Johnson County needs more affordable housing. Is converting these hotels an answer?
Sarah Ritter, The Kansas City Star
Feb. 22—Developers in Johnson County have long said the costs of land and construction are too high for them to make much of a profit off more affordable apartments — a housing market the area sorely needs.
But now a Utah-based firm has a solution, using existing buildings that are very similar to apartment buildings.
The developer plans to convert two Overland Park hotels into apartments — with rental prices more attainable for middle-income workers who can't afford most Johnson County housing. It's not a new idea, but it is one that has grown in popularity across the country in recent years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic as more hotels closed amid a damaged tourism industry.