With new deal, St. Louis developer could build 253 apartments in Freight House Village

A procedural vote has opened the door for a St. Louis developer to keep expanding into Kansas City, as it prepares to join a phased village community project in the Crossroads Arts District.On Thursday, the Planned IndustrialExpansion Authority agreed to amend 3D Development’s project agreementfor Freight House Village. The changes will allow a multifamily partner to build more apartments and fewer parking garage spaces than were outlined in an initial deal, which was approved last summer for the area south of 20th Street, along both sides of Walnut Street. That partner will be Lux Living, according to documents initially included in, and later removed from, the PIEA’s meeting packet. The documents outlined a request to transfer incentive terms already approved for Freight House Village’s apartments to the St. Louis developer.

The amended project agreement would allow Lux Living to complete a seven- to eight-story building with 253 apartments, up from the project’s initial 230. Below the apartment would be an underground garage with 300 spaces, down from 322. The amendment also notes the option for approximately 10,000 square feet of retail and commercial space.

Lux Living was not originally slated to build Freight House Village’s apartments. 3D Development Founder Vince Bryant told PIEA members that his group agreed to part ways with a previous unnamed residential developer, which wanted to pursue a larger high-rise beyond the size and scope of what is conceptualized within Freight House Village.

The village plan also includes the renovation of two former Superior Moving & Storage buildings for 70,000 square feet of offices, plus 12 walk-up and row house dwellings. In June, the PIEA approved a series of incentives for Freight House Village, including a 15-year property tax abatement — at 75% for 10 years, followed by 37.5% for five years.

Elsewhere in the Freight House District planning area, Milhaus broke ground late last year on a $52 million apartment complex at 311 W. 22nd St. Behind the Superior buildings, 3D Development proposes another development, The Podium, with at least 250,000 square feet of Class A office space.

The Freight House Village project would become Lux Living’s fourth known multifamily project in Kansas City. The developer plans a total of 484 local apartments across three other properties at the Berkley Riverfront; behind the historic former Katz Drug Store; and at the site of a former Faultless Healthcare Linen building in the Crossroads.

Lux Living representatives were not available for additional information on its plans.

The project agreement amendment calls for Freight House Village’s new apartments to be completed by the end of 2025.