Historic Kansas City buildings find new life and uses

Developers are transforming many of Kansas City’s historic buildings are being preserved and transformed to meet community needs.

A former church was restored and updated into a modern wedding perfect for large celebrations. A former YMCA has a new life as affordable apartments — staying true to the building's community-focused legacy. Cultural preservation is center stage in the redevelopment of the Boone Theater, which anchors the 18th and Vine District as a hub for Black history and the arts.

And adaptive reuse efforts at the Epperson House and Aladdin Hotel aim to balance luxury amenities with historic architectural elements.

See more about how these projects honor the past while prioritizing affordable housing, cultural significance, and community engagement in modern spaces.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

The historic YMCA building, 900 N. Eighth St., has been redeveloped into 44 loft-style apartments for residents 55 years and over in Kansas City, Kansas. The building has been rebranded as Y Lofts. The developer plans to open it to residents in May. By Tammy Ljungblad

NO. 1: SEE INSIDE HISTORIC YMCA IN KCK TRANSFORMED INTO APARTMENTS FOR OLDER KANSAS CITIANS

The owner of the nearly 100-year-old building, which was saved from the wrecking ball in 2019, expects residents to begin moving in next month. | Published April 16, 2024 | Read Full Story by Tammy Ljungblad

Johnny and Abbey Youssef with daughter Laney celebrate the grand opening of Melrose Abbey with friends and family. The Youssefs spent nearly two years and $3 million renovating the long-empty 102-year-old former Broadway Baptist Church at Broadway Boulevard and 39th Terrace. By Tammy Ljungblad

NO. 2: ‘PUT THROUGH THE WRINGER’: TIKTOK CELEB TURNS HISTORIC KC CHURCH INTO $3M WEDDING VENUE

“Knowing what we know now, would we do it again? No.” | Published July 26, 2024 | Read Full Story by Eric Adler

Inside Boone Theater at 1701 E. 18th St., seen on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Kansas City.

NO. 3: ‘LET’S GO TO THE BOONE’: $8.7M REVIVAL OF 18TH AND VINE THEATER RESUMES AFTER LONG DELAY

Four Kansas City natives are close to seeing their revitilization plan for Boone Theater come to fruition. | Published October 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by PJ Green

The historic Epperson House, owned by the University of Missouri-Kansas City, is expected to be transformed into a boutique hotel with a spa, restaurant and cafe.

NO. 4: HISTORIC ‘HAUNTED’ HOUSE IN KANSAS CITY TO BECOME A BOUTIQUE HOTEL WITH A SPA

The University of Missouri-Kansas City owns the 54-room Epperson House on campus, which has sat empty for years and has a supposed paranormal past. | Published January 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chris Higgins

An aerial photograph captures the view of Parade Park Homes, a 510-unit housing cooperative in the 18th & Vine neighborhood. Plans call for the demolition of the housing complex and replacing it with around 20 buildings containing 1,065 units, 470 of which will be designated for affordable housing

NO. 5: KC DEVELOPERS SCORE $15.5M FROM FEDS TO REBUILD HOMES IN HISTORIC BLACK-OWNED CO-OP

The grant will help support housing for people 62 and up in the Parade Park redevelopment. | Published January 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chris Higgins

Zach Molzer, of Molzer gave a tour of the fourth floor Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at the Aladdin hotel ground breaking. The Aladdin, opened in 1925 and closed in 2022, is being converted into apartments and is scheduled to open in the Spring of 2026. By Susan Pfannmuller

NO. 6: THIS 100-YEAR-OLD DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY HOTEL WILL BECOME STUDIOS AND 1-BEDROOM APARTMENTS

Gutting and renovations inside the historic Aladdin Hotel are underway ahead of a planned May 2026 opening. | Published January 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chris Higgins

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.