From the onset of the pandemic, the story of Downtown Kansas City has been one of incredible resiliency. In the face of great challenges, we remained steadfastly hopeful because of our unrelenting dedication to building a place that offers density, walkability, and quick access to essential resources all within a modern mixed-use business district.
Downtown has charted a course that many other cities may need to follow on the path to recovery, mixing live and work together in a compact, walkable setting. Nearly all new developments continue this trend, even intermingling uses between property types: offices enriched with cafes and gyms; apartments with co-working and dog-friendly spaces; hotel mixed with residential; health clubs, restaurants and retail animating ground floors. The interactivity of these diverse drivers accounts to a large degree for Downtown’s success and will be key to full revival.
Fastest Growing Neighborhood
Downtown has become the fastest-growing residential neighborhood of both Kansas City and the entire region, as the population increased by 79% from 2010 to 2022 to more than 32,000 residents.
Millennial Concentration
Millennials make up 52% of Downtown Kansas City’s residential population – the largest concentration in the region, outpacing the MSA’s rate of 29%. Millennials and Gen Z account for 64% of Downtown’s population.
Exceptional Talent
Downtown Kansas City is uniquely positioned for outstanding access to the area’s talent pool of highly-skilled workers. With 27 colleges & universities within an hour of Downtown, businesses can recruit young, educated graduates.
- Colleges & Universities27Within an hour commute of Downtown
- Undergraduate & Graduate Students139,581Enrolled within an hour commute of Downtown
- Colleges & Universities27Within an hour commute of Downtown
- Undergraduate & Graduate Students139,581Enrolled within an hour commute of Downtown
Tech Talent Hub
Downtown’s density allows people from corporations, research institutions, and startups to intersect on a daily basis, creating numerous opportunities for innovation.
- Tech Labor Pool52,750CBRE Tech Talent Report
- Tech Labor Pool Growth for the Past 5 Years9,790CBRE Tech Talent Report
- Rank - Highest % of Tech Jobs Added in 2020#3KC Tech Council
- Rank - Highest % of Females in the Tech Industry#3CBRE Tech Talent Report
- Rank - Fastest Growing Market - Software Developers & Programmers#14CBRE Tech Talent Report
- Rank - Concentration of Tech Jobs as a % of Total Jobs#24CBRE Tech Talent Report
Incredible Renaissance
Downtown Kansas City has become a thriving, mixed-use business district. More than $9 billion in major developments have been completed or are currently under construction.
Vibrant Environment
Downtown is a thriving environment that offers density, walkability, and quick access to essential resources all within a modern mixed-use district.
Downtown’s Crossroads Hotel ranked the 9th best hotel in the country by Travel + Leisure
Downtown’s 21c Museum Hotel is ranked the 15th best hotel in the world by Conde Nast Traveler
Economic & Business Center
Downtown is the prime driver of Kansas City’s economy, where 34% of all the City’s jobs are concentrated. Downtown has more than 110,000 wage and salaried workers, 26.5 million square feet of commercial office space, and 240,110 square feet of coworking space, making it the largest business district in the region.
Share of the City’s Tax Base Generated by Downtown
Share of the City’s Jobs in Downtown
Share of the City’s Office Space in Downtown
Share of the Region’s Labor Force in Downtown
Resilient Downtown
By the end of the first quarter of 2022, recovery in Downtown was well underway. Employment approached pre-pandemic levels; workers were returning to the office; transit ridership and hotel occupancy were rebounding; arts and cultural institutions were again welcoming audiences.
- Employees Added in Downtown2,880March 2020-March 2022
- New & Retained Office Tenants in Downtown72March 2020-March 2022
- New Restaurants & Retailers in Downtown50March 2020-March 2022
In the last two decades, Downtown Kansas City has been transformed from a 9-to5 office district into a thriving mixed-use downtown. More than a million square feet of office space was converted to residential or hotel. New office towers, condominiums, apartments and hotels further diversified the skyline. New and expanding cultural institutions, retailers, and restaurants significantly increased the volume of pedestrians on Downtown sidewalks, and expanded the number of regional and national destinations.
