A different developer is now working on a mixed-use development proposal “The Rocks” site in Roeland Park, where the municipal swimming pool was located decades ago.
Why a new developer? Mayor Mike Kelly told the city council on June 21 that the city was unable “to come to final terms” with Sunflower Development Group. Roeland Park and Sunflower previously entered into a 120-day memorandum of understanding for a mixed-use development at the same site.
- The city council has now unanimously approved entering a 90-day memorandum of understanding with EPC Real Estate Group. (Councilmember Michael Rebne was absent and did not take part in the vote).
- EPC is the firm behind The Locale project on Johnson Drive in Mission, the planned active living senior community on Shawnee Mission Park in Fairway, and the Avenue 80, 81 and 82 projects in downtown Overland Park.
What happened to the last deal? City Administrator Keith Moody told the Post via email it’s not that the city and developers couldn’t agree on specific items, but that “the business terms for any deal of this type are complex and each factors into the developer’s investment decision.”
- Moody said uncertain interest rates and construction costs compounded the complexity and influenced Sunflower’s decision. Should those two costs return to normal, he said, Sunflower “may well reengage if the site is available.”
- Despite the city signing off on a land sale agreement, the sale from the city to Sunflower did not occur, Moody said, so Roeland Park still owns The Rocks site.
What’s new: The new memorandum of understanding details a $50 to $75 million total project cost for the entirety of the land — a jump from the $35 to $50 million in the previous MOU. Moody said this increase is in part due to the rise in construction costs, as well as an investment on all four lots on the property opposed to two lots.
- EPC’s plan must include at least 200 multifamily units with a minimum of 5% reserved for affordable housing units, the standard of measure being 60% average median income of the Kansas City metro area.
- Councilmember Jan Faidley clarified that the 5% affordable housing unit figure was borne out of a discussion held in executive session.
- The plan needs to feature at least 3,500 square feet of retail space, and a full-service restaurant is intended to be part of the development.
Office and other commercial spaces can also be included in the plan.
Next steps: EPC needs to submit a building layout and conceptual site plan to the city by day 45, according to city documents.
- By day 60, EPC must submit construction cost estimates to the city.
- A land purchase agreement of the 6.6 acres needs to be agreed upon by day 80.
Key quote: “All I see as I drive through every city is luxury apartment buildings, and saying 5% (for low-income tenants) sounds great, it personally is not what I was looking forward to,” Councilmember Tom Madigan. “I do remember us discussing 5% (during an executive session), I do not recall us ever agreeing to 5%.”
Key quote: “One of the other things I remember from that (executive session) conversation is that affordable housing rarely comes in the form of new constructions just due to the price of it,” Councilmember Trisha Brauer said. “Therefore, looking at other solutions in the community to incorporate other methods of affordable housing just so we don’t shoot ourselves in the foot on an opportunity — otherwise, we’re not moving forward with any project, and developers aren’t going to take something where they’re going to lose money either.”
