KC warehouse owners won't sell to the federal government
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The owners of a warehouse in south Kansas City will not sell it to the federal government, the company said in a statement Thursday.
Why it matters: Federal immigration officials toured the site as ICE said it seeks to expand its detention capacity, prompting backlash from local leaders and the public.
The big picture: Platform Ventures, which used land purchased in a deal with PortKC to build an industrial warehouse, stated Thursday that the federal government tried to purchase the building, but the company chose not to sell.
Driving the news: Platform Ventures stated the government's terms for the warehouse did not meet their requirements for a timely closing.
- It said its employees and families prompted the statement due to "baseless speculation, inaccurate narratives, and serious threats toward our leadership."
Context: On Monday, Port KC commissioners unanimously voted to cut off any future land sales to Platform Ventures as a result of the potential sale.
What they're saying: Port KC president and chief executive Jon Stephens tells Axios he's "relieved" the sale did not go through, adding that it would have been "inconsistent with the approved purposes."
- Terrence Wise, leader of the Stand Up KC and Missouri Workers Center coalitions, credited "weeks of protest and collective action" against the sale.
The bottom line: "We remain focused on protecting and serving our investors' interests," Platform Ventures said in its statement. "And our commitment to Kansas City remains unchanged."