Renovation of Cardinal Towers could begin as soon as October

Webb City celebrated the “high rise” as a major modern, affordable housing complex when it was completed in 1980. Forty-six years later, Cardinal Towers is, as expected, rundown – but months away from the beginning of a complete makeover.

DW Real Estate, of Dodge City, Kan., purchased the five-story apartment building in 2023 and on its third attempt, with city support each time, was awarded in December the federal and state tax credits considered necessary for the project to become viable.

Austin Richardson, vice president of development for D W Real Estate, says he is hoping construction will start in October.

He says basically everything except the basic structure will be renovated – from the landscaping and sign out front… to the roof, heating and air conditioning, hallways and exterior. A dog run will be added, and the barbecue area will be updated.

Of course, the 60 rental units will be redone. Richardson says  it will cost $85,000 to renovate each apartment, including cabinetry and appliances.

The plan, he says, is to renovate one floor at a time. Tenants in those 12 units will be moved to vacant units on other floors and then moved back to their floor when its finished.

The fee tenants pay will not be affected by the cost of the renovation, Richardson says.

Including the cost to buy the property, Richardson estimates the total cost of the project will be $13.9 million. Construction alone is estimated at $5.5 million.

The Low Income Housing Tax Credits that embarking on the project hinged on are roughly $4 million for federal and $2.8 million for state. They were awarded by the Missouri Housing Development Commission’s Rental Housing Program.

The property was in ‘rough condition’

Richardson admits Cardinal Towers was in “rough condition” when his firm bought it in 2023.

Residents were complaining, especially that only one of the two elevators was working. They are both operating now and are to be updated as part of the rehabilitation.

Richardson says the boilers had to be repaired and will now be replaced. Other updates have been done as needed.

City Administrator Carl Francis says changing management firms was a positive step. The current firm, he says, is much more cooperative and willing to solve problems.

“They had some bad apples (residents),” before the new management firm took over, Francis says.

He adds that the new firm works closely with the police department and has allowed the police to assist.

“I think it will be great,” Francis says about the renovation project.

Richardson, too,  says he feels “the residents will be very happy when it’s completed.”