Community Builders of Kansas City

What Community Builders of Kansas City does

Community Builders of Kansas City (CBKC), founded in 1991 and rebranded from Swope Community Builders in 2018, is a not-for-profit community development corporation headquartered at 4001 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Suite 301, in Kansas City, Missouri. The organization describes itself as Kansas City's largest urban core developer, with $225 million invested in urban renewal since inception, $80 million in assets currently under management, more than 700 housing units delivered, and more than 500,000 square feet of commercial and institutional space developed — of which over 200,000 square feet remains owned and operated. CBKC serves low-income families, seniors (55+), individuals with special needs, neighborhood associations, and commercial tenants through a horizontally integrated model of residential development, commercial development, asset management, and community engagement, with day-to-day property management outsourced to subsidiaries and partners including Community Housing Management and EastPointe Realty.

The company's revenue mechanics blend four streams: rental and operating income from owned real estate (residential, office, retail, and Sun Fresh grocery stores), development and project fees on large mixed-use builds such as the $100 million Offices at Overlook District, government and foundation grants (HHS, Jackson County, Urban Action Partners, City of Kansas City CDBG, Health Forward Foundation), and consumer revenue from operating Sun Fresh grocery stores to prevent food deserts. Distribution is conducted through direct leasing (via broker Peak Realty Partner), third-party property managers, and direct retail operations; commercial space at 4001 Blue Parkway reached 100% occupancy in 2025 with The Shops on Blue Parkway at 90%.

CBKC is led by President and CEO Emmet Pierson Jr. and maintains a small staff (1-10 reported) supplemented by wholly-owned operating subsidiaries: Community Housing Management (multi-family property management), EastPointe Realty (real estate management), CB Constructs (construction management), and KC Sun Fresh (grocery). The go-to-market motion is community-led — projects are pursued where neighborhood residents and associations invite CBKC in, with neighborhood representation on its Board of Directors. Construction spending is projected to nearly double year-over-year ($13 million in 2023 to $25 million projected in 2024), and two flagship projects — the Offices at Overlook District (180,000 sq ft Class A office, 19,000 sq ft mixed-use, 155 multi-family units) and SW19 at the Stadium (pickleball venue at the former CoCo Key Resort) — anchor the near-term pipeline.

Name

Community Builders of Kansas City

Legal name

Community Builders of Kansas City

Website

https://cb-kc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Community Builders of Kansas City is a nonprofit community development corporation founded in 1991 that develops, owns, and operates affordable housing, commercial space, and grocery stores in Kansas City's urban core, serving low-income families, seniors, special-needs residents, and community-based commercial tenants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Real Estate

NAICS

Land Subdivision (237210), Nonresidential Building Construction (2362)

SIC

Operative Builders (1531), Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives) (BPAIANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Urban & Regional Planning (Land Use, Zoning, Master Planning) (BPAIANAD), Residential Land Development & Subdivision Homebuilding (Build-to-Sell Communities) (IMAFABAL)

Keywords

• Community development
• Affordable housing development
• Commercial real estate development
• Asset management services
• Neighborhood revitalization

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Property Rental Income: CBKC generates revenue through ownership and operation of commercial retail, office, and residential properties in the urban core, including more than 200,000 square feet of commercial space it continues to own/operate.
2. Government and Foundation Grants: As a non-profit community development corporation, CBKC receives grants from government entities and foundations for development projects, including recent awards from Jackson County, Urban Action Partners, and U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
3. Development Fees: CBKC earns fees through development projects, including the Offices at Overlook District which will transform blighted property into 180,000 square feet of Class A office space, 19,000 square feet of mixed-use space, and 155 multi-family units.
4. Grocery Store Operations: CBKC operates Sun Fresh grocery stores as owner/operator to prevent food deserts, generating retail revenue while serving community needs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Community Builders of Kansas City (CBKC) is Kansas City's largest urban core developer and a not-for-profit community development corporation. It develops, owns, and operates affordable multi-family residential housing (700+ units since 1991), Class A commercial and institutional real estate (500,000+ sq ft developed, 200,000+ sq ft currently owned), and full-service grocery stores (Sun Fresh). The organization also provides asset management, construction management, and community engagement services to transform underserved Kansas City neighborhoods.

