Ladd School Redevelopment
This historic adaptive reuse project brings renewed purpose to the historic Ladd School in Kansas City’s Oak Park neighborhood, creating Net-Zero Energy affordable housing, catalyzing commerce, and demonstrating equitable development.
Information
- Size 40,000 SF
The Ladd Project is a Net-Zero Energy, mixed-use redevelopment of the historic Sanford B. Ladd School that delivers high-quality affordable housing while restoring a vital community anchor and demonstrating equitable development in Kansas City’s Oak Park neighborhood. The initial phase of the project will create 82 contemporary apartments reserved for households earning 30% and 60% of Area Median Income, addressing the Eastside’s shortage of safe, modern, attainable housing. Guided by historic preservation standards, the adaptive reuse project will transform the building’s upper floors to serve as 28 apartment units, alongside four new buildings adding 56 additional homes. The school’s existing auditorium will be transformed into a flexible community space for residents and neighbors, and the former gymnasium will become a ‘Resilience Hub’ for the community offering emergency services, cooling/warming center, internet connectivity, recovery assistance, as well as community meeting space and other everyday programming. Outdoor areas provide amenities including parking, a dog park, gardens, and shared community space. Affordability is anchored by 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits and supported by sustainability features that help lower operational and tenant costs. The Ladd School Redevelopment Project preserves this historic place in Kansas City, while breathing new life into the building by creating deeply affordable housing, catalyzing commerce, and demonstrating equitable development in Oak Park.