Quinlan Development Bring Affordable Apartments to Eighth and The Paseo

By Kevin Collison

The developers of Paseo Gateway have opened residential projects totaling 79 affordable and market-rate apartments on the northeast edge of downtown at Eighth and The Paseo.

The 57-unit Quinlan Place apartments and 22-unit Quinlan Row townhomes are the latest round of residential investment by Brinshore Development and its public partners that’s added more than 250 apartments to the neighborhood since 2016.

The residences appeal not only to single people and couples, but include three-bedroom units desired by families. And the mix of one-third market-rate and two-thirds affordable apartments have seen strong demand and almost are fully leased.

“We’re serving people across the income spectrum,” said Todd Lieberman of Brinshore. “We know we’re successful because we have a waiting list across the income brackets.”

The Quinlan Place and Row projects are a combined $18 million investment launched in 2017 to redevelop property formerly occupied by the Choteau Courts public housing project.

Quinlan Row features two-level townhome apartments above apartment flats.

They join other recent nearby Brinshore projects: the 33-unit Rose Hill townhomes at 1101 Admiral, 2016; 30-unit Pendleton Flats at 533 Brooklyn, 2017; 72-unit Maple Flats at Independence and Maple, 2017, and 38-unit ArtsBlock at 2300 Independence, 2019.

Monthly rents for market-rate apartments at Quinlan Place and Row are $625 for a 650 square-foot one-bed; $725-$750 for two-bedroom units ranging from 814- to 976 square feet, and $825-$850 for three bedrooms, ranging from 1,454- to 1,511 square feet.

Affordable apartments are the same sizes and features, and monthly rents go from $520 for a one-bedroom; $620- $625 for two-bedrooms, and $725 for a three bedroom.

To qualify for an affordable unit, the household income cannot exceed $36,120 for one-person; $41,280 for two; $46,440 for three, and $51,600 for four people.

The Quinlan Place building includes a fitness room, community room and conference room. There’s also an outdoor playground. Counseling space also is provided for Mattie Rhodes Center social service providers.

One feature not seen at downtown apartment projects is this playground for families living at Quinlan Place and Row.

All the Brinshore properties are managed by Universal Management, a Kansas City MBE firm. The architect for the Quinlan projects was Alley Poyner Macchietto of Omaha, the contractor was Forsight Construction.

Brinshore’s partners have been the Kansas City Housing Authority, City of Kansas City, Missouri Housing Development Commission and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Private financing has been provided by US Bank and Horizon Bank.

The development also was approved for property tax abatement incentives by the Planned Industrial Expansion Authority.

Lieberman said the city also is rebuilding the nearby intersection of The Paseo and Independence Avenue to make it more pedestrian friendly and plans to add public artwork there as well.

He observed the demand for housing in the Paseo Gateway development is a reflection of the demand for more downtown housing options.

“As people are priced out of downtown living, they’re looking for options nearby,” he said. “That’s helping to revitalize areas nearby as well.”

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