Here’s a big scoop, BlogKC and the Kansas City Star reporting that Whole Foods is coming to 51st and Oak. It will fill the space currently occupied by a UMKC admin building, a parking lot and the KC Young Matrons club (which will move to a different part of campus).
There’s some controversy over whether there will be an entrance to the mixed use development, which will also include 150 apartments and office space, will have an entrance on to Brookside Boulevard–which would require yet another crossing of the Trolley Trail–something joggers and strollers may not like.
Entrance or not, I think this is a great addition to the neighborhood. The only other Whole Foods is pretty far across town and building up density is good for the neighborhood in many ways and this is the right spot for that density. The area of 51st Street is already on its way to becoming quite happening and this is really going to add a new dimension to the neighborhood.
But the Fox wants to know–what do you think?
What I don’t understand is the relationship between the development and UMKC. Will the university own the land and buildings? If so, is that an appropriate use of public land? Do they need luxury apartments on campus (not just near campus) that rent for $1,900 a month? How will commercial profits effect their public funding?
I think the Star article mentioned that this will remain UMKC’s land and it will be a long term lease to them. But yes, it’s a bit strange–I wonder if it creates a big profit for the University which they use to fund other programs?