Living Suburban Urban

story by Jill Dutton | photography by Kevin Anderson

A new living space in downtown Shawnee contains crisp and shiny amenities: high-end apartments, a workout space, and a secluded community garden that’s perfect for relaxing or a gathering of friends.

Developer Kevin Tubbesing is a longtime part of the Shawnee business community. Tubbesing and his wife, Dawn, along with a group of investors, have led the way in revitalizing downtown Shawnee with the Stag’s Creek development on Shawnee Mission Parkway, which includes the Stag’s Creek Professional Center with Shawnee’s first underground parking. Now the group has added to the portfolio a living space: The Sixty16 luxury apartments are situated north of Shawnee Mission Parkway and east of Nieman Road.

While COVID kept the complex from hosting an official grand opening, the first occupants moved in in May. Offering a unique living situation, Sixty16 caters to a variety of tenants.

“We have young 20s, we have seniors, and lots in the middle. We knew that when we built this, that what we wanted was to create a place where any age would feel comfortable,” Tubbesing says. “Frankly, you don’t see that blend in a lot of other apartment complexes. Usually, you have either the young, sexy place that isn’t as attractive to seniors, or you have places that are just known as being for 55 and older. I feel as if we have pulled off the beautiful blend that I was hoping for, which is to have this wonderful community that is all over the place.”

Suburban Urban When asked, “Why Shawnee?” Tubbesing says, “That’s easy. We live here.”

On a mission to “move through and fix the area,” the developer started with Stag’s Creek— their mother development that included removing the pawnshop and dilapidated retail on Shawnee Mission Parkway.

Part of the appeal of Sixty16, Tubbesing says, is the smaller number of units.

“It’s a 67-unit complex, which makes it much smaller than a lot of the classic complexes that had been built in the area. Typically, a complex is going to be 180 to 250 units,” he says. “And that, of course, just brings a mass of bodies and people into one space. Some people would rather have a more quaint, community feel.

“And when we started looking at this project, what spoke to us was the ability to create a smaller, but still a Class A project. We have more green space per capita than almost any other apartment complex in Kansas City.”

Class A properties are generally new, include higher-end amenities, and are situated in a desirable location. At Sixty16, the units contain LG appliances, washer and dryer units, stainless steel appliances, high ceilings, granite countertops, and tile flooring. Plus, the complex offers a gym and workout area, gardens, and community gathering spaces with grills and tables. It is also pet-friendly.

Just a few months after opening, the complex is almost half full. Most of the smaller units are filled—the studio and one-bedroom apartments—but the two-bedroom units are available for small families or single occupants wanting an office space for remote work. Tubbesing also thinks the two bedrooms are ideal for “couples, roommates, or the grandmother who wants the grandkids to be able to spend the night.”

“I think Stag’s Creek was one of the things that was the impetus for the redevelopment of downtown. And now with Sixty16, we’re proud to be a part of the continued revitalization of downtown.”

Rather than a swimming pool, Sixty16 has a relaxing garden area, perfect for family gatherings or quiet time amid the foliage and fountain. The gardens are new—“first generation” as Tubbesing calls it—with the plants still in development. The developers chose the gardens instead of a swimming pool because of the small number of tenants, but also to provide a unique hang-out space.

Tenants can enjoy the seating areas in the gardens, grill on the gas grills, or plan a game-day get-together in the gazebo, which features a grill, lighting, outlets, and a large-screen television.

Located on a graded hill on the back of the property and shielded from Nieman Road by the complex, the gardens and community space are a suburban escape in the midst of downtown Shawnee.

Sixty16, 6016 Roger Road, Shawnee, KS 66203; 913-800-8700 GetConnected@Sixty16.com | www.Sixty16.com