Recent Deliveries
Projects Under Construction
- Buck O’Neil Bridge$225MNew Bridge Replacing the Broadway Bridge
- Three Light$140M288 Rental Units
- Grand Place$90MRenovation of the Former KC Star HQ into 225,000 SF Mixed-Use Building
- Casino KC$61MSubstantial Renovation by Bally’s Kansas City
- The Tracks$53M193 Rental Units
- Continental Apartments$52M202 Rental Units
- Wonderland Apartments$50M228 Rental Units
- Pennway Point$26MNew Downtown Entertainment District
- One Nine Vine Apartments$18M80 Rental Units
Key Projects Planned
- Podium Office Building & Hotel$310MNew 210,000 SF of Office Building with a 130-Room Hotel
- South Loop Link$180MBuilding a Central Park over I-670 in Downtown
- Strata$133MNew 250,000 SF Class A Office Building
- KC Current Stadium$117MNew Stadium for KC Current on the Riverfront
- 13 Wyandotte$70MNew 152,000 SF Class A Office Building
- Greenline KC$65MNew Recreational Trail Throughout Downtown
- KC Streetcar North Expansion$32MExpanding the Streetcar Line North to the Riverfront
At the center of Kansas City’s economy is Downtown, where 34% of the City’s jobs are located with a strong concentration of the highest paying industry sectors. Throughout Downtown Kansas City, 36% of all jobs are in the Finance, Insurance, Health Care, and Professional, Scientific, and Tech Services; making diversification a defining strength of Downtown’s economy. Federal, state, and local government employment hold a 17% share of Downtown jobs. Together, these sectors comprise the prime occupants in Downtown’s 26.5 million square feet of office space.
Largest Tech Employers
Recent Office Leasing Transactions
- Jackson County83,000 SF1300 Washington
- Academy Bank50,000 SF1201 Walnut
- Bank Midwest56,000 SFTown Pavilion
- State Street27,204 SFWeWork – Lightwell
- BOK Financial10,000 SF17th & Grand
- Kansas City Star8,500 SF2405 Grand
- Hunt Midwest7,500 SFCorrigan Station II
- Division D5,644 SFLightwell
- PEC5,200 SFLightwell
- Insperity HR3,094 SFLightwell
- Global Title1,886 SFLightwell
Significant Office Leases – 2020 & 2021
- BKD59,552 SF1201 Walnut
- Jack Cooper Transport24,548 SF2345 Grand
- Social Security Administration24,407 SF2300 Main
- PayIt22,971 SFLightwell
- Dollar, Burns & Becker20,564 SFLightwell
- Blue Cross & Blue Shield of KC18,891 SF2300 Main
- University Health17,952 SF2405 Grand
- Tria Health17,586 SFGrand Place
Recent Office Leasing Transactions
- Jackson County83,000 SF1300 Washington
- Academy Bank50,000 SF1201 Walnut
- Bank Midwest56,000 SFTown Pavilion
- State Street27,204 SFWeWork – Lightwell
- BOK Financial10,000 SF17th & Grand
- Kansas City Star8,500 SF2405 Grand
- Hunt Midwest7,500 SFCorrigan Station II
- Division D5,644 SFLightwell
- PEC5,200 SFLightwell
- Insperity HR3,094 SFLightwell
- Global Title1,886 SFLightwell
Significant Office Leases – 2020 & 2021
- BKD59,552 SF1201 Walnut
- Jack Cooper Transport24,548 SF2345 Grand
- Social Security Administration24,407 SF2300 Main
- PayIt22,971 SFLightwell
- Dollar, Burns & Becker20,564 SFLightwell
- Blue Cross & Blue Shield of KC18,891 SF2300 Main
- University Health17,952 SF2405 Grand
- Tria Health17,586 SFGrand Place
From the onset of the pandemic, the story of Downtown Kansas City has been one of incredible resiliency. In the face of great challenges, we remained steadfastly hopeful because of our unrelenting dedication to building a place that offers density, walkability, and quick access to essential resources all within a modern mixed-use business district.
