February 28, 2022

Three Light Cover Story: 'Out of Town Capital' Bets on Kansas City

Thriving apartment sector spurs influx of investment dollars, new development

Cordish Makes No Small Plans

From the outset, The Cordish Companies' vision for the Power & Light District was to create a thriving 24/7 urban neighborhood for downtown Kansas City that combined great dining and entertainment with office, lifestyle and residential amenities, says John Moncke, president of the Kansas City Power & Light District, one of Cordish's Midwest developments. Cordish is headquartered in Baltimore.

When the Power & Light District opened in 2007, it drew millions of visitors from Kansas City and the region to downtown. Over the years, the neighborhood has grown to encompass nine city blocks, including more than 500,000 square-feet of restaurants, entertainment, office, shopping and lifestyle amenities; more than 65 best-in-class local, regional and national tenants; a coworking office space, Spark Kansas City; and two luxury residential towers.

In 2009, the Power & Light District was the recipient of the Urban Land Institute Award of Excellence for its impact on the revitalization of downtown Kansas City.

One Light, the first new construction high-rise tower building in downtown Kansas City in 50 years, opened in 2015. That was followed by Two Light in 2018, and now Three Light, which is under construction. Three Light will rise 26 stories with 288 units. Completion is slated for 2023.