Significant development set to be a "game changer" for Historic Northeast

Rendering: Courtesy of Nomad Develops and Arnold Development Group

Rendering: Courtesy of Nomad Develops and Arnold Development Group

Kansas City’s Historic Northeast neighborhood is poised for a significant and long-awaited transformation with a $180 million redevelopment spanning 22 acres at Hardesty and Independence avenues. This ambitious initiative aims to revitalize a historically underinvested area through a thoughtfully designed mix of affordable housing, community amenities, business support, and public gathering spaces.

Project Overview

At the center of the redevelopment is a 12-story residential building featuring 395 units, more than 80% of which will be affordable for households earning 30–80% of the area median income. Complementing the residential component is a 29,000-square-foot public market, roughly half the size of a football field, offering space for 18 vendors.

Additional components include:

• A business incubator and coworking offices for entrepreneurs and small businesses

• Community amenities such as a gym, childcare center, and commissary kitchen for food wholesalers

• Sustainability-focused design elements including solar panels and geothermal wells

Developers Nomad Develops and Arnold Development Group have spent years preparing the long-dormant site. “Everybody’s like, is it happening? … [Yes], this is happening,” said Carmen Chopp, CEO of Nomad Develops, signaling the project’s momentum.

Community-Centered Approach

A defining element of the redevelopment is its emphasis on community engagement. The development team collaborated extensively with neighborhood organizations to ensure the project aligns with residents’ priorities. The goal: uplift and stabilize the area without triggering displacement, a concern often associated with large-scale investment.

Local historian and Northeast News publisher Michael Bushnell called the effort a “game changer for the community,” citing the area’s long history of underinvestment driven by white flight, school disinvestment, and discriminatory housing practices like redlining. He noted that this project represents a meaningful step toward reversing decades of structural inequities.

Economic and Social Impact

This redevelopment is designed not only to improve the physical landscape but also to generate meaningful economic and social benefits:

• Affordable housing will help retain current residents and attract new ones

• The public market and business incubator will provide crucial opportunities for small businesses, food entrepreneurs, and local vendors

• The creation of a walkable, communal hub will encourage neighborhood engagement and host events, markets, and cultural activities

These components align with Kansas City’s broader strategy to reinvest in historically underserved neighborhoods and cultivate inclusive community growth.

Connected to Broader Kansas City Revitalization

The Historic Northeast project is part of a larger wave of strategic development across Kansas City:

• In 2025, the city approved $19 million for 15 projects east of Troost, supporting mixed-income housing, historic preservation, and local business development—such as the restoration of Satchel Paige’s home, the Boone Theater, and the Workhouse Castle.

• Major regional initiatives— including the Margaritaville resort in Kansas City, Kansas, the Bluhawk Sports Complex in Overland Park, and hundreds of new multifamily units along the KC Streetcar line—signal widespread investment in the metro’s urban and suburban fabric.

• The city has also reinforced efforts to support small businesses through programs like the Outdoor Dining Enhancement Program, which eliminated permit fees and awarded $300,000 in grants to restaurants to enhance pedestrian-friendly spaces.

Collectively, these projects showcase Kansas City’s commitment to equitable development, economic opportunity, and long-term community vitality.

Looking Ahead

The public market is anticipated to open in 2027, with developers now seeking tenants to activate the space. Long-term, the project aims to redefine the identity of the Historic Northeast by turning long-neglected lots into a vibrant destination for culture, commerce, and community life.

As Chopp noted, “You’re stabilizing a community is what it boils down to.” By integrating affordable housing, entrepreneurial support, and accessible public spaces, this redevelopment stands as one of the most significant private investments on Kansas City’s East Side in decades—offering tangible progress and renewed hope for a neighborhood that has long awaited reinvestment.

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