Friday night is deadline for Kemper Arena proposals

Developers and dreamers have until 11:59 p.m. Friday to submit proposals for reuses for Kemper Arena.

Kansas City officials will then take several weeks to review those redevelopment plans and see how viable and creative they are.

The city issued a national request for proposals in May, and they are due just before midnight Friday.

The Kemper redevelopment site incorporates about 10 acres in the West Bottoms. The city will evaluate proposals based on developers’ qualifications, financial resources and ability to transform the neighborhood. Proposals can include commercial, retail, office, residential, recreational or other ideas that enhance the West Bottoms and contribute to greater activity and vitality.

Steve Foutch, CEO of the Foutch Brothers firm that specializes in historic renovations, confirmed his company has already submitted a proposal to convert Kemper Arena into a regional mecca for youth and adult sports.

Foutch had originally submitted a proposal to the City Council in 2014 but withdrew it after a challenge surfaced from the American Royal Association, which wanted to replace Kemper Arena with a new multipurpose facility.

The American Royal has since backed away from its new building plan, and the city resumed its search for viable ideas to try to preserve and reuse Kemper Arena.

Foutch declined to provide extensive details about his latest plan but said it is “bigger and better” than his earlier plan, with even more interest from youth and family-oriented sports groups.

This story was originally published August 21, 2015 at 8:26 AM with the headline "Friday night is deadline for Kemper Arena proposals."