Jean Othic of the Warrensburg Area Development Corporation discusses the potential for industrial development at CMSU’s Max B. Swisher Skyhaven Airport in Johnson County, MO.
The East
Due east of Gardner back across the state line sits Belton, the portal from Jackson County into Cass County. "There used to be a standing joke," said Art Ruiz of the Belton Corporation for Economic Development. "An Arkansas divorce and a Belton tornado had some-thing in common--someone was sure to lose a trailer." But times have changed in Belton. Much of that change has been triggered by the development of the Richards Gebaur Air Force base into a large and sophisticated intermodal facility. Although in Kansas City, the new facility surrounds Belton on three sides and is actively being used as a marketing tool. The city's future will be greatly enhanced if the east-west traffic can be improved both through the city itself and over to U.S. Highway 69 in Kansas.
Further east, past the city of Lee's Summit, one comes to Johnson County, Missouri, ours being America's only metro to have two cities of the same name and two counties as well. "There is a lot going on in Johnson County," said Jean Othic. As the population growth in Lee's Summit moves outwards, there has been much more interest in commercial development, especially since the county has worked to develop large parcels of land with excellent warehouse opportunities close to the highways.
With a university in Warrensburg, CMSU, one of the few universities to own its own airport, there is work underway to create an industrial park next to it. Othic is also confident that the ongoing base realignment and closure act will create an opportunity for White-man Air Force base to add missions.
Pete Fullerton of Platte County EDC (left). Art Ruiz of the Belton Corp. for Economic Development recruits a good laugh from Jeff Samborski of North Kansas City Office of ED.
Closer to the center, in Indep-endence, the Bass Pro project has energized the city. But as Bruce Hahl noted, "It's a little different than you think." As part of the project there will be a 14-acre lake, half of which will be a preservation area and stream way. What will also have a "profound impact" on the city is the building of a new HCA hospital in the eastern part of the city and the closing of two hospitals in the western part of Indep-endence. Some of the TIF money will be set aside to redevelop the older hospitals to make them receptive to new health care-oriented tenants.
The Center City
As Greg Baker noted, everyone is aware of the extraordinary development in the greater downtown area. With a couple billion dollars worth of projects underway--including a new IRS center, a new Federal Reserve Bank, a new H&R Block headquarters, a new entertainment district, and a new arena--it is hard not to notice. So Baker focused on the city's strengthened relationship with Clay and Platte Counties, in each of which lie major portions of Kansas City. He also emphasized the need for the collective entity to make this progress known beyond the borders of the greater Kansas City area.