One of Downtown Kansas City’s last remaining vacant buildings is now officially under redevelopment.

Molzer Development, and partners Cardinal Crest Homes, Free Heel Capital, PortKC, and the City of Kansas City, celebrated the commencement of construction with a “wall breaking” ceremony in the building’s 16th floor ballroom.

The $37.6 Million project will include 122 apartments, 14 of which will be affordable, and 1200sf of commercial space in a top-floor cocktail lounge. The apartments will vary in size from studios to one-bedroom + den units. Because of the building’s slim profile, units will be arranged slightly different than what we’re used to seeing in conversions in downtown. The redeveloped Aladdin will also include a host of solid amenities including a resident lounge in the former ballroom (where the vaulted ceiling and terrazzo floors will be uncovered), a coffee bar, fitness room, and mailroom.

Parking for the Aladdin will be accessed through a tunnel under Wyandotte Street to the under construction Barney Allis Plaza garage. Like Barney Allis Plaza, the Aladdin will open in 2026 in time for the World Cup festivities.

Special attendees for the wall breaking included Mayor Quinton Lucas, City Manager Brian Platt, PortKC Director Jon Stephens, 4th District At-Large Councilman Crispin Rea.

Molzer’s redevelopment of the Aladdin was born out of the property going up for auction in 2024. Previous buyers failed to renovate, or redevelop, the property after it closed in March 2020. Prior to closing, the hotel was part of the Holiday Inn brand. Unlike other buildings that went vacant in downtown, the Aladdin never really suffered any significant decay. Prior to redevelopment, almost every single hotel room in the building was still made as if hotel guests could be welcomed back immediately. Vandalism was also kept to a minimum.

The redevelopment of the Aladdin means that Downtown KC’s vacant building stock is now down to just 4 large buildings – the Scarritt Building and Arcade, old Federal Reserve, Palace Clothing Company, and the Muehlebach Hotel. Recently, and a block away, Cordish completed their redevelopment of the Midland Office Building into the 135-unit “Midland Lofts”. That project is sitting at around 96% leased less roughly 5 months since opening to residents.

Pluribus Architecture is serving as the architect of the project with interiors by Kali Buchanan Interior Design. Haren is serving as the general contractor. At completion, Cardinal Crest will serve as the property manager.

Interior renderings courtesy of Kali Buchanan Interior Design.