From Harrisonville to St. Joseph, Warrensburg to Topeka, urban redevelopment is a success story of healthy business additions and broad economic development.

No matter where they’re undertaken, successful efforts to revitalize downtown districts share several factors, from community support to cooperation and funding. Opportunity, patience and timing are also important. The greatest common denominator may be the ability to build on something real, almost organic.

Something in Common

While downtown developments vary in size, architectural phrases such as “scale” and “texture” apply to most. These traits are found in downtowns that evolved naturally over a period of years, perhaps decades, but are rarely achieved by shop-ping centers hastily erected in matter of weeks on the outskirts of town.

“You could say we’re the original lifestyle center,” said Ann Crume, executive director of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce. “They build centers to look like 19th century buildings. Well, we have real 19th century buildings.”

That appeals to more than history buffs, however. The pedestrian, “human” scale of downtowns is a factor in many urban success stories. For the same reason that Kansas City’s Crossroads District has become a hotspot, many downtowns are successfully attracting business and lifestyle success.

With an estimated $60 million in private development in the past five years, downtown St. Joseph is a good example. This fall, the city will begin a $2 million streetscape to create an even better setting for the scores of new lofts, shops and restaurants.

Although there are many factors, the scale of the area is a key, noted Rhabecca Boerkircher, executive director of the city’s Downtown Partnership. “It’s fun to be in a downtown environment,” she said. ”Everything is right there. You get out and you can walk to your entertainment and you can walk to your restaurant.”

St. Joseph’s rebirth began with residential remodeling, with loft conversions gradually creating demand for specialty shops and other commercial development.

In the last few years, the efforts appear to have hit a tipping point. Two major developments are under way, including one to convert former hospital property into upscale condominiums.

Significantly, the effort receives broad support, including a collaborative effort called the “Dream Initiative.” Results include two downtown university programs and new condominiums that blend with nearby historic mansions. Another success is a former warehouse remodeled as a hands-on learning experience for junior high-age students. All of these are achieving a community fabric that is difficult

to replicate in traditional suburbs.

“It’s a different type of lifestyle,” Boerkircher said. “It gives people an option of something different. And frankly it’s fun.”

A River Runs…

Several of these achievements involve something Kansas City has never exploited: riverfront. St. Joseph is well along with plans for an upscale restaurant connected to an existing river walk. In Topeka, plans are not as far along, but may be as extensive as any in the region. Susan Mahoney, executive director of Downtown Topeka, said a major, long-term effort to develop Topeka’s Kansas River shore is about to begin.

The effort is actually a strategy to expand downtown Topeka, an area both blessed and cursed as a state capital. While the status does bring 35,000 workers each day, the large number of government buildings can be a hindrance to commercial vitality. That’s one reason the city wants utilize the riverfront for multi-use development limited in the city’s core.

Long-term efforts are not new here. Founded in 2001, the Downtown Topeka initiative parallels a major resurgence of residential and commercial investment that includes $1.1 million from the city and more than $9 million in private investment. Much of the latter is comprised of small, local investors who are often revitalizing buildings that were vacant for more than a decade.

Nearby, Lawrence also sits alongside the Kansas River, but its greatest flow may be thousands of college students and University of Kansas staff who help create one of the most dynamic downtown markets in the region.

Jane Pennington, director of Down-town Lawrence, Inc., notes other factors include a rare blend of quality and diversity among its retail shops and restaurants. “We have some of the top tier retail chains in the country,” she noted. “But we also have a wide array of independently owned retail shops with just amazing offerings.”

Lawrence’s community support is also notable. Although the city’s emphasis on maintaining its core occasionally results in controversy, the result has been one of the most healthy, continuous downtowns in the region.

“Downtown Lawrence has remained viable not just with shops, but accountants and doctors and an entire array of services,” Pennington said. “That’s been somewhat organic, but it’s also because of great stewardship over the years by the city commission.”

Lawrence also boasts numerous 19th century storefronts, and several are being renovated as luxury office suites, upscale condominiums and retail developments—including the historic Eldridge Hotel. New developments include the River Market, recently remodeled for office suites, a restaurant and a health clinic.

While Lawrence has KU, Leaven-worth is impacted by Fort Leavenworth and results such as the unexpected demand for international restaurants and other eclectic offerings.

