Incred-A-Bowl risks being torn down if not repaired by January, council says

After months of discussion and debate, the Overland Park City Council unanimously declared the former Incred-A-Bowl site to be unsafe.

The risk of the roof collapsing prompted the city to take final action against the owner of the former bowling alley. They have been ordered to either repair or demolish the structure or ensure the premises are safe by Jan. 16.

Scott Hunter, an attorney representing the building’s owner, asked for an extension to December before the City Council made its final decision to deem the building unsafe.

“A genuine effort has been made by the owner and (he) is anxious to bring this project to completion by 2026 and is asking for additional time for completion,” Hunter said. “I believe it’s reasonable for the owner to request more time to allow this project to be completed. There’s still work to be done but there’s been significant progress made.”

But only Mayor Curt Skoog said he was supportive of allowing some more time.

“I understand the intent of the council is to get resolution to this safe building issue. Personally, I think this declaration is a step further than we need to go,” Skoog said. “I would prefer a continuance to November 3, but it’s up to the will of the council to move forward.”

Years of neglect

The once family-friendly spot, located at 8500 W. 151st Street, has sat vacant for many years. Residents said they have seen many unkept promises about what will happen to the site — including the most recent permit issued for a Bocce Ball space. No projects have come to fruition.

Incred-A-Bowl opened in 1997 and was owned by former Kansas City Royals pitcher Danny Jackson and his wife, Mary. When it closed in 2015, Paramjeet Sabharwal, a surgeon at MISH Hospital and Clinics in Lenexa, purchased the building.

During his time of ownership, Sabharwal received zoning approvals for a hospital, an event space and a gym. Since 2018, he has racked up 18 code violations, received two stop-work orders for working without a permit; and was issued a fire hazard notice.

The final straw for the City Council came over the summer, when city officials learned that the roof was at risk of caving in because of unpermitted construction work done at the site.

The owner tried to raise the ceiling without getting structural engineer oversight, leading the city to post the building as dangerous for human occupancy.

What’s happening to the site

Since that time, the city issued a permit for a contractor to install roof support structures, known as shoring, to minimize the risk of the roof’s collapse.

During Monday’s meeting, Hunter, the owner’s attorney, said that they’ve started preparations for new footings and worked on steel support, and began work for new concrete flooring. Inspection and verification is set to be completed by Nov. 3. Once that’s done, the building will no longer be considered unsafe, he said.

The city can grant additional time if the owner shows progress on repairs or removal of the safety issues, city spokeswoman Meg Ralph said in an email.

The city is not expected to take ownership of the property, but if the owner fails to complete repairs by the January date, the city can demolish the building and charge the property owner for the costs, Ralph said.

This story was originally published October 22, 2025 at 6:00 AM.