Downtown has charted a course that many other cities may need to follow on the path to recovery, mixing live and work together in a compact, walkable setting. Nearly all new developments continue this trend, even intermingling uses between property types: offices enriched with cafes and gyms; apartments with co-working and dog-friendly spaces; hotel mixed with residential; health clubs, restaurants and retail animating ground floors.
While the Downtown Council continues to track trends by industry, the interactivity of these diverse drivers accounts to a large degree for Downtown’s success and will be key to full revival.
Economic Recovery
- New & Retained Office Tenants in Downtown72March 2020-March 2022
- New Restaurants & Retailers in Downtown50March 2020-March 2022
Development
- Development Completed or Under Construction$9.1BCumulative Investment since 2000
- Development Planned$3.2BProjects Announced
Project Deliveries in 2021
Artistry KC – $72 Million
Kirk Family YMCA – $35 Million
Lightwell Renovation – $20 Million
ICON at Gallerie – $12 Million
Town Pavilion Remodeling – $5 Million
19th Street Office Building – $4.5 Million
1612 Grand Building – $3.2 Million
City Water Department Building Renovation – $2.7 Million
Project Groundbreakings in 2021
Three Light – $140 Million
Casino KC – $61 Million
Continental Apartments – $52 Million
Wonderland Apartments – $50 Million
One Nine Vine – $18.1 Million
Employment
- Downtown Employees113,530ESRI Business Summary
- Kansas City MSA Labor Force1,148,190US Bureau of Labor Statistics
Downtown Employment by Industry
Government – 19,093
Professional, Scientific & Tech Services – 17,493
Health Care & Social Assistance – 15,276
Financial Services & Information – 12,294
Wholesale & Retail Trade – 8,560
Other Services – 7,444
Real Estate – 6,586
Hospitality & Food Services – 6,584
Transportation & Utilities – 6,548
Manufacturing – 4,816
Construction – 4,664
Educational Services – 2,129
Arts & Entertainment – 2,043
Talent
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher
Downtown Residents
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher
KC MSA
Tech Labor Pool
Tech Labor Pool Growth
for the Past 5 Years
Tech Degree Completions
5 Year Growth Rate
Tech Labor Pool
5 Year Growth Rate
Colleges & Universities within an Hour of Downtown
College Students Enrolled within an Hour of Downtown
Office
- Office Space26.5M sfColliers International
- Class A Asking Rent$22.98Cushman & Wakefield
Downtown Coworking Spaces
Expansive – 1301 Oak
Hive Coworking – 512 Delaware
Office Worx KC – 111 W. 10th St.
Plexpod Crossroads – 1712 Main
Plexpod Flashcube – 720 Main
Regus at The Cosby Building – 107 W. 9th St.
Regus Crown Center – 2300 Main
Spark Kansas City – 1475 Walnut
SR Collective – 2100 Central
WeWork Corrigan Station – 1828 Walnut
WeWork Lightwell – 1100 Main
Office Space Under Construction
1400 KC – 260,000 sf
Grand Place – 225,000 sf
Housing
- Housing Units18,858DTC Research
- Housing Units Under Construction778DTC Research
- Housing Units Planned5,045DTC Research
Residential Projects Under Construction
The Continental – 202 Units
Midland Lofts – 139 Units
One Nine Vine – 80 Units
Three Light – 288 Units
Wonderland Apartments – 228 Units
Downtown Residents
Downtown Residential Population
Projected Residential Population – 2030
Increase in Population
since 2010
Downtown KC
Increase in Population
since 2010
Johnson County, KS
% of Millennials in Downtown Population
% of Millennials in KC MSA Population
Retail
- Average Household Income$71,772ESRI Market Report
- Bars, Restaurants & Retailers310DTC Research
- Bars, Restaurants & Retailers that Opened in 202124DTC Research
Transportation
- Total KC Streetcar Ridership10,049,021Source: KC Streetcar
- 2022 KC Streetcar Average Daily Ridership3,222Source: KC Streetcar
- RideKC Bus Routes in Downtown38Source: RideKC
Average Commute Times
United States – 27.6 minutes
Kansas City – 23.5 minutes
Columbus – 25.0 minutes
Minneapolis – 26.1 minutes
Dallas – 28.6 minutes
Atlanta – 32.5 minutes
San Francisco – 35.2 minutes
New York – 37.7 minutes
Employment
At the center of Kansas City’s economy is Downtown, where 34% of the City’s jobs are located with a strong concentration of the highest paying industry sectors. Throughout Downtown Kansas City, 36% of all jobs are in the Finance, Insurance, Health Care, and Professional, Scientific, and Tech Services; making diversification a defining strength of Downtown’s economy. Federal, state, and local government employment hold a 17% share of Downtown jobs. Together, these sectors comprise the prime occupants in Downtown’s 26.5 million square feet of office space.
