Kessinger Hunter History

Kessinger Hunter & Co., L.C. is Greater Kansas City’s
oldest commercial real estate company.

Celebrating +142 Years!

Kessinger Hunter Photo Album

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Kessinger Hunter Timeline

1879

Launching A Legacy

Lawrence F. Rieger Real Estate Broker opens an office in the Law Building at the NW Corner of 5th and Main.

1929

Weathering the Great Depression

John A. Moore & Company, the precursor to modern-day Kessinger Hunter, weathers the storm of the Great Depression, continuing on despite the era’s challenges.

1955

Society of Industrial Realtors (SIR)

John A. Moore hosts a regional meeting of the Society of Industrial Realtors (SIR), the precursor to the modern-day SIOR. circa 1955. Moore’s leadership in the industry paved the way for Kessinger/Hunter to emerge as a top regional real estate company.

1976

Entering A New Era

The company transitions from five-broker brokerage firm to a broker/developer model – developing over 3,000,000 SF over four years throughout Greater Kansas City and following user relationships like Pizza Hut throughout the Southeast U.S.

1982

Firm is Reorganized

Firm is reorganized into Kessinger/Hunter & Company.

1991

Adding Executive Hills North

Resolution Trust Corp. (RTC) names Kessinger/Hunter & Company as new leasing agent and manager for five office buildings in the Executive Hills North business park comprising 363,500 SF.

1991

TIAA Names KH Trustee In Large Transaction

Kessinger/Hunter & Company named trustee by Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA) for $475,000,000 transaction involving 22 buildings developed by Executive Hills Inc. encompassing more than 4.3 million square feet including the iconic One Kansas City Place.

1991

Selected To Manage Crown Center

Kessinger/Hunter & Company chosen to manage much of the Crown Center office and retail complex by Hallmark Cards subsidiary Crown Center Redevelopment, encompassing nearly 4 million SF.

1992

Growing Relationships & Managed Properties Together

Merin Hunter Codman, Inc., affiliate of KH, opens Florida office to service long-time relationship clients Bank of New England and Mutual Benefit Life. The firm adds 5,000,000 square feet of managed properties.

1994

Iron Mountain

Kessinger/Hunter & Company partners with one of its tenants, Iron Mountain Document Storage, to develop Iron Mountain’s first build-to-suit. KH continues to develop over 40 buildings for Iron Mountain over the course of the next 25 years

1997

Partnering With J.C. Nichols Co.

J.C. Nichols Co. acquires a 30% stake in Kessinger/Hunter & Company and, as part of the transaction, KH takes over leasing and management of about 3 million square feet of Nichols-owned office, industrial and retail properties in Greater Kansas City including Prairie Village, Brookside, Corinth and Fairway Shops, as well as suburban and Plaza office buildings.

1998

Highwoods Properties

Highwoods Properties Inc. of Raleigh, N.C., buys J.C. Nichols Co. and by rights has stake in Kessinger/Hunter & Company that continues to lease and manage Highwoods-owned properties in Kansas City.

2000

#1 in Kansas City

Kessinger/Hunter & Company ranks as the largest commercial real estate firm in Kansas City and extends its reach to 26 U.S. states and three European countries.

2007

Taking the mantle of leadership