From Hidden Ceilings to Hiring Stars — The Aladdin Turns One

One Year into the Aladdin: What We’ve Learned

A year ago, we bought a tired old building in downtown Kansas City that was once the focal point of the convention district and one of the city’s crown jewels: the Aladdin Hotel. At the time, most people saw 16 floors of headaches. We saw the bones of something beautiful.

Twelve months later, the original barrel-vaulted ceilings have been uncovered. Residential floors 3–15 have been gutted and cleared of all non-historic items. Permitting, tax credit applications, structural engineering—hundreds of hours have gone into peeling back the decades of bad decisions to make room for something that honors the soul of this place.

We’re not rebuilding a generic property with some Edison bulbs and calling it “vintage.” We’re restoring a building that helped shape KC’s skyline — and giving it a second life that respects its past while building for our future.

Let’s just say: there’s going to be nothing like this in Kansas City.

Introducing Collin Simmons — Development Associate

As the company grows, the work grows with it. That’s why I’m pumped to introduce our newest hire: Collin Simmons, our Development Associate.

Collin is sharp. Hustler by nature, calm under pressure, and relentlessly curious. He’s joining us to help carry the ball forward on acquisitions, pro forma development, permitting, construction admin, and yes, wrangling the occasional coffee-stained as-built plan that shows four different wall layouts.

Collin will also be a key player in helping us scale our “build in public” approach. If you’re following us on Instagram or Twitter, expect to see more behind-the-scenes, financial structuring, and deal breakdowns — all with Collin in the trenches capturing it as it happens.

We’re not building this company in some glass tower — in fact, our office is wherever the wind takes us! We’re building it on-site, in real time. And Collin’s going to be a huge part of that.

If you’re a lender, broker, investor, property owner, etc., reach out to Collin as he leads our efforts on both our development pipeline and our acquisitions.

📧 [email protected]

The Holtman Building: Another Historic Gem in Motion

A few blocks away, we’re taking on another piece of Kansas City’s forgotten urban fabric: the Holtman Building. This one’s special.

Two stories. Brick & concrete bones. It once had a water tower on top — and soon, it’ll have a rooftop bar that brings that Crossroads energy full circle. (Check out the article the KC Business Journal wrote about the project)

The plans call for a full renovation of the upper floors into eight loft apartments with character, style, and actual sunlight (you’d be surprised how rare that is in old buildings).

Ground floor will be office/retail. And up top, a bar with views, vibes, and cocktails that’ll make you wish you lived upstairs.

But like every real project, it’s not all renderings and sunshine.

We’re having real conversations with the city about funding gaps and tools to make this happen. The capital stack is tight. The deal only works if we’re smart and aggressive — and if we can build with the support of folks who understand what these projects do for a neighborhood.

40+ permanent jobs. Foot traffic for nearby businesses. Life on a block that’s been dark for too long. That’s what this is about.

Social Media Growth: Real Estate’s Not Boring — You’re Just Not Telling the Story Right

Let’s talk about something developers don’t talk about enough: attention.

When I started documenting projects on Instagram and Twitter, it was mostly for fun. A few people cared. But now? Thousands of followers tune in daily to see what we’re doing — from zoning quirks to structural slab repairs to why we believe the Aladdin is KC’s next crown jewel.

We are not trying to flex. It’s a strategy.

In an industry that hides behind NDAs and dated PDFs, we’re choosing to share:

• How projects even happen

• What things actually cost

• Why certain risks are worth taking

• The wins and the mistakes

Oh, and plenty of the fun behind the scenes.

It’s not just “content.” It’s a way to build trust, recruit talent, and draw the kinds of partners and capital that actually care about legacy.

In the last 30 days alone, we’ve added over 20,000 (!!) new followers across platforms, landed tons of media inquiries, received job and internship requests, and made people laugh.

But more importantly, we’re having better conversations with lenders, brokers, and investors who get what we’re building.

If you’re not already following along:
📱 Instagram – @molzerdevelopment
🐦 Twitter – @KCMolzer

What’s Next?

Between now and the end of the summer, we’re pushing hard on:

✅ Continuing to rebuild the Aladdin
✅ Closing on the Holtman, finalizing the permit set & securing key approvals
✅ Kicking off interior design and FF&E planning for the rooftop bar at Aladdin
✅ Evaluating a few new acquisitions (yes, we’re staying busy)
✅ Elevating our brand

If you’re a lender, investor, or city stakeholder, let’s talk. The next 6–12 months are pivotal, and we’re building a real pipeline of Kansas City’s most exciting projects, both adaptive reuse, ground-up, and stabilized deals.

If you’re a follower, subscriber, or just curious, thanks for being here. This city has given us a lot, and we’re working hard to return the favor.

Final Thought: Why We Do This

I’m not a real estate guy because I like spreadsheets (though I do). I do it because I love cities.

I love walking down a block that used to be empty and seeing lights on. I love buildings that tell stories. I love giving young professionals, families, and creatives places to live, work, or have a damn good cocktail under the stars.

Kansas City deserves thoughtful growth. Honest projects. That’s what we’re building.

Thanks for following the journey — Godspeed!

—
Zach Molzer
Founder, Molzer Development