When it comes to apartment living, it’s fair to say Dr. Shaji Pillai has high standards. Pillai, a pediatric physician, moved to Kansas City from New York City, and lived in Chicago before that.
“I’ve had a taste of big city life and that’s one of the main reasons I’ve always lived downtown,” Pillai said. “Downtown Kansas City has been incredibly revitalized over the last 10 years and I’ve been here the whole time.”
When he moved to Kansas City, Pillai was excited to be part of the new wave of residents coming to a booming downtown. Pillai was even more excited when One Light Luxury Apartments opened in 2015, bringing amenities on par with the finest luxury residences in the country.
One Light was the first newly-constructed high-rise apartment building in downtown Kansas City in more than 50 years, and immediately set the gold standard for urban living. The building offers beautifully designed studio, one bedroom, two bedroom and penthouse apartment residences, all with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Kansas City skyline.
Pillai moved in the first week, and doesn’t expect to ever
move out.
“I’ve lived in New York and paid a lot to live in a tiny space,” he says. “For the amount I pay here and what I get for it with everything I’ve experienced in this building, I could never afford in another city. Everything is so convenient and the building offers so many perks, which is why it’s so hard for me to envision ever moving out.”
There’s always something happening
One Light is in the heart of the dynamic Power & Light District, just a block away from the Sprint Center. There’s always something going on in the neighborhood–from the Big 12 basketball tournament to the city’s largest New Years Eve party.
For residents of One Light, there’s even more fun to be had thanks to a packed calendar of events for residents.
In most apartments, residents don’t get to know their neighbors beyond a friendly nod in the elevator. Pillai says that One Light stands apart by hosting exciting events that build a sense of community and make One Light residents feel like they are part of a neighborhood. He’s forged friendships that he expects to last a lifetime.
“The events they come up with have blown me out of the water. They make me not want to leave,” Pillai said. “One weekend, they brought in a chef from one of the local restaurants to make us pancakes for breakfast – for no reason. It was just to do something nice for us. There is no weekend where there aren’t a few things going on. I’m more disappointed in the things I miss because of my schedule at work than anything else.”
One Light offers its residents a lifestyle that’s focused on convenience. Pillai is a pediatric physician and his assignments are split between two emergency rooms, one downtown and another in Overland Park. Living in a centralized location has shortened Pillai’s commutes and given him more time to enjoy his time off.
“It’s very easy to traverse the city from here, especially because it’s across the street from the Power & Light District which makes it very easy to grab a drink, get dinner or watch a show,” Pillai says.
Pillai is also a big fan of the luxurious rooftop pool that sits atop the sleek glass and steel high-rise. One Light’s spectacular pool looks like it’s straight out of a luxury hotel in Miami, boasting a 20,000 square-foot deck and unmatched views of the metro area. Not only that, there’s a staffed bar pouring great cocktails
“The pool is probably the best feature of this building,” said Pillai. “When it is open in the summer, there is a fully staffed bar every weekend and it’s reasonably priced. I always meet people at the pool. I’ve made a million friends there.”
The pool also serves as the site for the many events each month the One Light team hosts for its residents. Other events include holiday parties, seasonal festivals, wine tastings, happy hours, and poolside movies just to name a few.
No jacket required
One Light is attached to both Cosentino’s grocery store and Onelife Fitness, where residents enjoy a complimentary membership. Residents like Pillai can hop over for a gallon of milk or a quick cardio workout without putting on a heavy coat and venturing out onto a slippery sidewalk.
“Not having to walk a couple of blocks to go to the gym or grab some groceries doesn’t seem like a big deal unless it’s 20 degrees outside,” Pillai said.
When he does want to venture out, One Light’s location in the heart of the Power & Light District means Pillai is surrounded with great options for food, drinks or entertainment. He can catch the new blockbuster at Alamo Drafthouse, rub elbows with Patrick Mahomes at the Hot Country Nights concert series or shop for a dapper new suit at some of the city’s finest retail.
And if he wants to hop on the free streetcar, it’s just a few stops to the bustling farmers market at the River Market or First Friday arts shows in the Crossroads.
Pillai likes to start his nights out in the Crossroads.
“There’s a few new breweries and a couple distilleries that make great cocktails,” he said. “I enjoy going there for a pre-dinner drink.”
When it comes time for dinner, Pillai never frets getting a reservation — he utilizes One Light’s in-house concierge, who helps him book a table or nab hard-to-get tickets for the big game. The concierge is also available for away-from-home services, dog-walking services and grocery delivery.
Pillai likes to catch touring musicals and comedians like Book Of Mormon at the Music Hall or Lewis Black at Midland Theater. And he loves that he doesn’t have to drive to
get there.
“There’s a street car stop one block north of us and one block south of us right by the parking garage, so you don’t have to fight the weather to grab that,” Pillai said.
Experience your view from the top on a private tour by contacting a member of the One Light Luxury Apartments team at info@onelightkc.com or visit OneLightKC.com for more information.
