Think Shark Tank, but completely Kansas City-focused. 💡Keystone Community Corp. is a nonprofit dedicated to bringing regional universities, philanthropic leaders, and corporations + entrepreneurs together to plan, operate, and develop the downtown Kansas City community. Now, they’re making a $20 million real estate move.

An aerial view of the Keystone Community Corp. project | Rendering via BNIM

The company, in partnership with J.E. Dunn, submitted a preliminary request with city planners for what will be Keystone’s first location — a 5-story “Keystone Innovation” office building at the northeast corner of 18th Street and Troost Avenue. Let’s discuss the details.

📍 Location

The property, owned by the Kansas City Transportation Authority, is the top contender for the project site with the following goals:

To connect currently disjointed areas of the East Crossroads + 18th and Vine Jazz District.
To break down decades of cultural + infrastructure barriers across Troost Avenue.
To provide proximity to KC’s urban core + creative assets, including talent, which promotes scalability.

💭 Vision

The center will house multidisciplinary innovation spaces — think: co-working and creative spaces, flex labs, fabrication studios, conference + meeting rooms, and room for industrial training programs.
The office is the first-step of a larger vision — the Keystone Innovation District — which aims to prompt redevelopment along the 18th Street corridor.

🗓️ Timeline

The nonprofit will launch its first interim location with strategic partners along 18th street this fall.
A preliminary J.E. Dunn inquiry suggests work could begin on the project this February with completion in early 2023.

Representatives declined to speak about the development any further for now. Kevin McGinnis — chairman of the Keystone Community Corp. — said at a luncheon with the Downtowners group last month that the nonprofit was becoming serious about “place making” opportunities and was “looking at a couple of strategic developments.”