‘Won’t be overlooked for long’: $500 million project set to bring West Bottoms back to life
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A few weeks ago you may have heard a loud boom as the century-old Weld Wheel building came crashing down.
The demolition is aimed at bringing new life to a once-thriving entertainment district – the West Bottoms.
“West bottoms won’t be overlooked for long,” said Grant Hromas, the President of Development for SomeraRoad Inc.
That’s the goal Hromas is hoping to achieve with the $500 million project in the West Bottoms.
“It includes a residential component, office, retail, hotel, public space, streets everything like that, the other phases are smaller.”
Hromas said phase one of the project is the largest phase costs $200 million and takes up 40% of their investment, one he said will pay off.
”We’ll be creating a permanent population that actually lives and works in the west bottoms and so it’s part of everyday life and not just I’m going to pull off the road and visit the west bottoms,” said Hromas.
Hromas said that’s what sets this project apart from others in Kansas City along with its roots and unmatched character.
”It includes a stock of buildings unlike anywhere else in Kansas City, with large brick warehouses, and certainly a setting that’s more like a movie set in some ways.”
When asked about the timeline of the project Hromas said there are external factors that control how fast they execute their five-phase vision.
“Ultimately things like interest rates, growth in urban Kansas City, and how well people take on to the neighborhood, I think those are all factors at play.”
He realizes a 15 to 20-year timeline may cause doubts but said there’s only gain to be had.
“One thing about the West Bottoms is there hasn’t been a lot of investment for the last 100 years or so it’s not necessarily that we’re creating a void that already exists for whatever reason were not able to execute on all five phases of the vision.”
Brandon Smith is a co-owner of Freight House Fitness, he said change is needed in the West Bottoms, no matter how long that takes.
“If we rush it and it wasn’t planned correctly then it will be a terrible situation, so I much rather it be 10 to 20 than 3 to 5,” said Smith.
Smith said the West Bottoms is filled with people who want to work hard and have dreams and deserve the opportunity to see the area boom like it did in the early 1900s.
“It makes me excited to know that this is actually going to be a place that KC knows, not a hidden gem anymore,” said Smith.
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