Construction experts say pandemic leaves questions for industry

The COVID-19 pandemic is leaving a lot of industries with questions about the future, including the commercial construction industry in Kansas City.

THE PANDEMIC HAS LEFTSOME INDUSTRIES WITHQUESTIONS ABOUT THEFUTURE.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER EMMA JAMESTELLS US WHAT EFFECTSTHE COMMERCIALCONSTRUCTION INDUSTRYIN KANSAS CITY SEESRIGHT NOW.EMMA JAMES, REPORTING"This area at 9th andBroadway is set to be a HyattPlace hotel - but the Builder'sassociation of Kansas Citytells me construction wasstopped because of theuncertainty of the hospitalityindustry."PRESIDENT OF THEASSOCIATION DONGREENWELL SAYS 15 TO 20PERCENT OF COMMERCIALPROJECTS WERECANCELED AT THE STARTOF THE PANDEMIC.DON GREENWELL, PRESIDENT,BUILDERS' ASSOCIATION OFKANSAS CITY"It's holding up well now andfrankly we had a loss ofproduction on project sites justbecause we're needing evenmore social distancing andpeople going around sanitizingGREENWELL SAYS THENUMBER OF PLANNEDPROJECTS RIGHT NOW ISABOUT 10 PERCENT LESSTHAN THIS TIME LASTYEAR.HOWEVER - IT TAKES AGOOD 12-18 MONTHS FORCONSUMER CHANGES TOAFFECT THE INDUSTRY.DON GREENWELL, PRESIDENT,BUILDERS' ASSOCIATION OFKANSAS CITY"We already have work inprocess when things start tochange, but we can see thechange coming."GREENWELL SAYSBUILDERS ARE BLESSEDWITH SEVERAL MEGAPROJECTS LIKE KCI,WADELL AND REED AND APOSSIBLE THREE LIGHTBUILDING.DESPITE THE LOSS INSMALLER PROJECTS - HESAYS EMPLOYMENT ISABOUT THE SAMEBECAUSE THE WORK ISCONSIDERED ESSENTIAL.THE ASSOCIATION IS ALSOFOCUSED ONRECRUITMENT -REMINDING PROSPECTIVESTUDENTS THERE AREPLENTY OFOPPORTUNITIES.ALISE MARTINY, BUSINESSMANAGER, GREATER KANSASCITY BUILDING & TRADES"We need a skilled workforce,there's still work out there sowe are definitely trying tobuildthose contacts withcontractors."IN KANSAS CITY, EM