Property Profiles
The Life of Customized Luxury
41Penn provides modern spaces within one of Kansas City’s most historic places.
BY
Megan Felling
PHOTOGRAPHY
Renderings courtesy of 41 Penn

When developer Mike Heitmann of Classical Developments was looking for a location to build a new mixed-use project, he turned toward the River Market and Crossroads Arts District. But as soon as he saw the corner of Archibald and Pennsylvania, he recognized this would be the “perfect” spot. “Pennsylvania is one of the prettiest streetscapes in town,” he says. “And I loved the atmosphere and energy of Westport.” That’s how 41Penn began.

A small one-story building of various retail stores and businesses was demolished and replaced by a five-story concrete, steel and brick building, which will house 32 loft condominiums on the top four floors, as well as shops on the first floor to maintain the streetscape. Residents will be steps away from restaurants, museums, theaters, nightlife, and even a grocery store and post office. “Westport has a little bit of everything, making it an ideal location for urban dwellers who don’t want to wait for the amenities and services to be built years down the road,” Mike says. “The charm,history and excitement already exist.”

Another draw of loft living is the opportunity to shape your environment on the interior. According to marketing agent Cathy Maxwell with Reece & Nichols, “Each of the residences is uniquely customizable and will be left as shells until sold to create the most flexibility for the buyer. The location of the water and electricity are fixed, designating where the kitchens and baths are laid out, but interior walls are not load-bearing, so they can be free floating or completely left out if so desired.” Shoji-style sliding panels have been very popular lately as partition walls. “There are lots of options, and we are very open to customization,” Cathy says. “Bring your plan and we’ll build it.”

Custom wall cabinets streamline storage and create function. In the model, a flat-screen television on a swivel forms a  rotating wall between the bedroom and living room, defining space and allowing owners to view the television from anywhere. Another possible upgrade shown is the pull-down Murphy bed, which can be as large as queen-size. “This makes sense in urban living for when guests come to town, but you are not tied to it,” Cathy notes. “Spaces need to be multi-functional.” It can be incorporated into a wall of built-in custom cabinetry, which serves double duty as a workspace/computer desk.

“The finishes are modern with clean lines,” Mike says. Ten-inch-thick polished concrete floors are standard, as are GE Profile and Asko stainless steel electric appliances. Each kitchen features an 8-foot island perfect for pulling up barstools. The island contains a large, deep Blanco  stainless steel sink, which is great for filling pots or being used as a cooler when entertaining. Solid surface countertops are available in a choice of 15 colors. Custom Euro-style cabinets are offered in three finishes and include extra-deep drawers for storage. A stainless steel backsplash, shelving above the sink and toekick under the cabinets complete the sleek appearance.
 
“The baseboards are Johnsonite Mandalay, a very low-maintenance product,” Cathy notes. “You’ll notice the color is all the way through, so there should not be a need for repainting.” The nearly 10-foot ceilings make lighting a practical challenge, but the developers are providing track  lighting plus under-cabinet lighting as standard to augment the natural light streaming in the nearly floor-to-ceiling new thermally insulated window systems.

The luxurious baths consist of walk-in showers tiled in several elegant choices of Marazzi tile, with oversized rainheads, stainless steel wrapped mirrors and pendant lights. Each residence will be vented to the outside, allowing for the option of a washer and dryer in the bath or large walk-in closet.

Each condo boasts a private balcony with views of the historic entertainment district, not to mention secured parking. Floor plans range from 900 to more than 1,400 square feet, with a homes association fee based upon $.26 per square foot. Prices of available residences range from $234,000 to $442,000 with nearly 30 percent already reserved or sold. “We’ve had great response to 41Penn, especially now that the building is taking shape,” Cathy says. Construction is expected to be completed in late February 2008.

913.206.7878
41penn.com