Aladdin Hotel apartments strike deal with city to address downtown KC parking concerns

Kansas City struck a deal with the developers of a future downtown apartment high-rise as the conversion of a historic hotel into homes continues.

The City Council approved an agreement on Thursday with the team behind the Aladdin KC, 1215 Wyandotte St., which will turn the century-old, 16-story hotel into an apartment building with about 120 units, amenities for residents and a top-floor cocktail lounge. The hotel was last under the Holiday Inn banner and closed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Given the limited street parking in the area, the city will provide up to 80 spaces for Aladdin residents under the five-year agreement in the 585-space future parking garage at Barney Allis Plaza, which is across the street from the Aladdin.

Barney Allis Plaza, once elevated from the street above a parking structure that became dilapidated, is being demolished and will be reconstructed into a street-level park and pavilion space with a new underground parking garage. An existing tunnel that connects the Aladdin to Barney Allis Plaza will be fixed up.

Aladdin residents will pay $125 a month directly to the city for a parking space in the Barney Allis garage. The rate will increase 3% per year, or $140.69 a month in five years.

As part of the agreement, the Aladdin must provide $150,000 to the city’s trust fund for affordable housing and set aside 10% of units as affordable housing to residents with lower incomes.

After five years, the Aladdin and the city can negotiate an extension.

According to Aladdin documents, the ratio of parking spaces to units will be one the lowest downtown, and the Barney Allis agreement will prevent the need for building another garage on a lot that could be used for another mixed-use development.

The team behind the Aladdin redevelopment, led by area native Zach Molzer, staged a ceremonial “wallbreaking” for the project in January. The old hotel is being gutted before being turned into studio and one-bedroom apartments.

The Aladdin will retain historic features while adding modern design elements. It could open in summer 2026.

Meanwhile, the city has put out a call for artists who would be interested in shaping the artistic vision for the rebuilt Barney Allis Plaza, which could also be finished in 2026.