Two Light resident moved to downtown Kansas City tower from out of state. Here’s why

Pam Klein always thought she would live somewhere downtown someday.

A world traveler with her husband, they imagined renting an apartment somewhere to fully experience the kind of urban, city center lifestyle found in a place like London or Paris. That would be a change of pace from suburban Phoenix, Arizona, where the Kleins had been living, or the Northland, where they raised their children.

“We didn’t know that was going to be Kansas City,” Klein said.

The couple now lives in Two Light, one of Cordish’s downtown apartment high-rises. They first moved in part-time a few years ago to be closer to family as it grew with grandchildren but soon became full-time residents of downtown Kansas City there.

Klein is one of many residents who have relocated from outside Kansas City to live in One, Two or Three Light — often more than 75%, according to developer Cordish’s data, including those moving in from larger cities like Chicago or cities in Texas.

The company behind the transformation of downtown with the Power & Light District says relocating residents are drawn to the Lights’ amenities, like rooftop pools and exclusive events for residents, alongside the ability to live an urban lifestyle.

“The biggest draw is the lifestyle,” said Nicholle Soendker, director of residential marketing for Cordish. “People aren’t just selecting their new home, they are choosing to live in the Power & Light District at the heart of Kansas City, where restaurants, entertainment, nightlife, work, and the KC Streetcar are all walkable.”

The data offers a glimpse at who is moving downtown as it has grown significantly in the past 20 years.

Two Light represents a homecoming for out-of-state resident

About nine years ago, feeling it was time to do something different and find some different weather, the Kleins moved from the Kansas City area to suburban Phoenix and built a house with a pool in a 55+ community.

The couple would return to Kansas City a few times a year to visit family and stay with one of their daughters.

“That went on and on for four or five years, doing that back and forth thing, and then both of my daughters had a baby,” she said. “We suddenly are grandparents.”

They started visiting Kansas City more and more after the first grandchild was born. The couple didn’t want to miss out on time with grandkids growing up and started to look at online ads for apartments. That way, everyone would have their own space when the couple was in town.

Looking at ads, Two Light caught her eye, and they ended up renting a studio apartment while living part-time between Arizona and Kansas City. They soon upgraded to a one-bedroom and later, a penthouse unit.

And by last summer, the Kleins were thinking about becoming full-time Kansas City-area residents again. While in Kansas City, they asked their Arizona neighbors to turn the lights on for a viewing that came up.

“Long story short, the next day we had a full price offer on our house with all the furniture,” Klein said.

They agreed, minus the car in the garage, which they packed up with all the personal items that fit inside and officially moved back to Kansas City a 20-hour drive later.

The Kleins still travel while getting to be near their granddaughters and enjoy an urban lifestyle with local businesses much different than the Arizona suburbs. They also enjoy amenities in Two Light like the hot tub that’s as big as a pool.

“In the eight years that we were gone, this whole area has just bloomed,” Klein said.

Their granddaughters enjoy visiting them downtown, too, to go swimming, play “hall ball,” ride the streetcar and sometimes spend the night.

“It’s great we have this relationship that we never knew we needed, because we didn’t have grandkids, but now we have them, and they’re a whole different deal,” Klein said.