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Last weekend was the annual Urban Tour, a downtown housing tour coordinated by the Kansas City Downtown Council. It is a great way to see what is new in the way of condos lofts and similar new housing projects in our urban core. The tour is free, and it provides free shuttles, which are constantly running so you are never stranded at any building, and you can get on or get off at your leisure. The tour is geared toward the public as a way of advertising new properties and projects, but I do it anyway. I know its cheating because I am a realtor, but what better way to see a bunch of new stuff than by riding a shuttle and learning about the projects from hosts. I don’t have to do any legwork - it’s awesome! Anyway, if you attended - what were some of your favorite places? If you didn’t attend, then try to make it next year. If it is a nice day outside (last weekend was gorgeous weather), then it is a great way to spend a spring day.

I would say my favorite project that I saw for the first time was 2 places (i’m indecisive). First was City Homes at River Market East which are upscale free standing single family homes, and second was The Summit (photo above) which is a condo conversion in the old antique building across from Fervere Bread (by far best bread in town) and Bluebird Bistro. I wish I would have seen First and Main Lofts (photo at left), because I later learned that they have great balconies and are modern in style which is right up my alley, but I missed out. I’ll check them out later. One more of interest was the Union Carbide Condos. They are in a 1930’s Art Deco building at 912 Baltimore. The building is still in renovations and they don’t have any actual finished units to see, but they do have a model showroom. They looked like they were going to be nice and I’m encouraged because the architect is El Dorado which has a great local reputation, plus that is a lovely downtown street.