Former office space set to offer affordable downtown workforce housing as historic Midland renovation begins

New life is set to pour into the historic former Midland office building as The Cordish Companies transform the space into 135 studio and one-bedroom apartments.

Midland office building at 13th and Baltimore in downtown Kansas City; Startland News photo

“The Midland Lofts renovation is a major step in the direction of making living downtown more broadly accessible to the downtown workforce, and we believe that the Midland Lofts can be a catalyst for the development of more moderately-priced living options downtown,” said John Moncke, president of Kansas City Power & Light District, during the Midland Lofts construction commencement celebration Monday, June 10 at the Midland Theatre.  

The Midland Lofts are slated to open May 2024 with applications to reserve an apartment currently open. Prices begin at $720 for a 334-square-foot studio and go up to $2,011 for a 988 square-foot one-bedroom apartment. The 12-story building is located at 1221 Baltimore Ave. — notably across the street from such downtown hotspots as the Kansas City Hotel and Blade & Timber.

Click here to check out the Midland Lofts.

John Moncke, president of Kansas City Power & Light District, speaks during a celebration event for Midland Lofts

With hundreds of employees and dozens of businesses in the Power & Light District, the district and The Cordish Companies are committed to making downtown the most attractive place to live, work and play, Moncke said.

“Over the last eight years, we’ve really seen the district transition and become a really attractive neighborhood as we’ve added over 1,000 residential units since One Light opened in 2015,” Moncke noted. “… In just a few weeks from now, we are going to have our first residents move into Three Light.”

With One Light, Two Light and Three Light being categorized as luxury apartments at a higher price point, the Midland Lofts provide a wider range of affordability, said KCMO City Manager Brian Platt. 

“It’s filling some of the holes in our market that we’ve got for different types of affordability ranges; it’s just so important to us that we have options,” Platt said, teasing that there are plans in the works to open hundreds of more apartment complexes. “… We are very far behind — not just in Kansas City — but in this country in the number of housing units we got to build.”

Separately, Cordish appears to be in talks to develop the Strata project site nearby in Power & Light, according to media reports. That venture would also see spaces once planned for office use instead developed into residential units — though whether they would be characterized as affordable housing is not yet known — amid lowered demand for office space.

Alexis Oppenheimer, Helix Architecture + Design, speaks during a celebration event marking the commencement of renovations at the former Midland office building; photos by Channa Steinmetz, Startland News

The renovation of the former Midland office building, which has been vacant for over two decades, will be led by Helix Architecture + Design. Helix also oversaw the Midland Theater renovation nearly 15 years ago, said Alexis Oppenheimer, design architect at Helix.

“When we approach any project, we always think about the history of the building, or the space, and what we can learn from it,” Oppenheimer said. “The Midland Theatre and the Midland building are both rich with history, and that has guided our renovation and inspired our design.”

Both the Midland Theatre and Midland office building were constructed in 1927. The renovation and adaptive reuse of the historic building once again makes it a destination for Kansas City’s workforce, Oppenheimer continued. 

“The Midland building has long been regarded as an underutilized historic tool,” she said, “and its renovation ensures that this magnificent piece of architecture remains relevant and functional in the modern era.”

Check out a photo gallery from Monday’s event, then keep reading.

Rendering of the Midland Lofts; image courtesy of Helix Architecture + Design

All apartments at Midland Lofts will be equipped with stainless steel appliances, custom closet organizers, quartz countertops and in-unit washers and dryers. Resident amenities include conference rooms, business centers, co-working spaces, fitness center, meditation room, entertainment kitchen, fireplace and coffee bar, said Marnie Sauls, executive director of Residential Management at The Cordish Companies.

“This building will truly be unique with this architecture and interior design that reflects the rich history and the unique character of the building and theater, while channeling all of these upscale finishes that we use in the design of One Light, Two Light and Three Light,” Sauls said. “… We can’t wait to welcome home the new residents in May of 2024.” 

Speakers and attendees of the Midland Lofts construction commencement celebration were invited to sign an original piece of marble from the former Midland office building to signify the start of the next chapter of the building.