Crossroads' $440M Encore Project to Reshape KC Skyline

The full vision for a transformative $440 million-plus redevelopment in the heart of Kansas City's Crossroads Arts District has come into focus. Dubbed 'Encore,' the project by developer EPC Real Estate Group will remake a four-acre site at 16th Street and Broadway Boulevard, currently composed of mostly vacant buildings. In their place will rise a 32-story apartment building, a 15-story luxury hotel, and an 11-story office building, fundamentally altering the city's skyline and creating a new hub of activity directly across from the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

This ambitious project serves as a critical gateway connecting Downtown Kansas City, the Crossroads, and the Westside. In a statement on social media, Mayor Quinton Lucas said the project will "transform the city’s skyline while keeping jobs, activity and investment in Kansas City’s core." The development's location is strategically significant, situated just blocks from a KC Streetcar stop and poised to capitalize on the city's ongoing investments in nearby assets like Barney Allis Plaza and Luminary Park.

The master plan, led by architecture firm Hoefer Welker, details a multi-phase project designed to bring significant density and modern amenities to the area. The first phase will be the 371-foot, 32-story residential tower, featuring 392 housing units ranging from apartments to duplexes and penthouses. Residents will have access to a deckside pool overlooking the skyline, 481 integrated parking spaces, and ground-floor commercial space.

The second and third phases include a 15-story luxury hotel with 282 rooms and 313 parking spots, and an 11-story office building geared toward a corporate headquarters, which will offer 364 parking spots and connect to the hotel. Across the development, street-level retail spaces are planned for amenities like restaurants and cafes, activating the pedestrian experience in the vibrant neighborhood.

A project of this scale requires a complex financial structure, and the Port Authority of Kansas City (Port KC) is playing a key role. Earlier this week, the Port KC Board of Commissioners gave initial approval for a financing package to support the development. For the apartment tower phase, the developers could receive property tax breaks valued at an estimated $36.9 million over 25 years. Even with the abatement, the project is projected to generate $19.2 million in new property taxes for local bodies during that period, a massive increase from the $1.6 million the site would generate if left undeveloped, according to a Port KC presentation.

In line with Port KC policy for projects that do not include dedicated affordable units, the developers have pledged to contribute $2 million to the city’s Housing Trust Fund. This payment, calculated at $5,000 per residential unit, provides grant funding to other affordable housing projects across Kansas City. The financing for the hotel and office components will be considered by the board at a later date.

The Encore project is the latest and largest in a series of proposed high-density developments reshaping downtown Kansas City. This boom is fueled by public investment in infrastructure like the KC Streetcar and a growing demand for urban living. The Encore site itself, once home to a Denny's restaurant demolished in 2021, represents the transformation of underutilized land into a vibrant, productive urban space.

This trend isn't limited to just one project. Elsewhere in the Crossroads, real estate firm Copaken Brooks is planning The Pendergast, a 92-room Art Deco-style hotel at 17th and Main. That project, which will integrate with the existing Tom's Town distillery, is slated to begin construction after the FIFA World Cup in 2026. Together, these developments signal strong investor confidence in the future of Kansas City's urban core.

With the initial financing step approved by Port KC, the Encore project is moving forward. The next major milestone will be the Port KC board's final approval of the financing package, which could happen over the summer. Following that, the agency and developers would execute a full development agreement in the fall.

If this timeline holds, construction on the first phase—the 32-story residential tower—could begin before the end of 2026. The full, multi-phase build-out is expected to continue through 2030, progressively adding a significant new landmark to the Kansas City skyline.