By Kevin Collison

The new Gallerie apartment development at 27th and McGee has created a neighborhood on a former parking lot, and is proving popular with students and employees at nearby Hospital Hill and Crown Center.

The 361-unit apartment development built by Indianapolis-based developer Milhaus begin accepting residents about 10 months ago and its final units are expected to be completed this week.

In addition, a 57-unit apartment project called Icon at Gallerie is expected to be finished in April, and nine townhomes built by UC-B Properties are now open as well.

John McGurk, vice president of development for Milhaus, said the $80 million investment has found a solid market. The current occupancy at Gallerie is 45 percent and the pace is picking up now that the project is almost complete.

“This project provides an option for people who want to be in an urban setting but not the downtown core,” McGurk said.

“It has the space and amenities of a suburban project but in an urban setting.”

The Gallierie project includes four buildings five- to six stories tall and a garage with 380 spaces. The development also includes 7,200 square feet of retail space.

Amenities include an outdoor swimming pool, fitness club, club room, catering kitchen, conference room, dog park and dog wash room, a maker’s space and several courtyards.

Gallerie represents Milhaus’ first entry into the Kansas City market. Planning began in 2013 when Hallmark officials reached out to UC-B, a firm led by John Hoffman and Lance Carlton, to develop apartments on property it owned on Gillham Road.

After presenting a master plan that impressed Hallmark, UC-B brought in Milhaus as its partner.

“Hallmark has been a great partner to work with,” McGurk said. “I think they’re excited and we are a big benefit for each other.”

HOK is the design architect, the architect of record for Gallerie is Dwell Design Studios from Atlanta.

A micro apartment at Gallerie goes for $975- to $995 per month; studios, $1,070- to $1,155; one bedrooms, $1,260- to $1,600; two bedrooms, $1,715- to $2,055, and three bedroom, $2,199- to $2,210.

In addition to Gallerie, Milhaus completed a 186-unit apartment development called Marcato at 27th and Troost about a year ago. It included a 10,000 square foot commercial building.

While the Marcato apartments are the same quality as Gallerie, their rents are less because its three-story buildings don’t require elevators and the development has only surface parking, McGurk said.

Studios at Marcato go for $831- to $928 per month; one bedrooms, $1,097- to $1,163, and two bedrooms, $1,326. About 70 percent of the development is leased at this point.

The Marcato architect was the Kansas City firm, Draw.

Milhaus also is building the 341-unit Artistry KC apartment development in the East Crossroads at 19th and Oak.

(Editor’s note: Beginning in December 2019, CityScene KC has become a paid subscription publication)

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