A 20-story data center tower could be built in downtown Kansas City. See where
Kansas City officials are reviewing proposed plans for a 20-story data center tower in downtown.
The tower would be at 934 Central St. and stand 384 feet tall, according to a development plan filed with the city earlier this month. The building would include retail on the first floor — perhaps a coffee shop, as shown in renderings — with remaining floors devoted to data center infrastructure.
The plans show that the existing building on the site would be demolished and replaced for the data center tower. The 1900-built Western Newspaper Union Building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, currently sits there.
Miami-based Revitalization Unlimited, a real estate investment fund that focuses on historic buildings, is tied to the project. The firm did not respond to requests for comment.
Revitalization Unlimited previously announced plans to restore and revitalize the historic Garment House building at 1000 Broadway Blvd.
In March, the KC Pulse reported the developers shared with the Downtown Neighborhood Association that the data center tower would use a “closed-loop” water system for cooling, which limits water usage, while power would be generated on-site with natural gas fuel cells.
In letters filed with the development plan, Spire confirmed that it would provide infrastructure support, while KC Water confirmed that it would provide water service.
Data centers are allowed in the downtown Kansas City area, and the proposed project would not be the first one there, including Patmos’ campus in The Star’s former green glass Crossroads building.
But under rule changes passed by the City Council over the winter, it appears a data center would need a special use permit through two city boards. Both that and changing the property’s zoning would include public hearings.
And the proposal could be subject to the city’s demolition review process for historic buildings through the Historic Preservation Commission, which could vote to delay demolition for up to 45 days.
The City Plan Commission is scheduled to consider the development plan Aug. 5.