Corporate Woods, a major office district at the heart of Overland Park, could become the latest development in the city to look to a future with more housing, dining and retail.
It’s part of a rezoning application from Georgia-based GSR submitted to the city for review earlier this summer that could clear the path for additions to the 29-building complex that currently contains more than two million square feet of office space.
For decades, corporate headquarters and offices have traditionally served as Overland Park’s primary industry, acting as an economic engine for Johnson County’s largest city.
However, repurposing and redeveloping large-scale office developments has been a big priority for the city in the past few years as it grapples with the evolving nature of office work since the COVID-19 pandemic.
A lot of that energy has focused on the areas along College Boulevard and Metcalf Avenue, one of the most densely packed job centers in the metro.
The new plans for Corporate Woods — located between Interstate 435 and College Boulevard along Antioch Road — continue to emphasize the office uses that have defined the development for 50 years, while also adding apartments, townhomes, retail and dining options.
What’s proposed at Corporate Woods?
Project plans submitted by GSR show several new additions to the Corporate Woods district, which has historically been defined almost exclusively as office development.
Called The Woods in planning documents available through the city’s online development portal, the mixed-use rezoning proposal shows more than 1,200 new housing units through a mix of townhomes and apartments.
There would also be more commercial development, a central civic lawn, trail connections and some structured parking garages. Seas of excess surface parking could also be repurposed, something city officials have eyed as a priority at multiple office parks.
“Corporate Woods has always been a cornerstone of Overland Park’s identity,” said Patrick Brooks, who is part of the development team, in a press release. “It is an iconic property with a strong history, exceptional infrastructure, and tremendous potential. Our goal is to write the next chapter of Corporate Woods by building upon the qualities that have made it successful while introducing new opportunities that support how people want to live, work, and connect today.”
Development documents detail five distinct phases for The Woods project, though an exact timeline remains unclear.
Mixed-use redevelopment has become increasingly common in Overland Park
Plans to redevelop established districts in a way that mixes uses like housing, office, dining and retail have become more common across Overland Park.
Around the same time the Corporate Woods application was submitted, CBL Properties submitted its own mixed-use redevelopment plan for Oak Park Mall. That application, which is also still preliminary at this juncture, could also bring housing and more commercial development to the mall, as well as a hotel and performing arts theatre.
Closer to College and Metcalf, Price Brothers recently got permission to convert unused parking at the Lighton Plaza office towers into a four-story apartment building with some neighboring retail.
Not far from Corporate Woods, Curtin Property Co. has long envisioned a mixed-use redevelopment for the Brookridge Golf Club near Antioch and I-435, though that project has been slow-moving since it was first proposed a decade ago.
Such plans have not always gone over well with residents who live nearby in single-family neighborhoods. The Brookridge project in particular drew ire from neighbors, who pushed back hard against the more urban development pattern at a site that operated as a suburban golf course for decades.
Next steps for the Corporate Woods rezoning:
The rezoning application for the Corporate Woods project was submitted on July 22 and is still working its way through the city planning process.
Currently, the project is tentatively scheduled for a public hearing and consideration during the Overland Park Planning Commission meeting on Oct. 12, though that’s subject to change. (It’s common for larger redevelopment projects and mixed-use developments in Overland Park to be delayed.)
After the planning commission makes a recommendation on the Corporate Woods application, it would go to the Overland Park City Council for a final vote.
Later, if approved, GSR would need to submit a final development plan for the planning commission to review.
Keep reading: Oak Park Mall owner proposes apartments, hotel and theatre in major rezoning bid
