Plans to turn the old Wonderscope building in downtown Shawnee into apartments now include building several new townhomes on site.
On Monday, the Shawnee Planning Commission voted 9-0 to approve a revised site plan that includes building 14 two-story attached residential townhome units at 5700 King St. Commissioners Leo Nunnink and Genise Luecke were absent.
The site plan, called The Townhomes at 57th and King, is the second phase of a proposal to redevelop the property, which has been vacant since fall 2020.
Comparing the proposal for the site to the vacant site it is now, Commissioner David Aber said he supported the revised site plan.
“Realistically, (it’s) a great use for this property, especially considering what’s there right now,” he said.
On Dec. 15, 2025, the planning commission approved plans to convert the vacant Wonderscope building into a property with 40 apartments.
Because the city council had already approved a request to rezone the property in 2021 for a previous townhomes plan, the planning commission’s vote was the final say on the matter.
Atlas Land Consulting is the applicant, and Slaggie Architects is the site designer. V & H Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit backed by the Regnier family, is still the site owner, according to Johnson County’s online property records.
The townhomes will be along 57th Street
While the redeveloped Wonderscope building is located on the west side of the property, the townhome portion of the property will be on the north and east side of the land, bordering 57th and King streets.
The project will include 14 residential units, surface parking, carports, landscaping and other site improvements.
The townhomes will occupy about 17,000 square feet of the property’s total 1.74 acres of land. The former Wonderscope property covers about 32,000 square feet.
Although it is a separate project from the Wonderscope building redevelopment, its construction can take place simultaneously with phase 1, depending on scheduling, according to city documents.
Wonderscope building will be renovated
Phase 1 of the proposal involves turning the former Wonderscope building, which is listed as a historic property by the state of Kansas, into 40 apartments, including:
- nine studio apartments at 400 square feet,
- 15 one-bedroom apartments at 600 square feet
- and 15 two-bedroom apartments at 750 square feet.
Rent will be about $900 for the studio apartments, $1,200 for the one-bedroom apartments and $1,800 for two bedrooms, Mike Belew, a partner for the project, said at the Dec. 15 meeting.
A representative for The Townhomes at 57th and King did not specify what the rent would be for the townhomes.
Parking is still a sticking point
Similar to the discussion the planning commission had during the proposal for phase 1 of the Wonderscope building redevelopment plan, parking continues to be a sticking point.
While both the Wonderscope redevelopment plan and the townhomes proposal would result in a total of 82 bedrooms, the site plan shows a combined 51 on-site parking spaces being available.
To address that, Shawnee city documents note that several parking lots nearby can be used, including the nearby public parking lot for Splash Cove, as well as on-street parking.
Using the Splash Cove parking lot violates the city ordinance, Jim Lorenz, a Shawnee resident, said during the meeting.
“This is a park — I voted for the tax for Parks (&) Pipes — it states that from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. cars are not allowed,” he said.
The city has talked with the Parks & Recreation department to confirm their approval of using Splash Cove for overnight parking, said Doug Allmon, community development director.
“There are other avenues besides the ordinance that exist to make sure that we are covered in terms of parking and the use of Splash Cove; the governing body has the ability to enter into agreements with any developer if they choose to do so,” he said.
The planning commission also addressed parking in its discussion, both during the current and previous meetings, said Commissioner Bruce Bienhoff.
“(We’re) taking the steps required to make sure that, should (a parking) problem arise, it will be addressed, whether it be a change in the ordinance or an agreement, whatever that may be,” he said. “Your concerns are duly noted.”
Go deeper: Shawnee commission backs new plan to convert vacant Wonderscope building into apartments
