Six-story development in KC’s historic Jazz District brings more living options to area
Residents could start moving in to a new six-story, $26 million apartment complex nearing completion in Kansas City’s 18th & Vine Jazz District as soon as November.
One Nine Vine, an 81,550 square-foot complex located at 1901 Vine St. will bring 80 market rate apartments, including 14 affordable rate units, along with a first floor mix of retail and office space to the city’s east side.
In addition to the mixed-use space, a 3,258 square foot restaurant site is available on the northwest corner of the building “It (the restaurant) will have the capability of having indoor and outdoor dining because we’ve got garage doors,” said developer Kelvin Simmons, a former member of the Kansas City Council and a former state economic development director.
Simmons of Avenir Group LLC, and his partner, Tatum Martin of Mar-Ston Development, an LLC from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, have partnered to form 1900 Vine Street LLC, the developer of One Nine Vine.
One Nine Vine will have 50 one-bedroom and 30 two-bedroom units. Each will have microwaves, refrigerators and washer and dryer units The complex will include storage space for residents.
“It’s our goal to have affordable units that meet HUD requirements as it relates to one and two-bedroom apartments,” Simmons said.
Simmons noted that the market rate at One Nine Vine will be considerably different than the market rate at 19th Street and Grand Boulevard. “It’s our intent to be market rate affordable,” Simmons said. “That’s probably a term that I would use on the east side of Kansas City, especially that is east of The Paseo.”
Simmons says all units will have balconies and some on the west side of the complex will offer views of downtown Kansas City. “We expect to start moving people in the first part of November,” Simmons said.
Rental rates for the apartments start at $1,150 for a one-bedroom, 633 square-feet unit and $1,650 for a 850+ square-feet, two-bedroom unit.
The development, located on the southeast corner of 19th and Vine Streets, includes a surface parking lot on the east side of the complex, as well as some covered parking spaces.
PARIC is the general contractor and HJM Architects of Kansas City is the architect of the project.
“I’m a born and raised native of Kansas City and so when it comes to 18th and Vine, you know, this is real special,” said Simmons, whose vision includes two more phases of development in the area.
Other phases of redevelopment in the works for the district include plans to create a pedestrian-friendly plaza along 18th Street between The Paseo and Woodland Avenue. The improvements call for eliminating curbs, increasing sidewalks to 25-feet in width, and beautifying the streetscape.
A mixed-use development called Jazzy on the Vine is phase two of a plan put forth by the developers. The proposal calls for 160 more housing units along with retail and commercial office development and a public parking structure. Jazzy on the Vine would be built on the southwest corner of 19th and Vine Streets, across from One Nine Vine.
“Back in 1997, when we opened up 18th and Vine and we did the red carpet, I happened to be a young city councilman at the time,” Simmons said. “So fast forward 20 something years later, I’m still involved in the community, still involved and wanting to make something happen, so this has been a special opportunity for me to see this come to the level that it has.” he said.
