The Kansas City Crossroads Arts District is slated for a significant transformation with the unveiling of the ‘Encore’ project, a multi-phase mixed-use development valued at over $440 million. Spearheaded by EPC Real Estate Group in collaboration with VeLa Development Partners and Dan Carr, the ambitious plan will occupy a four-acre site at 16th Street and Broadway Boulevard, directly across from the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
The comprehensive development includes three distinct towers: a 32-story residential building offering 392 luxury apartments, a 15-story luxury hotel with 282 keys, and an 11-story office building providing 124,000 square feet of Class A office space. This vertical integration aims to create a vibrant hub for living, working, and leisure, fundamentally altering the city’s skyline and serving as a critical gateway connecting Downtown Kansas City, the Crossroads, and the Westside.
Designed by architecture firm Hoefer Welker, the project’s master plan details a phased approach, with the first phase, the residential tower, expected to break ground in late 2026. The entire multi-phase development is projected to reach full completion around 2030. The site, previously home to mostly vacant buildings and a former Denny’s restaurant, represents a trend of converting underutilized urban land into high-density, modern amenities.
The project’s substantial investment is further supported by an incentive plan that includes up to $500 million in bonds and a 25-year tax abatement, approved by Port KC. This public-private partnership is projected to generate significantly more property taxes for local bodies than the site would if left undeveloped, alongside additional sales, hospitality, and earnings taxes for the city. The scale and scope of ‘Encore’ position it as one of the largest and most impactful developments in the Crossroads to date.
JL Group’s insights into the Kansas City market often highlight the strategic importance of mixed-use developments in revitalizing urban cores, particularly those that leverage existing cultural assets and public infrastructure like the KC Streetcar. The ‘Encore’ project exemplifies this trend, aiming to capitalize on the area’s growing demand for urban living and integrated commercial spaces.
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