Professional, Scientific & Tech Services
- Professional, Scientific, and Tech Services is one of Downtown Kansas City’s leading industries sectors. This broad category of jobs includes accountants, architects, engineers, lawyers, scientific researchers, and advertisers.
- National research shows this sector is expected to be the most resilient to the recession.
Health Care & Social Assistance
- Downtown Kansas City is home to the UMKC Health Sciences District with more than 3,300 students and 12,800 employees, the highest concentration of health science workers in the region.
- Downtown’s Health Sciences District represents a collaboration between the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Truman Medical Center, Ronald McDonald House, and local health departments, advancing health care, research, community outreach, and shared wellness.
- Downtown Kansas City’s density allows for a concentration of resources and social services. Employees and residents have quick access to hospitals, urgent care centers, and health care.
High Tech
- Kansas City is the 8th fastest growing market for tech talent in the country adding 6,040 degrees and 10,870 tech jobs in the last five years.
- Kansas City is the 12th fastest growing market for software developers in the country in the last four years.
- Kansas City ranks 15th in the country in tech talent jobs as a percent of total jobs at 5%.
- Innovation drivers in Downtown include the UMKC Health Sciences District, Keystone Labs, LaunchKC Accelerators, Digital Sandbox, Rise KC, and Techstars Kansas City.
Relocations & Expansions
Largest Downtown Employers
Largest Tech Companies Downtown
Downtown Office Tenants
Downtown Kansas City has been the region’s commercial center and home to traditional industries like banking and law since its beginning. Now, Downtown is also becoming Kansas City’s center for creativity, innovation, and health care. This mix of companies, from entrepreneurial startups to corporate headquarters, and range of industries, from design+build, marketing, and technology, is making Downtown Kansas City a dynamic hub of creativity and a fertile ground for launching new ventures and growing existing businesses. A sample of Downtown Kansas City’s office tenants are displayed on the map below.
Industry Sectors
Below is a list of industry sectors with a strong, concentrated presence in Downtown. To the right is a map displaying some of the businesses within those sectors.
Talent
Downtown Kansas City is uniquely positioned for outstanding access to the area’s talent pool of diverse, dynamic, and highly-skilled workers. With 27 colleges & universities within an hour of Downtown Kansas City, businesses can recruit young, educated graduates as well as offer a wide array of continuing education opportunities for their employees.
Fifty percent of Downtown residents have a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher, outpacing the Kansas City metropolitan region’s rate of 36%. Downtown has a highly educated and skilled working population for management, consulting, financial, legal, architectural, engineering, medical, creative, technology firms.
- Total Population2,157,990Kansas City MSA
- Total Labor Force1,133,600Kansas City MSA
- Tech Labor Pool52,750Source: CBRE
- Tech Labor Pool Growth9,790Growth by Volume, Past 5 Years, Source: CBRE
- Tech Labor Pool Growth Rank9Highest Growth, Top 50 Markets, Source: CBRE
- Tech Degree Completions1,335Tech Degree Completions 2018, Source: CBRE
- Colleges & Universities27Within an hour commute of Downtown
- Undergraduate & Graduate Students139,581Enrolled within an hour commute of Downtown
University Enrollment
The region’s 27 institutions of higher education collectively enroll more than 139,000 undergraduate and graduate students including 3,311 at UMKC’s Health Sciences District located in Downtown Kansas City. Fifty percent of Downtown residents have a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher, outpacing the Kansas City metropolitan region’s rate of 36%. Below is a list of four-year colleges and universities located within an hour of Downtown Kansas City.
