How Kansas City Reached Its Current Wave of Neighborhood Development

Kansas City has over $4.3 billion in development projects planned or underway in 2026, with Berkley Riverfront as the epicenter of the boom.

Scale of Current Activity

The figure reflects multiple large-scale efforts across the city. Berkley Riverfront is in Phase I of a 10-year, $1 billion mixed-use development delivering 433 apartments, new parks, and 55,000 sq ft of commercial space including Current Landing. The West Bottoms is undergoing a $526 million redevelopment, including a proposal to rehabilitate the historic Smith Building to add 105 new apartments. Construction is underway on the $118 million remake of Barney Allis Plaza, which will replace the old garage with a new underground parking structure and a modern park above.

Targeted Investments East of Troost

The city awarded $19 million to 15 housing and business projects east of Troost, including $5 million for Phase 1 of Parade Park Homes to create 480 mixed-income housing units. These allocations build on earlier planning that identified specific corridors for new housing and commercial activity. The focus on mixed-income units at Parade Park Homes addresses both supply and affordability goals within one program.

Each project traces to separate funding and planning decisions made over recent years. The Barney Allis Plaza work centers on replacing aging infrastructure while adding public space. The West Bottoms effort includes adaptive reuse of existing structures such as the Smith Building. Berkley Riverfront combines residential, park, and commercial elements in a single phased plan.

Next Steps in Implementation

Work on these sites will continue according to the timelines already set for each. Berkley Riverfront Phase I remains the lead element within the larger 10-year program. Updates on Parade Park Homes and the Barney Allis Plaza garage replacement will come through city progress reports as construction advances.