Wendy Scheidt, executive director of Leavenworth Main Street, noted the latest resurgence is led by homegrown investors, who have rediscovered the historically strong business district. One project, the historic Tire Town building overlooking the Missouri River, is being remodeled for a boutique hotel, apartments and retail space. Another project is in the planning stages at Haymarket Square.

City support includes an upcoming streetscape project that will feature period lighting, street and sidewalk improvements. Nearby, a three-mile stream improvement project included the addition of a trail.

Public events are another ingredient. Leavenworth has found success with everything from an outdoor concert series to a regional Veterans Day parade. Part of the street construction will include a high-tech outdoor sound system to enhance those events.

Good Things, Small packages

Despite all this, the most prevalent model of downtown redevelopment may be historic locations such as Liberty, Parkville, Harrisonville and Paola. While other factors are important, a key foundation for this group is their popularity as daytrip destinations.

Lexington is a good example. Lexington has four districts on the National Register of Historic places and a pre-Civil War courthouse. Beautiful homes sit beside bed and breakfasts on tree-lined streets, some paved with brick.

Lexington is not stuck in the past, however. “We are getting new businesses,” Crume noted. “We now have a bookstore and a coffee bar, which for a town of

4,500 is wonderful. A new antique store and a rare-book store are coming, too.”

Lexington also applies sophisticated savvy. An $80,000 federal grant helped hire a national marketing firm to better communicate the city’s peaceful appeal and rich history. “When you walk around town, it’s just a wonderful experience,” Crume noted. “It’s all right here, and that’s what people are looking for these days.”

Weston is another example, with its historic buildings, diverse shops and restaurants, two wineries and a brewery. Visitors come not only from throughout metropolitan Kansas City, but Iowa and Nebraska.

Weston’s success was built slowly over more than 20 years, relying on word of mouth and cooperation. The results include a business base that continues to grow, with two recently added shops and a statuary store in a former grain elevator. There’s also the nearby Snowcreek Ski resort and a new, hiking/biking trail from Weston Bend State Park.

“We talk a lot about our 100-plus historic buildings, but we have a lot of other things here,” noted Mel Beverlin, chair of the Chamber of Commerce marketing committee. “When you look at it, it’s kind of overwhelming for a town this size.”

Best of Both

Between larger urban centers and small towns, intermediate-sized communities face distinct opportunities and challenges.

Overland Park is a good example. Rene Jinks, director of the Downtown Overland Park Partnership, said her area’s eclectic blend includes a theater, shops, art galleries and even a new, $20 million community center.

“Our variety is one of our strong points,” Jinks said. “It’s a blending that has occurred over decades.”

Residential growth is the latest addition. The new Market Lofts Project will feature ground level retail, second floor office and third floor loft space. Another loft project will be located on Sante Fe.

“There are more and more people who want to live, work and play in the same area,” Jinks explained. “It’s a con- venience that we had forgotten. And it brings a whole new socio-economic level to this area. It is very exciting.”

Once again, city support was crucial. The new community center could have been built “out on the highway” but was instead sited to support downtown. “A lot of historic districts end up being boarded up,” Jinks said. “Often, what they lack is the support of their cities. Without that, we couldn’t do it.”

Shawnee’s experiences also began with strong city support, including a major streetscape project. Other efforts include formation of the Downtown Shaw-nee Partnership and strategies such as neighborhood revitalization areas, subsidized loans and grants for property reinvestment. The result has been $30 million in private investment that includes two new banks, stores and restaurants. A new condominium complex has drawn regional attention.

“The streetscape was one of the first things we did,” noted Paul Chaffee, director of the city’s planning department. “I think that let the businesses know we meant business and I think you can see the results.”

Since 1989, Lee’s Summit has utilized the Main Street program operated by the National Trust, including creation of a common vision developed by city officials, businesses and citizens. “That vision is the key,” explained Jeanine Rann, director of Downtown Lee’s Summit. “In 1989, we had 19 empty store fronts here. Now there’s a waiting list for spaces. Even with our streetscape construction, there are only four vacancies out of 80 buildings and two big projects are under way.”

Rann was among several who noted that regional downtown redevelopment reflects a number of trends. “America has become so homogenized with the malls that people are really seeking unique shopping environments that are really an experience for them. That’s what gives us a competitive edge. That’s what we need to really embrace.”