- Avila University1,649Kansas City, Missouri
- Baker University2,769Baldwin City, KS
- Benedictine College2,124Atchison, Kansas
- DeVry University70Kansas City, Missouri
- Donnelly College303Kansas City, Kansas
- Haskell Indian Nations University733Lawrence, Kansas
- Hillyard Technical Center70St. Joseph, Missouri
- Johnson County Community College18,278Overland Park, Kansas
- Kansas City Art Institute672Kansas City, Missouri
- Kansas City Kansas Community College5,998Kansas City, Kansas
- Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences1,210Kansas City, Missouri
- Metropolitan Community College15,770Multiple Locations
- MidAmerica Nazarene University1,875Olathe, Kansas
- Missouri Western State University5,669St. Joseph, Missouri
- Ottawa University754Ottawa, Kansas
- Park University11,415Parkville, Missouri
- Pinnacle Career Institute356Kansas City, Missouri
- Rockhurst University16,375Kansas City, Missouri
- University of Central Missouri11,487Warrensburg, Missouri
- University of Kansas27,690Lawrence, Kansas
- University of Kansas - Edwards Campus2,101Overland Park, KS
- University of Missouri Kansas City16,375Kansas City, Missouri
- University of Missouri Kansas City - Health Sciences District3,311Kansas City, Missouri
- University of Saint Mary1,254Leavenworth, Kansas
- Washburn University6,571Topeka, Kansas
- Washburn Institute of Technology1,480Topeka, Kansas
- William Jewell College808Liberty, Missouri
Downtown KC
Check out all the exciting districts, neighborhoods, and attractions in Downtown Kansas City!
Experience Downtown Kansas City
Downtown Kansas City has become a thriving, modern, mixed-use district. Vibrant urban living and a broad range of housing types in historic neighborhoods are attracting residents and workers who want to enjoy Downtown’s expansive array of cultural, entertainment, dining, and recreation options. Downtown Kansas City has many public parks that add greenery and enliven neighborhoods, offering a welcome reprieve from the bustling streets. Downtown’s world-class attractions have turned Kansas City into a major tourist destination and created a dynamic environment for residents of all ages to live, work and play.
- 52000 Talent Pool
- 52000 Talent Pool
Growing Residential Population
Thriving Arts Scene
Premier Events
Culinary Excellence
Award-Winning Education
World-Class Healthcare
Beautiful Parks & Open Space
Downtown Neighborhoods
Downtown Kansas City is a collection of vibrant districts with great housing options in charming, historic neighborhoods, each with its own unique character and atmosphere. Downtown neighborhoods offer easy access to jobs, cultural venues, great shopping, and day-to-day amenities by foot, bike, public transit, or car. Each neighborhood offers diverse choices for residents of all ages and at all stages of life.
Contact Us
The Downtown Council also offers a range of services and materials to help commercial real estate brokers, companies and other stakeholders understand Downtown Kansas City’s revitalization and premier work environment. Please contact us to see how we can help you or for any additional questions.
Downtown Resources
These cut sheets are full of facts and data that provide brokers, site selectors, and businesses with a quick overview of Downtown Kansas City’s thriving business environment.
Business Engagement
Whether it’s a Downtown tour, help finding the right location for your business, a space to debrief with clients, or conducting employee/welcome orientations, the Downtown Council is here to help. Please contact us to see how we can help you or for any additional questions.
The Business Attraction presentation deck provides a brief State of Downtown report, summary of Downtown’s renaissance, as well as a snapshot all the amenities available to employees within a short walk or streetcar ride from their office. The presentation also addresses parking, safety, and projects in the development pipeline.
Our Research & Reports page provides a number of reports, plans, as well as our State of Downtown Dashboard to help you better understand the Downtwon environment and ongoing renaissance.
