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Seven ways the revival of historic sites is shaping the Kansas City area

Stories by Kansas City Star journalists, with AI summarization

From transforming a 100-year-old YMCA into affordable apartments to converting the Boone Theater into a cultural hub, many new developments have been imagined for historic locations in the Kansas City area.

For many, reviving historic sites in urban areas fosters a renewed sense of community and identity while addressing contemporary needs such as housing and cultural development. Such initiatives often seek not only to preserve history but also rejuvenate cities by creating spaces for diverse communities and enriching local cultural landscapes.

Read these seven stories about new development at historic sites in the Kansas City area.

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 Jack Reardon Convention Center, 510 Minnesota Ave., on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Kansas City, Kansas. By Tammy Ljungblad

NO. 1: HUGE KCK BUILDING HAS GATHERED DUST FOR YEARS. A NEW DEVELOPMENT JUST GOT ANOTHER SHOT

“Stop the stall tactics and the games,” said one commissioner in the overwhelming vote to move ahead with this new development. | Published April 12, 2024 | Read Full Story by Bill Lukitsch

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. 2: 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

A rendering depicts a 12-story residential tower and adjoining low-rise that developers want to build at Fourth Street and Minnesota Avenue in downtown Kansas City, Kansas.

NO. 3: DEVELOPER’S PLAN WOULD TURN DOWNTOWN KCK PARKING LOT INTO 12-STORY APARTMENT TOWER

A developer wants to build a 12-story tower and adjoining low rises with ‘unparalleled’ river views, adding nearly 500 apartments at Fourth Street and Minnesota Avenue. | Published April 25, 2024 | Read Full Story by Bill Lukitsch

This summer a lot of work was done on a redevelopment project at the Lenexa Community Center and the Senior Center campus. Lenexa residents will soon be able to enjoy the first phases of completion.

NO. 4: GOAL OF REDEVELOPED ACTIVITY CENTER IS TO CREATE ‘STRONGER, MORE CONNECTED COMMUNITY’

Sections of the wanted and needed redevelopment project of the Lenexa’s Old Town Activity Center at 13420 Oak St. are beginning to unfold. | Published October 2, 2024 | Read Full Story by Debra Skodack

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

NO. 5: ‘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

A rendering of the future Westminster Reserve luxury townhomes near Hyde Park, which will take the place of an historic church that was demolished in 2021 after falling into disrepair.

NO. 6: LUXURY TOWNHOMES TO TAKE PLACE OF DISNEY FAMILY’S OLD CHURCH A BLOCK FROM KC STREETCAR

The historic Westminster Congregational Church was torn down in 2021 after its ceiling fatally collapsed. | Published November 11, 2024 | 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. 7: 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.