Product overview

Community Builders of Kansas City (CBKC) is Kansas City's largest urban core developer and not-for-profit community development corporation offering a comprehensive portfolio of residential development, commercial development, asset management, and community engagement services. The core offerings include residential housing (700+ units including multi-family, townhomes, senior housing, and special needs housing), commercial development (500,000+ sq ft of office, retail, and institutional space), and grocery operations through Sun Fresh stores. Major projects include Offices at Overlook District (180,000 sq ft mixed-use), The Shops on Blue Parkway (155,000 sq ft retail), SW19 at the Stadium pickleball venue, and various residential communities. Property management is outsourced to Community Housing Management while CBKC maintains strategic oversight and development leadership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EastPointe Realty: Real estate management subsidiary overseeing leasing and management of CBKC properties including Twin Elms Senior Housing.
• CB Constructs
• KC Sun Fresh

Products and services

• Residential Development

Quantifiable outcome

• 700+ housing units provided since 1991
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Community Housing ManagementcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 21 November 2025CHM provides property management services on several CBKC assets, handling all day-to-day operations of the affordable multi-family housing portfolio. Based in St. Joseph, Missouri, CHM has excellent reputation in affordable housing and is well regarded by Missouri Housing Development Commission.
• Commerce BankcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 May 2025Commerce Bank is moving into 4401 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. as a new tenant, offering consumer and commercial banking services plus a full-service ATM in one of the outparcel buildings at The Shops on Blue Parkway. The 3,965-square-foot space is undergoing complete build-out.
• Clarkson-Radmacher Joint VenturecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 May 2025Construction company took Suite 250 at 4001 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. (former Catholic Charities space). The 10,714-square-foot space is being used for the Improve I-70 Kansas City team with 30 staff members, bringing the 4001 property to 100% occupancy.
• Health Forward FoundationflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2024Health Forward Foundation serves as anchor/owner taking 20,000 square feet of the 60,000-square-foot first phase of Offices at Overlook. The billion-dollar Kansas City-based foundation works to improve health outcomes for vulnerable communities and chose the location for proximity to prioritized populations.
• Turner ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 November 2024Turner Construction serves as general contractor for the Offices at Overlook project, the first phase of CBKC's pioneering Offices at Overlook District.
• Hufft and Helix Architecture + DesigncoreTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2024Architecture firms serving as architects for the Offices at Overlook project, designing the 60,000-square-foot Class A office building with three stories and private tenant roof terraces.
• Monarch BuildcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 November 2024General contractor for SW19 at the Stadium pickleball venue transformation.
• SW19 Pickleball (Daryl Wyatt and Julie Gibson)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2024CBKC partnered with SW19 Pickleball at State Line in Leawood to develop SW19 at the Stadium, transforming former CoCo Key Resort into a pickleball destination. Together they co-own the Kansas City Stingers professional pickleball team. Wyatt is a former professional pickleball player ranked sixth in the world.
• University HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024University Health's Community Health Strategies and Innovation (CHSI) initiative partnered with CBKC in early 2024 to integrate nutrition education in Sun Fresh grocery stores, including Veggie Meter assessments, blood pressure checks, and healthy recipes in produce sections.
• Starlight TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBKC partners with Starlight Theatre for annual free community movie nights under the stars, serving approximately 1,000-3,500 attendees per event.
• Greater KC LINCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for events and initiatives including community movie nights and neighborhood development programs.
• Horizon Housing FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates social services and enrichment programs for Twin Elms Senior Housing residents, including social gatherings, fitness classes, financial literacy workshops, and assistance with utility and rent payments.
• Peak Realty PartnercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommercial real estate broker Ross Simpson handles leasing for CBKC properties including new tenants at 4001 and 4401 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
• Urban Ranger Corps of Kansas CityminorOthersCBKC supports Urban Ranger Corps of Kansas City, a two-decade-old organization preparing at-risk youth for responsible and productive futures through disciplined programming.
• Mid-America Regional Council (MARC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBKC partners with MARC's Building Energy Exchange Kansas City (BE-Ex KC) on green development initiatives to address greenhouse emissions from buildings.
• LISC Kansas CitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of Greater Kansas City Regional Housing Partnership launched to serve as central entity for housing affordability research and coordination.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Community Builders of Kansas City