New six-story apartments proposed for east of Country Club Plaza

Community Christian Church has agreed to sell its office building and parking lot, located immediately north of the famed Frank Lloyd Wright church, for redevelopment.

The Kansas City Plan Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved a rezoning request by Pulse Development LLC that would allow construction of a new six-story apartment building on the parking lot, which fronts Walnut Street north of East 46th Street.

The apartment building, named The Artisan, would be the first phase of a two-part redevelopment plan. Pulse eventually intends to convert the church’s three-story office building, which faces 46th Street, to residential use as well.

Commissioners approved the plan despite objections from four people who currently live in the neighborhood. All said they weren’t anti-development for the parking lot site, but that the neighborhood already was overburdened with street parking, especially when there are special events on the Country Club Plaza, at the Nelson-Atkins Museum or in Southmoreland Park.

After hearing testimony on pros and cons, the commissioners agreed with city planners that the proposed apartment building met parking space requirements for its tenants and that the design complied with the Midtown/Plaza Area Plan according to height and density.

The existing building on the 1.32-acre site currently houses church offices and the continuing education program of the Kansas City Art Institute. The Rev. Shanna Steitz said the art institute has a lease that runs until 2021, but the church intends to begin moving its offices into the church building itself this fall.

“We think the plans are really beautiful” for the apartments, Steitz said. “When the rezoning is done, we will complete the sale.”

The sale price was $2 million, commission members were told.

Steitz said the church hasn’t used the north parking lot very much since it is located up a hill, and the church has more convenient parking available in the 47th Street office building garage adjacent to the church.

This story was originally published August 2, 2016 at 8:38 AM with the headline "New six-story apartments proposed for east of Country Club Plaza."