What Costco’s switch to a business center in midtown KC means for traffic, parking
After months of rumblings that Costco will turn its midtown Kansas City warehouse into a business center, city documents show that plan is moving forward.
Zoning documents filed last week for Costco’s 241 Linwood Boulevard site say that it is “planning to remodel and convert their warehouse” into a Costco Business Center, which a letter describes as membership-only wholesale distribution centers focused on providing products, equipment and services to small businesses.
What does that mean for traffic, parking and the building itself?
Parking lot changes
One corner of the building would need to be reconstructed to add shipping docks, and up to 25 delivery trucks are kept on site. The trucks leave in the morning for a full day of deliveries and return in the afternoon for reloading.
Parking would be reduced by about 100 spots to make room for a truck storage and loading canopy, while aged trees and other plantings could be replaced for landscaping.
“The proposed landscape plan includes planting 79 canopy trees, 38 evergreen trees, 51 ornamental trees, 905 shrubs, and 58 ornamental grasses,” the letter states.
The parking lot will be also be resurfaced and fixed.
What about Costco traffic?
Among other site changes, Costco has proposed replacing the median at the Gillham Plaza entrance to allow right-in, right-out traffic only.
Less traffic flows through Costco’s business centers than their typical warehouses.
According to the letter, business centers have about 36% less traffic during a weekday and about 56% less during evening peak hours.
To help with pedestrian safety “from the north side of the building to the main entrance,” Costco plans to install a sidewalk near the front of the tire center.
Costco conversion plan still under review
The Costco conversion plans remain under review at the city level.
City records show that formal staff meetings over the proposal are scheduled for June, followed by a public hearing before the City Plan Commission on July 15.
Elected officials have previously raised concerns about the prospect of a switch, and an online petition drew more than 4,000 signatures.
This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 11:13 AM.