Member Spotlight – Cushman & Wakefield

The Downtown Council Member Spotlight showcases DTC member companies and organizations, and the ways they contribute to the quality of life in Downtown KC.

Spotlight: Cushman & Wakefield, Kansas City, 4600 Madison Ave, Kansas City, MO

Cushman & Wakefield, a global commercial real estate company with a century of experience – numbering 52,000 professionals and 400 offices worldwide – is a driving force in the evolution of Downtown Kansas City.

Just ask Gib Kerr, Managing Director for Cushman & Wakefield’s Kansas City office, leading capital markets/investments sales with an emphasis on urban core revitalization development projects. Kerr began a one-year term as Chair of the Downtown Council’s Board of Directors last month. 

“We are driven to solve complex problems, and we have the expertise and experience to bring solutions to life,” said Kerr, who has brokered over $2.2 billion worth of new development projects in Downtown KC over the last 10 years.

The Cushman & Wakefield website reflects Kerr’s passion for the local marketplace:

“Kansas City is in the midst of a fascinating evolution that has seen the industrial market expand at unprecedented levels while the urban core is undergoing a transformational renaissance. Kansas City has a strong history of entrepreneurial spirit and community awareness.”

Just two weeks ago, Kerr put his expertise and passion to work for the Downtown Council as he moderated a panel of thought leaders on Mixed Use Neighborhoods and the Future of Downtown at the new Origin Hotel at the Berkley Riverfront. 

The occasion was the Downtown Council’s inaugural State of Downtown event, replacing the former Office Summit event series.

“Just as Downtown has evolved from a 9-5 place where people went to work, we thought the Office Summit should evolve as well in order to reflect the mixed-use character of Downtown,” Kerr told the sold-out audience on Nov. 20.

The State of Downtown event demonstrated how sustained local investment has created a level of momentum and attracted outside investors, as the entire metro area benefits from the growth in and around the Central Business District.

Kerr knows all-too-well how far Downtown has come in the last 50 to 60 years … particularly since its lowest point in the 1990s. He specifically points to the Downtown Council’s commitment to a clean and safe city – the hallmark of the Community Improvement Districts – as a turning point for Downtown KC.

“We’ve worked so hard to get where we are today,” he said, recalling a blighted Downtown area. “We can’t rest on our laurels.”

A conversation with Kerr underscores his history in Kansas City and elevates his passion for continuing to build community – business, nonprofit, and residential communities – in the Downtown area.

“The Downtown Council has played a pivotal role in much of this success,” Kerr said of the advancements in Downtown KC. “The Downtown Community Improvement District made our streets clean and safe, welcoming new investment and over 30 million annual visitors. Our expanding RideKC streetcar is now one of the most successful streetcar systems in the country.”

As Kerr looks ahead to his year as chair of the DTC Board of Directors, he believes Downtown is “… on the verge of greatness.” He compares the potential of Downtown KC with what he sees in other, thriving cities such as Charlotte and Atlanta.

“We need to aim high. We need more cranes,” Kerr said. “This is a difficult cycle, but we need to get ready for the next burst of activity.”

Kerr gives the Downtown Council great credit for its leadership on the Imagine Downtown KC Strategic Plan. He is particularly passionate about two of the plan’s strategic goals, Downtown Baseball and the Greenline.

“Connective projects like these… That’s what makes a city exciting,” Kerr said. “We must keep up the momentum. We are on the verge… Things are teed up for Kansas City to become one of the best Downtowns in America.”

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