West Bottoms Redevelopment
Kansas City, Missouri
More than 150 years ago, Kansas City’s West Bottoms became the industrial center of the city, establishing its place at the heart of the city’s history. After decades of use as regional stockyards, industrial buildings, factories, rail yards, bars, restaurants, and office buildings for the livestock trade, the area began to show its age with much of the area falling into disrepair by the late 1900s.
Today, the West Bottoms are on the verge of a transformation that has been years in the making, and decades overdue. Vireo is working with SomeraRoad Development as the lead urban design firm to wholly re-envision how the historic district can come back to life through the use of salvaged materials and a nod to the industrial heritage.
With infrastructure started, residents and visitors of the West Bottoms will begin to see updated streetscape amenities, plantings, and lighting all as part of phase one improvements (with a total estimated cost of $527 million through 5 phases).
The public/private partnership will bring the area new and redeveloped apartments, a hotel, retail, restaurants, and offices all organized around a new urban plaza. The plaza was designed with large seating platforms, feature lighting, shade trees, and an open lawn with accomodate future neighborhood gatherings, festivals, music events, and daily social life. Phase one is expected to be completed by 2028.