Whitney Kerr Sr. Senior vice president, principal Cassidy Turley Commercial Real Estate Services Kansas City, Mo.
During his 55-year career, Whitney Kerr Sr. has closed some of the biggest commercial deals in the Kansas City region. It’s safe to say, then, that Kerr has played a major role in shaping this metropolitan area.
Kerr, senior vice president and principal with the Kansas City, Mo., office of Cassidy Turley, brokered the land for 11 office park developments in the region’s Interstate-435/College Boulevard corridor. The largest of these was the 293-acre Corporate Woods Office Park, a park that provided an important boost to Kansas City’s economy.
Kerr played an equally important role in the 1980s in helping to shape the Kansas City region. During this decade, Kerr assembled 23 acres of land in downtown Kansas City in a partnership with H. Ross Perot Jr. He then played a key role in the subsequent expansion of Bartle Hall over Kansas City’s downtown freeway.
Many of the iconic buildings and developments in the Kansas City region trace their origins to work turned in by Kerr. He was, for instance, involved in putting together the land for the Kauffman Performing Arts Center, Kansas City Power and Light Entertainment District, Leawood Town Center, Park Place and, most recently, a 350-acre parcel of land for an office and research park developed by James E. Stowers III in Kansas City.
“Whitney has always been interested in projects that enhance and, most importantly, positively promote the city he lives adn works in,” said one nominator.
Kerr has received several honors during his career, including the Commercial Transaction of the Year award from the National Association of Realtors. He was also named Outstanding Kansas Citizen by the Native Sons & Daughters of Kansas City.
Kerr is a frequent volunteer on behalf of his industry and community. He belongs to the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors, American Society of Real Estate Counselors and Urban Land Institute. He is also a director and member of the St. Luke’s Hospital Executive Committee and has served as chairman of the city’s planning commission for the last seven years.
