By Kevin Collison

A development plan that would demolish a century-old former bank at 1822 Main in the Crossroads and replace it with a $25 million office building was endorsed by a Port KC committee Monday.

The development committee also was briefed on a proposed 300- to 350-unit apartment project that would be located between The Union Berkley Riverfront apartments and Bar K if a deal can be reached with its prospective developer.

The office project on Main Street would be developed by Panoge LLC for the Stueve Siegel Hanson law firm. The project calls for three-levels of office to be built above a three-level, 120-space parking garage. It would included retail space along the sidewalk.

Attorney David Frantze said the law firm, which employs 40- to 50 people, would occupy one floor of the 45,000 square foot building, with the two other office levels available for lease.

The garage would be available for public parking after hours and weekends. The project also is on the streetcar line which Frantze said reduced the need for dedicated parking.

The proposed office building would require the demolition of an old bank and two adjoining properties, which in recent years have been used as night clubs.

The bank originally opened in 1915 as the Southwest Boulevard State Bank and had been considered eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places in a survey done for the city in the early 1980s.

That listing however, was not pursued and the building has no landmark protection.

The developer’s request for a 25-year property tax abatement was endorsed by the Port KC development committee. It would follow the new City Council guidelines with a 75 percent abatement the first 10 years and 37.5 percent the remaining 15 years.

The developer also plans to seek additional economic activity-based tax incentives from the city.

If the necessary approvals are obtained, construction would start this fall with completion anticipated in April 2021.

The potential apartment project proposed for Port KC property is still in the planning and negotiation stage, according to Port KC.

It’s being looked at for an 8-acre site between Bar K, a popular dog park, bar and cafe that opened last summer and the 410-unit Union apartment development completed last year.

Port KC officials declined to identify the potential developer.

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