Final approval by Leawood city planners Tuesday brought the One35 mixed use development on 135th Street just off State Line Road a big step closer to eventual groundbreaking, possibly as soon as early summer.
The Leawood Planning Commission unanimously voted to approve the final plan and plat for the senior living building in the development, as well as updated design guidelines for the entire development.
The One35 project, which has been in the works since 2018, will feature a mix of residential, retail and office space when finished on the southwest corner of 135th and Kenneth Road.
The building is aimed at residents 55 and older
The commission mainly discussed plans for the age-restricted building component of the development.
That four-story, 108,713-square-foot building will have 59 units to go with underground as well as surface parking on its three acres.
At least one resident in each unit must be aged 55 or over, said Andrew Schaefer, of the Minnesota-based Real Estate Equities Development.
The average age in the company’s other age-restricted developments is typically from the 60s to the low 70s, he said.
Residents will have 18 floor plans to choose from and a range of apartment sizes, from 900 square feet to 1,500 square feet, Schaefer told commissioners.
Ground could be broken later this summer
The building will function as a co-op, with residents buying shares to secure their homes and self governing via a five-member elected board of directors, he said.
The developer also partners with local property management companies to take care of the physical property.
Schaefer said over 60% of the senior apartment units on the project have already been spoken for and the company is now working on financing.
If the full city council approves it next month, construction could begin in early summer and is expected to take 16 to 18 months to complete.
“I think this development is a great addition to Leawood,” said Commission Chairman David Coleman. It helps the city diversify its housing stock and “the citizens that are aging and want to stay in Leawood, this is a great opportunity to do that,” he added.
Resident ownership of the apartments also is a good way for people to keep their wealth as they age, he said.
