In a move with the community’s best interests in mind, the Jewish Community Campus board of directors will turn over property management of the entire complex to The Jewish Community Center. In an agreement unanimously approved by both organizations’ operating boards, the new arrangement will go into effect Jan. 1, 2019.
The intention of the shift in property management responsibilities to The J is that the tenant agencies, members, guests and community will benefit through the economies of scale that The J offers. The J, in coordination with other campus agencies, will look for budgetary savings, overall space utilization and economical ways to improve the facility.
The J’s President and CEO Jim Sluyter said The J was approached earlier in the year by the Campus board of directors to assume property management duties for the complex.
“If it’s better for the community, we’re on board,” Sluyter said. “We look forward to working with the other organizations that call the Campus home, and obtaining their ideas and feedback on how the Campus can best serve our community.”
Campus Board President Skip Rosenstock characterized the agreement as a streamlining measure.
“We realized the need to be more responsive to all the agencies and to be transparent,” Rosenstock said. “In other words, having The J manage the facility we eliminate any of the ‘whose responsibility is it.’ This is the model being used around the country.”
The J is the largest organization on the Campus occupying approximately 67 percent of agency-occupied space in the facility.
“The J is honored that the Jewish Community Campus has confidence in our ability to manage this unique facility, which we all know is the focal point of the Jewish community in Kansas City,” said The J’s Board Chair Andrew Kaplan. “As the largest agency in the facility, we have both the resources and vested interest to ensure that the building is well managed and has a vision for the future that will evolve as the needs of the agencies on campus change and the expectations of our members and guests evolve.”
As the property manager for the Campus, The J will oversee maintenance of the building and its grounds, snow removal and parking lots. It will also handle tenant relations and scheduling of the building’s various amenities. The Campus board retains oversight over both the operational and capital budgeting process. The security function of the Campus remains under the guidance of Chuck Green, Jewish Community Center security director, under the auspices of the Federation.
“The Campus is excited to be joining The J team,” said Jewish Community Campus Executive Director Dan Cullinan. “The timing is perfect to merge the Campus staff with The J, which makes great financial and management sense by streamlining the Campus property management operations.”
The J’s experience managing a first-class fitness and sports facility has prepared the organization well to serve as property manager of the multi-use Campus.
“The J staff offers the Campus tremendous resources through their HR, administrative, marketing and teammate support,” Cullinan said. “Combining Campus technical expertise with The J resources will foster a strong management organization servicing the agencies, members and community.”
With the agreement, Cullinan and Campus staff will transition to become J employees.
“Having the current building staff report to Jim (Sluyter) instead of me makes a whole lot of sense since Jim is on site and there every day to oversee all details while I have a full-time job off Campus,” Rosenstock said.
Founded by four extended families, The Campus first opened in 1988 with 224,000 square feet housing numerous Jewish agencies including The J, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City and the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education. In 2005, a Campus expansion included the Lewis and Shirley White Theatre and the Heritage Center, a new office suite for the Jewish Community Foundation, as well as additional offices and meeting rooms for the community’s use. Today, the Campus remains the home of numerous agencies, encompassing close to 250,000 square feet, including indoor and outdoor pools, ball fields, playgrounds and outdoor space.