ever since. <\p>
Home associated with under-fire Grain Valley CEO lists for $2.5M
A mansion for sale in one of Kansas City's wealthiest ZIP codes is associated with Brad Carlson, a Grain Valley businessman whose companies are in receivership and who filed for personal bankruptcy. <\p> The house at 4963 Ward Parkway in Kansas City is listed for $2.5 million by ReMax Innovations. Although Carlson's name is listed on Jackson County property records, the seller is Chapter 7 Trustee Jill Olsen. The sale is part of Carlson's personal bankruptcy proceedings. Carlson filed for personal bankruptcy on Feb. 29.<\p>
KC engineering firm makes second acquisition of 2024
Olathe-based engineering consulting firm Terracon Consultants Inc. is adding to its workforce with a second acquisition in six months. <\p> On Monday, Terracon announced it acquired Rhode Island-based SAGE Environmental and SAGE EnviroTech Drilling Services for an undisclosed price. SAGE offers environmental services such as assessment, remediation, redevelopment and permitting, as well as environmental and geotechnical drilling. <\p>
KU Health asserts itself in Southern JoCo with new $90M campus
The University of Kansas Health System’s $90 million clinic and surgery center in Southern Johnson County, which opens next week, ramps up services in an increasingly populated and competitive market for patients. <\p> “This location is important because there's a lot of growth in this area,” KU Health COO Tammy Peterman said. “Although we have other ambulatory services in Southern Johnson County, this is a large footprint for us and also an opportunity for us to continue to grow those services.” <\p>
9 local ZIP codes make inaugural Wealthy 1000 list
Nine local ZIP codes broke into a new ranking of the nation's 1,000 wealthiest places, and 64113 leads the way.<\p> That's according to The Business Journals Wealthy 1000, a new proprietary ranking of the America's wealthiest ZIP codes based on a weighted formula that looks at a number of wealth-related metrics.<\p>
$41M project could bring more affordable housing to KCK
A plan to develop a slew of factory-built homes could pave the way for more attainable housing in Kansas City, Kansas. <\p> Developer Eric Domino with Burcham Residential intends to create 166 factory-built homes on 138 Land Bank lots across more than a half-dozen neighborhoods.<\p>
Bicknell-backed company rolls up another plumbing biz
Kansas City-based CopperPoint LLC, backed by the Bicknell family, made the third acquisition in its plan to roll up plumbing and HVAC companies nationwide.<\p> The company now owns Quality Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electrical, founded in 1985 and based in Sevierville, Tennessee. Quality Plumbing employs 115 professionals and handles commercial and residential plumbing, sewer, heating, cooling and electrical services. The deal with CopperPoint enables Quality Plumbing to expand service and coverage in the Knoxville and Morristown areas in Tennessee. <\p>
Is Kansas City's housing market overvalued or undervalued?
Soaring home prices in the Kansas City metro are still within the median buying power of local residents. <\p> That's according to data from First American Financial Corp., which found the housing markets in about half of the nation's major metros are overvalued compared to local buying power.<\p>
Popular Tex-Mex restaurant abruptly shutters final KC-area location
A popular Country Club Plaza restaurant permanently closed its doors this weekend after more than decade of serving Kansas Citians and Tex-Mex food lovers around the metro.<\p> Chuy's, a restaurant known for its fresh salsa and its infamous "big as yo' face" burritos, unexpectedly terminated its operations over the weekend with no warning or formal announcement besides an automated voice line describing the closing when calling the restaurant's number and a sign taped to the front door that said:<\p>
Kansas City Business Journal
5K+
Posts
688K+
Views
The Kansas City region's source for local business news, breaking news alerts, newsletters, business intelligence and local business networking. An American City Business Journals publication.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.