Riverfront Redevelopment Site

Riverfront Redevelopment Site Background

The riverfront location is a prime development opportunity, located south of the new Riverfront Drive and bound by the Paseo and Heart of America bridges. The site creates synergies among existing neighborhoods in the River Market and Columbus Park.

The master plan for the 55-acre riverfront development site calls for the creation of a world-class urban village of offices, residential and retail space, and cultural amenities–all designed to improve the quality of life within the urban core.

In 1990, the world-renowned urban planning and design firm of Cooper, Robertson & Partners completed an original master plan that contemplated a corporate office park development. The plan was updated in 1999 to include an “urban village.” Design guidelines were prepared in 2000.

Moving Forward

The Port Authority was awarded a clean bill of environmental health from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for the development site in September of 2007. The Port Authority dedicated ten years and $17 million to clean up the site, which had been the former home to a manufactured gas facility and a dumping ground. With its final No Further Action letter, the site is now cleaned, cleared and ready for development.

In 2005, the Port Authority engaged Forest City Land Group to conduct pre-development work on an updated master plan for a sustainable mixed-use neighborhood. Forest City Land Group, a subsidiary of Forest City Enterprises, is one of the nation’s most experienced urban mixed-use developers. Examples of Forest City’s work include the Stapleton project in Denver, Colo. and the Central Station development in downtown Chicago, Ill. Denver-based urban planner, Civitas, Inc., worked with the Port Authority on this process.

Land Attributes:

  • City& Port Authority owned land
  • Clean site that's been fully remediated
  • Existing Park & Heritage Trail amenities
  • Incomparable Missouri River & skyline views
  • Substantial InfrastructureImprovements
  • Increasing neighborhood connectivity& transit links
  • Site ready for developmentnow; potential project completion concurrent with new bridge

Gateway to Kansas City:

  • The north anchor & entry point to theDowntown
  • High visibility adjacent to new landmarkbridge
  • Reclaims the historical roots of KansasCity
  • Entire area to be redevelopment inconjunction with high environmentally sustainable-basestandards
  • Helps promote additional recreationaluses in and around the river
  • Creates an experienceauthentic only to Kansas City