New details reveal how Crown Center may change with Royals stadium: city records

New city records shed more light on how Crown Center, the proposed future home for a Royals baseball stadium, could be redesigned and redeveloped as part of plans for a sports and entertainment district.

On Monday, engineering firm Olsson applied for rezoning several Crown Center properties as an urban redevelopment district. Urban redevelopment zoning is aimed at flexibility while setting standards to guide future development and what can be built in underdeveloped areas.

The rezoning would be another procedural step toward making the Royals’ and Hallmark’s plans to bring a $1.9 billion baseball stadium to Crown Center a reality as part of a broader $3 billion mixed-use development plan.

“We are pleased to continue the planning process with the Kansas City Royals as we work toward the reimagining of Crown Center, and this filing is part of that process,” Crown Center spokesperson Tina McGuire said. “While this is a long-term project that will take shape over the coming years, we are encouraged by the progress made to date and are excited to have reached this point.”

Royals stadium at Crown Center

An attached development plan shows a more precise location for the proposed future stadium alongside areas where new buildings could be constructed and plaza areas added.

The proposed stadium would replace Hallmark’s current headquarters. The plans, for example, show new buildings added off Grand Boulevard, west and southwest of the stadium.

The preliminary plan does not specify exactly what new buildings could contain, noting that would be determined in final plans.

The rezoning application also includes proposed design standards for development in Crown Center — calling for walkability and active public spaces — and traffic study with details about parking and transportation.

The City Plan Commission is scheduled to review the plans in August.