Our Downtown Parking Maps display all the parking garages and the number of available parking spots in the River Market, Central Business District, and Crossroads Arts District. The maps also display attractions, hotels, and parks as well as the KC Streetcar route and stops within each district.
Our Downtown Retail Directory provides a comprehensive list of all restaurants, bars, coffee shops, hotels, apartments, retail shops and services located in Downtown Kansas City.
The Downtown Dining Map provides a comprehensive list all the restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and attractions by Downtown district/neighborhood. The map is updated annually by the Downtown Council, Visit KC, and the KC Streetcar.
Employees can stay updated on all the fun events and activities happening every day of the week in Kansas City’s vibrant Downtown.
Business Resources
- City of Kansas City Missouri816-513-1313
- Digital Sandbox816-235-6676
- Economic Development Corporation816-221-0636
- Greater Kansas City LISC816-753-0055
- Kansas City Area Development Council816-221-2121
- Kansas City BizCare Office816-513-2492
- Kansas City Black Chamber of Commerce816-474-9901
- Kansas City Chamber of Commerce816-221-2424
- Kansas City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce816-472-6767
- Kauffman Foundation816-932-1000
- KC SourceLink816-235-6500
- LaunchKC Accelerators816-421-1539
- Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce816-474-3558
- Missouri Department of Economic Development573-751-4962
- Missouri Housing Development Commission816-759-6600
- Missouri Technology Corporation573-526-0470
- Startland News913-396-9722
- UMKC Small Business and Technology Development Center816-235-6063
Financial Incentives
The BUILD program is an incentive designed to reduce necessary infrastructure and equipment expenses if a project can demonstrate a need for funding. An eligible business must invest a minimum of $10 million appropriated to the necessary industry sectors and create a minimum of 500 jobs.
Chapter 100 bonds may be issued by the City to assist with the construction or rehabilitation of eligible commercial facilities. To affect property tax exemption, the City will take titular ownership of the business assets, therefore, providing property and/or sales tax exemption for up to 10 years.
The Chapter 353 Program was created to assist in the removal of blight by providing local property tax abatement to projects located within an Urban Renewal Area (URA). Assistance may be provided in the form of real property tax abatement on improvements up to 75% for a 10-year period and 37.5% for a 15-year period.
Designed to encourage job creation, the Enhanced Enterprise Zone (EEZ) provides state tax credits and local property tax abatement to new or expanding businesses located within an EEZ. Eligible businesses may receive a standard 50% property tax abatement for improvement made to real property.
The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority (LCRA) has served as the City’s urban renewal agency since 1951. Authorized by Missouri state statutes, the LCRA encourages redevelopment through the removal of blight and blighting conditions within designated Urban Renewal Areas.
The Opportunity Zones program encourages long-term investment and job creation in low-income areas of the state, by allowing investors to re-invest unrealized capital gains in designated census tracts.
The State of Missouri provides state tax credits equal to 25% of eligible expenses for the rehabilitation of approved commercial and residential historic structures. This program has been critical to the revitalization of Downtown through the redevelopment of housing, offices, and hotels.
The purpose of the Missouri Works program is to facilitate the creation of quality jobs by targeted business projects. Program benefits include the retention of the state withholding tax of the new jobs and/or state tax credits, which are refundable, transferable and/or saleable.
Federal New Market Tax Credits (NMTC) may be available to eligible businesses providing non-traditional financing for capital investments made by businesses and for development in distressed areas.
The Planned Industrial Expansion Authority (PIEA) provides incentives encouraging the investment and removal of blight and blighting conditions within PIEA Plan areas. This incentive has played a critical and important role in the revitalization of Downtown Kansas City.
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is a financing tool that allows future real property taxes and other taxes generated by new development to pay for the cost of construction for public infrastructure and other improvements. This is designed to encourage the development of blighted areas.
Interested in Moving Downtown?
As businesses make decisions about their future, we are extending the strength of our region – Downtown Kansas City – a vibrant live-work dynamic where residents and employees have jobs, entertainment, community, and recreation at their doorstep. We encourage you to join us; reach out and tell us how we can best support your relocation to Downtown Kansas City.