Kansas City Public Schools seeks buyer to reuse or demolish headquarters building

Kansas City Public Schools is ready to dispose of its headquarters office building in downtown Kansas City and is looking for a buyer who wants to reuse it or tear it down.

The mid-century modern building at 1211 McGee St., which once also housed the downtown Kansas City Public Library as well as the school offices, will be emptied as part of a district relocation plan.

As announced last week, the district has a sales contract to buy the former Nazarene Publishing House properties at 29th Street and Troost Avenue. The multi-building Nazarene complex would become the district’s administrative offices as well as its maintenance, operations, security and engineering facility.

Block Real Estate Services said Monday it is offering for sale the 11-story, 261,800-square-foot office building and 246-space parking garage on the 2.58-acre site.

Given the McGee Street address near the Sprint Center and the Power & Light District, the real estate company said interest is expected to be strong from local, regional and national developers.

“The possibilities for this property are truly limitless,” said Aaron Mesmer, investment sales associate at Block. “The location is in the center of all the downtown activity, and the timing with the streetcar coming online is terrific.”

No asking price for the headquarters property was revealed.

The intended move will reduce the district’s footprint for its administrative and support facilities from 359,900 square feet to 107,915 square feet, a 70 percent reduction in space, according to Block. The district previously sold its maintenance facilities at 800 E. 21st St. and 2101 Charlotte St.

The district said the moves are “expected to result in significant savings” in reduced utility and maintenance costs.

This story was originally published November 23, 2015 at 5:37 PM with the headline "Kansas City Public Schools seeks buyer to reuse or demolish headquarters building."