Scott Cordes, Josh Gabriel, Hunter Johnson and Ryan O’Rourke have all been promoted.

Cordes specializes in industrial sales/leasing, while Gabriel and Johnson both specialize in office sales/leasing. O’Rourke’s specialty is tenant representation for office, industrial and retail clients.

“Gina’s track record, knowledge of the market and work ethic coupled with the CBRE investment platform will make her a strong force in this market,” said Mike Klamm, managing director for CBRE, Kansas City.  “Gina’s current connections and ability to team with some of the top capital market professionals in the nation will elevate her game.”

Anderson is in her 25th year of commercial real estate service.  She has worked with leading institutional real estate owners such as Aetna and Travelers and on local properties Corporate Woods Office Park and The Country Club Plaza.   She serves on the local board of Goodwill Industries.

The Village at Mission Farms -- a 212-unit multi-family project for the suburb of Leawood -- is just one project set to come online in the Kansas City area in 2012.

Block’s researchers said that the end of 2011 brought more than a few glimmers of hope that a slow but steady recovery is in store for Kansas City in 2012. Unfortunately, this recovery is best described as shaky. After all, there’s an economic crisis going on in Europe and unending political infighting in Washington. Both could derail improvements in 2012.

The hope, though, lies largely in the return of jobs to Kansas City, according to the Block Real Estate Services’ report. The Kansas City metropolitan area lost more than 100,000 jobs from 2001 to 2011. But the metro area is expected to add 19,100 jobs in 2012 and, in even better news, 36,700 in 2013.

Again, though, this good news comes with a healthy dose of reality. According to the Block report, even with this job growth, the Kansas City metropolitan area won’t return to its pre-recession employment level until the end of 2014. For those keeping track, that’s more than six long years after the country’s Great Recession officially began.

Still, the Block report does provide plenty of reasons for optimism. Like most Midwest markets, Kansas City is seeing activity increase in most commercial real estate sectors. Multi-family continues to outshine other sectors, but the rest of the commercial industry is slowly rebounding, too.

As the major commercial real estate players in markets across the Midwest release their own 2012 predictions, expect them to be similar to the ones made by Block Real Estate Services. The main point is this: Yes, the commercial real estate industry is recovering. But the recovery is a slow one.

It’s not the good news that we all want, but it is good news, nonetheless.

The Sam’s Club will be one more addition to the new 85,000-square-foot retail power center. The retailer is expected to break ground this February. The store is scheduled to open in the fall of 2012.

David Block and Becky Goodman of Block & Company represented the seller, Plaza Speedway LLC. Bob Johnson at RH Johnson represented the buyer.

The Plaza at the Speedway is already home to Walmart Supercenter, Best Buy, Kohl’s, Olive Garden and other retailers.

on the industrial side, Southwest Solutions leased 5,956 square feet of space in Lenexa, Kansas. Brian Bock, Gene Elsas, Kenneth Block and Ryan O’Rourke of Block Real Estate Services handled the transaction. Also, Rockhurst University Continuing Education leased 11,997 square feet in Lenexa. Michael Block and Kenneth Block of Block Real Estate Services closed the deal.

On the retail end, Bread for All recently leased 1,757 square feet in Kansas City, Mo. Donald Gessen and Kimberly lBartalos of Block handled the transaction. Bio-Medical Apps of KS also leased 5,879 square feet in Topeka. Stephen Block and Bartalos handled this deal.

Express Auto Services & Tire leased 6,307 square feet in Belton, Mo. Dick Hamill of Block Real Estate Services, in cooperation with Larry Gaines of Block & Company, handled this deal.

Copaken Brooks will help Aspen Square with city approvals and site design on the project, a 96-acre mixed-used development featuring a completed two-level parking structure and first-phase shops totaling 197,503 square feet of buildings now under construction. The mixed-use development is anchored by Von Maur, JCPenney and Lifetime Fitness, all of which are open and operating.

Aspen Square took ownership of the project on Nov. 29.

The property was built in 1966 and renovated in 2006. It sits on 3 acres.

David Zimmer of Zimmer Real Estate Services represented both sides in the transaction.

The 3,175-square-foot free-standing restaurant opened Nov. 21 in the 850,000-square-foot retail center.

Also in late November, Logan’s Roadhouse broke ground on 1.4 acres of land at the Plaza at the Speedway. The new restaurant will be located just west of an existing Chick-fil-A, and is scheduled to open in the summer of 2012.

We’ll also be running profiles of several of our Hall of Fame inductees on Rejournals.com. Here’s a sample from our December issue.

Stephen Block

Stephen Block
Principal
Block Real Estate Services
Kansas City, Mo.

Stephen Block has closed several important deals during his 37-year career in the commercial real estate business.

His recent work on the Midtown Redevelopment Plan in Kansas City is just the latest highlight.

Block guided this redevelopment plan that brought Costco, Home Depot and a full-service grocery store to midtown Kansas City. Thanks to his perserverance, not to mention his skill, an underserved slice of Kansas City is now home to the big-name retailers that can help rejuvenate the area.

And in addition to redeveloping a pair of severely blighted areas, the projects are now providing TIF revenues that are being used to revitalize surrounding neighborhoods.

Block’s peers aren’t surprised that he was able to lead such an important project. After all, he’s been bringing new developments to the Kansas City area for more than three decades.

“Mr. Block is thoroughly knowledgeable in all aspects of real estate brokerage,” said one nominator.

It’s this knowledge that has led local, national and regional media to seek Block out as a trusted source for their news stories. Block’s quotes have appeared in such publications as The Wall Street Journal, Kansas City Business Journal, Kansas City Star and, of course, Midwest Real Estate News.

Today, Block, who has worked with Block Real Estate Services since 1974, is head of the company’s Syndication Division. He’s familiar, though, with all aspects of commercial real estate, having started his career working in leasing office and retail space.

When he’s not closing deals, Block is busy working for his community. He’s involved in numerous civic organizations, including the Broadway Westport Community Association, Main Street Corridor Development Corporation and the Westport Community Improvement District.

During his career, Block has received several awards and citations, including Urban Design Awards and Economic Development Cornerstone Awards.

Next time residents of midtown Kansas City need new hammers or an extra-large box of cereal, they can thank Block for the fact that they don’t have to leave their own neighborhood.

Freeman and Elson are the second recipients of this scholarship award. The Allen and Gloria Block Family Foundation created the scholarship endowment to support students at the Bloch School of business at the University of Missouri-Kansas City wishing to pursue a real estate career.

The fund awards one or more scholarships every year to prospective recipients who show a commitment to community service, extracurricular activities, a desire to pursue a career in real estate and a GPA of at least 3.0.

“Freeman and Elson have tremendous resumes which include extraordinarily high academic achievements together with substantial community service,” said Kenneth Block, managing principal with Block Real Estate Services. “We are very impressed with their dedication to the real estate industry and are hopeful this scholarship will allow both recipients to pursue their studies in real estate to better prepare them for a career in commercial development and real estate within the Kansas City Metropolitan area.”