Historic downtown KC building to get second life as music-themed hotel, venue
Plans to redevelop a struggling downtown corner have expanded to include converting a historic building that’s sat vacant for years into a music-themed hotel.
BR Cos. of California first announced plans for a new high-rise apartment tower at East 8th Street and Grand Boulevard downtown, where a small, outdated parking garage now sits, last November. The tower is expected to add more than 300 housing units and new retail space while changing the face of Kansas City’s skyline.
On Monday, officials with the Port Authority of Kansas City announced that the project has taken on a new element: converting the nearby historic Scarritt Building, which dates back to the early 1900s as one of the city’s earliest skyscrapers, into a UMusic Hotel with 167 rooms.
The UMusic brand operates a hotel in Madrid, Spain, with more expansion plans in the works as part of “a new global collection of experiential hotel properties inspired by music,” according to the hotel’s website.
The downtown KC project would also include a 1,400-person performance venue, recording studios and other amenities as part of a broader music-themed experience. There are plans to establish a music school with the nonprofit Playing For Change that would offer educational programs in music and production to local students.
“The 800 Grand project represents a significant investment in Kansas City’s urban core, pairing historic preservation with bold new construction. Saving the historic Scarritt Building is vital to the Grand corridor and our greater downtown,” Jon Stephens, president and CEO of Port KC, said in a statement. “This development aligns with Port KC’s mission to attract catalytic growth and sustainable economic vitality to our city.”
The full project is expected to be built in two phases over five years, starting with the hotel.
During a meeting on Monday, the Port KC Board of Commissioners took a step toward approving a financing plan that includes about $26.6 million in property tax exemptions over 20 years. The development would generate about $12.2 million in property tax revenue during that time, which is millions more than if the site remained undeveloped.
Officials said Monday that there could be further support from the city, and the project could take advantage of tax credits for rehabbing historic buildings.
The Scarritt Building announcement arrived after the building has experienced issues like theft and fires, according to a Port KC presentation.