Power & Light District

It’s urban. It’s hip. It’s in the middle of a central business district. It’s the Power and Light District, breathing power and life into Kansas City. “It’s a portal showing outsiders that are not from the Midwest or Kansas City a great depiction of what our urban vibrancy looks like,” says Zach Fowle, a commercial and residential Realtor with KC Local Homes and a Kansas City native who left and returned. “For people who move from larger cities it is the most familiar because it is a vibrant, urban environment with a lot of food and entertainment options.”

The Power and Light District is next to the iconic Power and Light building, an art deco skyscraper that has been converted into rental residential space. Homebuyers seeking lush lawns and backyards, probably should search elsewhere. “Ninety-nine percent of the living options are going to be condos and apartments. You’re not going to really see any single-families or duplexes,” Fowle says.

The average price for a home here ranges from $150,000 to over $1 million. “On the lower end, that’s going to get you a studio condo. When you get over the million-dollar mark, that’s when you’re going to see a penthouse or multi-level condo,” Fowle says.

Kansas City Public School District, which Niche rates C, educates children in the Power and Light District. Niche ranks the 14,000-student district 29 of 439 best for student-athletes statewide. It has a 16 to 1 student-teacher ratio. Students attend Primitivo Garcia Elementary School and Northeast Middle School, both of which Niche rates C-minus, and C-rated Northeast High School. Niche ranks Northeast 18th most diverse among 550 Missouri high schools.

While Kansas City is known for its fountains, parks matter too. Parks and open spaces are scattered, with Barney Allis Plaza being the neighborhood’s most prominent open gathering space. Nearby Mulkey Square Park has a playground, a baseball diamond and open spaces to wander or walk the dog. Meanwhile, “Our city is in the process of building a new park that is going to be one of our more notable public spaces in our downtown district. They want to have it completed by 2026, when part of the World Cup is taking place in Kansas City,” Fowle says.

When World Cup visitors arrive, they'll discover an array of restaurants, grab-and-go spots and bars within the Power and Light district, including The Town Company, blending rustic roots and upscale dining. “I like that restaurant. It’s a smaller plate, sharable fine dining experience,” Fowle says.

The Power and Light District keeps most of the amenities and necessities in close reach, from Cosentino’s Market for groceries to retail stores close by. “Most of our retail is either going to be found in outer lying areas of the downtown corridor. We have a retail center in the Country Club Plaza, about a ten-minute drive away,” Fowle says. “Most of your retail shopping is going to be in the outlying communities of our metro. There’s plenty of retail space available, however, in the Power and Light District. I would love to see the revitalization of the neighborhood's retail spaces.”

Until then, the neighborhood has much to celebrate and enjoy, including Hot Country Nights, which features live Country music acts on Thursdays each summer. There’s the city’s robust professional sports tradition with the baseball Royals and football Chiefs, plus a host of neighborhood festivals throughout the year, including Cornucopia, billed as Kansas City’s ultimate fall festival. “They shut down the streets and get out a Ferris wheel,” Fowle says. “Power and Light District is like center stage for all the watch parties for the Royals and Chiefs games. There’s always something going on. They basically have the entire neighborhood activated throughout the year.”

Getting to the happenings and where you need to be is not so complicated, with proximity to major highways and so much in walking distance. “The Power and Light District is walkable,” Fowle says, adding that residents can ride share or use public transportation, including a streetcar that runs straight through the middle of this dynamic neighborhood.

Written By

Jonathan Clarke

Photography Contributed By

Anya Ivantseva

Video By

TJ Wengert