How This "Other" Superman Building's Revitalization Transformed a City's Downtown

How This "Other" Superman Building's Revitalization Transformed a City's Downtown

While the “Superman” building in downtown Providence has been vacant now for nearly ten years, a very similar-looking building nearly halfway across the country has been retrofitted into residences - and now anchors a vibrant downtown district. 

The Kansas City (Missouri) Power and Light Building — built in 1931 — was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River until the completion of the Space Needle in 1962.

Now, it houses residences — and anchors the “Power & Light” District in Kansas City. 

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The parallels to Providence are pronounced. The art deco "Superman" building in Rhode Island was commissioned in 1925 and built between 1927 and 1928. 

The Superman building lost its last tenant in 2013; the Kansas City Power and Light Building jettisoned its last tenant in 2014 -- before its revival. 

 

Powering an Entire District

According to the Power & Light District website, the area was developed by The Cordish Companies of Baltimore, Maryland and designed by Beyer Blinder Belle and 360 Architecture. 

“The district was named after the Kansas City Power and Light Building, an art deco skyscraper and Kansas City landmark since 1931. Construction began in 2004, and the first restaurant, McFadden’s Sports Saloon, opened on November 7, 2007. Several restaurants along 14th Street opened in February 2008, including Bristol Seafood Grill and Chipotle, followed by the official opening of Kansas City Live!, and many of its venues, in March of 2008,” it goes on to state. 

In addition to the Power and Light building being refurbished into apartments — the district sparked the construction of a brand new apartment tower. 

In 2014, The Cordish Companies and J.E. Dunn Construction broke ground on the first new market rate, high rise apartment tower, and in December 2015, One Light Luxury Apartments opened.

Now, the area has become a live, work, and play destination. 

“Thousands of KU fans expected to pack into KC Power & Light for NCAA title game,” reported Fox 4 last week. 

 

 

Lights Still Off in Providence 

Meanwhile in Providence, “Superman” continues to remain shuttered. 

As GoLocal reported in August 2021, “Superman Developer Submitting Plan to State, $215M Project, 285 Units:”

“GoLocal has learned that the owner of the Superman Building, High Rock Development, LLC is submitting a plan to the RI Commerce Corporation to redevelop the building into 285 apartment units — of which 10% will be for low-income residents.

The proposal may be the last chance to save the building. Governor Dan McKee has stated he would be open to demolishing the state’s tallest building, if it is not reused. The iconic building has been vacant for eight years.”

Days later, Providence City Councilman John Goncalves put forth the idea that the city should take the Superman building  -- by eminent domain. 

"The Superman Building is an icon of our city that has sadly been sitting vacant for eight years. All options should be explored to save this beautiful and historic structure, including opportunities for redevelopment by the current owner, and ownership transfer,” said Council President John Igliozzi in response. “There are many tools the city and state have at their disposal to make sure the Superman Building is given a second life, and I look forward to input from Providence residents, the business community, planners, preservationists, economic development experts, and my colleagues in government as we continue the public discussion on the fate of this iconic building."

Currently, Providence’s so-called Financial District is nearly desolate. 

“We don't need to leave the building vacant for 70 years as we did with the Masonic Temple -- now the Renaissance Hotel,” wrote GoLocal in an editorial entitled “If RI Funds Superman Building Reset, Taxpayers Should Be Partners.”

“If Rhode Island is going to provide more than a third of the financing through a variety of economic tools and incentives, then Rhode Island should have a protected financial interest in the project,” GoLocal wrote. “Let's move forward as partners and reinvent the Superman Building and reinvent our city -- and state's -- economic strategy.”