February 18, 2019

Making the Right Move | Luxury Living in Downtown Kansas City

The KC region is home to a breadth of neighborhoods, communities and homes for every lifestyle. Hear from the Director of Residential Leasing and Lifestyle for Cordish Living, Jen DeMeyer, on how luxury amenities at places like One Light and Two Light have played a role in the residential growth of downtown.

It’s no secret downtown Kansas City has seen incredible growth in luxury living options in the last few years. The most frequent question we get: “is there really that much demand?” The short answer is a resounding “yes.”

As part of the property management and resident lifestyle programming team for One Light and Two Light, it is my job to understand what our prospective residents are looking for and learn more about what makes our current residents want to stay. I sat down with one of our transplant residents last week because his story is much like many of our residents - he is not from Kansas City.

Joe relocated from New York City a little over a year ago after being recruited by a local leader in financial planning. One key element mandated by the company was that he would need to live in Kansas City for at least two years. He was hesitant to relocate to the Midwest and it wasn’t until he visited One Light that he thought, “I can live here.”

“Living accommodations played a big part, if not the part in making my decision to come to Kansas City,” says Joe, “Two Light is a five-star building and more than half the price of anything comparable in New York. It was the right move.”

He believes the amenities, services, events and neighborhood offerings changed his mind and having more buildings with the luxuries of One Light and Two Light can only help Kansas City win and retain talent from larger cities.

Relocations are only part of the story in the growth in demand for luxury living. Local residents who moved from the suburbs to downtown are often surprised by how enjoyable it is to live in a part of the city they remember avoiding.

“Downtown has changed dramatically. Some of the first things to notice are the increased number of people living here and the added energy they bring to the area,” says George, who relocated from Johnson County. “I couldn’t be happier with One Light for many reasons, but the amenities, proximity to arts, dining and entertainment and especially the people, are what make living downtown great.”

Businesses are also getting savvy in their efforts to retain good employees while also reducing the expense of weekly hotel rooms. With many companies covering territories across the country, there is a need for long term stays for employees working outside the city where they reside. Having a place to stay with the amenities of a 5-star resort and the comforts of home make constant travel easier.

“I have loved being able to call One Light my home away from home,” says Nicole, whose company has been working in Kansas City the last three years. “The amenities are excellent. Several of my coworkers also live in the building so we can gather in the conference room for after-hour meetings and hold events in the amenity spaces.”

Our teams at One Light and Two Light are thrilled to hear from so many residents and prospective residents who truly love living in downtown Kansas City. With more companies choosing to relocate or expand in the area, we see a continued increase in the need for luxury living options in a vibrant downtown.

View article online here

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