Downtown Living
Cathedral Pursuing $14M Campaign for New Parish Center, Homeless Facility
By Kevin Collison The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, a landmark church that pre-dates downtown, has launched a $14 million campaign to build a new parish hall and renovate space for its breakfast program for the homeless. The brick Cathedral at 11th and Broadway with its striking gold dome steeple traces its roots to a…
Oak Tower may be Restored to Original 1920s Grandeur
By Kevin Collison A towering downtown architectural treasure that’s been hidden by cement stucco since 1974 may be restored to its Gothic glory by a Lawrence developer. The 28-story Oak Tower near City Hall was bought by Bill Schultheis a year ago, and he’s pursuing a renovation plan that would restore its original terra cotta exterior…
Liberty Street Green Space Completes First Year in West Bottoms
By Kevin Collison One of greater downtown’s newer “parks” recently celebrated a quiet first anniversary, except for the rumbling trucks overhead. It’s called the Liberty Street Green Space and it replaces a grubby, former no-man’s land beneath the I-670 overpass in the West Bottoms with decorative pavers, walking trails and landscaping. The project was part…
New Plan Would Redevelop Former AT&T Building Into Apartments
By Kevin Collison The vacant, former AT&T office building at 500 E. Eighth St. would be redeveloped as a 265-unit apartment project under a fresh proposal that’s been submitted to a city development agency. The Bernstein Cos. of Washington D.C. has a contract to purchase the property from its current developer, Maxus Properties of North…
Work Begins on $52M Apartment Project in Freight House District
(Editor’s note: This updated article originally appeared on Aug. 16.) By Kevin Collison The 193-unit Tracks apartment project in the Freight House District has begun construction, two years after it was first proposed. The $52.5 million development is being built by Milhaus, an Indianapolis developer that also recently completed the 338-unit Artistry KC apartment complex…