Residents of the San Francisco Tower like its sweeping views, manicured grounds and rare sense of seclusion in the middle of the city.
David Hudnall
Residents of the San Francisco Tower have filed a lawsuit in Jackson County Circuit Court seeking to protect their property rights as Kansas City and the Royals plan to build a new ballpark in the Crown Center area.
The 33-story condo building is located at 2510 Grand Blvd., just west of the planned $1.9 billion ballpark. The lawsuit says the tower is less than 100 feet away from the planned $3 billion ballpark district that would surround the new stadium.
The San Francisco Association, which represents the residents of the tower’s condominiums, is seeking a temporary restraining order against the city, the Royals and Crown Center Redevelopment Corporation.
If approved, the restraining order could temporarily halt the project until the case is resolved.
The lawsuit also seeks a declaratory judgment protecting residents’ property rights, including access to the tower’s easements for utilities, an underground tunnel and a pedestrian bridge, as well as 400 parking garage spaces outlined in an agreement with Crown Center Redevelopment Corp.
The residents argue in the lawsuit that a recently approved set of agreements between the city and the Royals — which outlines the city’s plan to fund $600 million of the project — does not mention the condominium residents or their recorded property rights.
The residents argue that those agreements “authorize the demolition, excavation, utility relocation, and construction” on land protected in the condo’s property rights.
A preliminary development plan for a proposed sports and entertainment district at Crown Center. Source: Populous/Olsson Neil Nakahodo
Kenneth B. McClain, an attorney representing the residents, said in a news release that the lawsuit is about following the rule of law that protects the residents’ property rights.
“The law is clear that recorded easements and covenants cannot simply be bulldozed and then built over,” McClain said. “They can be honored, or they can be purchased by agreement, but they cannot be ignored.”
Mayor Quinton Lucas said in a statement that he supports reaching an amicable resolution.
“While the lawsuit does not threaten delivery of the baseball project and merely looks to clarify the property rights of neighbors adjacent to the future stadium,” Lucas said, “it is imperative that all parties reach amicable understandings ensuring Crown Center and residents in the area continue to enjoy a great neighborhood and outstanding future development.”
The lawsuit comes after condominium residents recently expressed dismay over the project to the City Council and city planning officials, saying their concerns had not been considered.
San Francisco Tower debuted in 1976. David Hudnall
David Byrn, a retired Jackson County Circuit Court judge and resident of the building, said during a City Council committee meeting last week that developers had ignored the tower residents. He said the Royals would not commit to protections for the tower, including construction mitigation and safeguards against light and noise from the new stadium.
Byrn said in a news release that the residents support bringing the Royals to the area, but they want to be included and protected in the process.
“These are our homes,” Byrn said. “We hold rights that have been on record for nearly fifty years, and we are asking the court to see that they are respected.”
A zoomed-in look at the renderings the Royals shared on Wednesday depicting a future Crown Center stadium
Ben Lindner, president of the San Francisco Association, said Royals officials have not been as responsive as residents had hoped.
“This plan is unprecedented for the area and for our city as a whole,” Lindner said, “and to pretend that it’s just another project from an impact standpoint is disingenuous.”
The City Planning Commission approved a rezoning request for the project earlier this month. The approval included conditions requiring the project to follow existing contractual obligations to provide the same amount of parking for San Francisco Tower residents and requiring developers to publicly share information from light and noise studies for the new stadium.
The City Council is scheduled to consider the rezoning request in September.
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