

CITYCOUNCILSTUDYSESSION



NOVEMBER12,2024
AGENDA
PURPOSE:
Reviewfinalmasterplanandredevelopmentopportunitiestoguidefuturedevelopment.
AGENDA:
ProcessToDate–“Research&Discovery”
DevelopmentStrategy–“UnderpinningsofSuccess”
MasterBusinessPlan
MasterDevelopmentPlan
MasterEconomicPlan
Implementation–NowLet’s“ReshapetheSquare”

PROCESS

March2023|RFP
September2023| ContractApproved
PROJECTTEAM:
•CopakenBrooks
•Olsson/OlssonStudio
•Tressere
•McGownGordon
Cityformed Steering Committee September2023–Fall2024|Master PlanDevelopment
INCLUDES:
•CityCouncil
•CityStaff
•PlanningCommission
•CivicPartners(e.g., IndependenceSquare Association,Chamber ofCommerce,Local BusinessLeaders)

MASTERBUSINESSPLAN

MASTERBUSINESSPLAN
•AWARENESS&OWNERSHIP:
•2017CitizenDowntownRedevelopmentCommitteeacknowledgedthattheSquareDistrictwasunderutilized.
•ElectedOfficialsandStaffknewthatitmusttakecontrolofdevelopmentinordertohaveamoreprosperousfuture
•Needforprofessionalassistanceandguidancetomoveforward
•WHYMASTERDEVELOPER:
•FacilitateandcausechangeininvestmentandeconomicvitalityoftheSquareDistrict
•Communityrecognizedthedepthandrichnessofthe“one-of-a-kindasset”oftheSquareDistrict
•ChangethetrajectoryoftheSquaredistrictleveragingthemovementandreturntoanurbanexperience
•OVERLAYDISTRICTtoFACILIATEDEVELOPMENT:

•Enablenewinvestmentwithrezoningandamoreefficientdevelopmentprocess
•MarketStudyindicatestargetopportunitiesareMultifamilyand/orRetail;Playtoyourstrengths
MASTERDEVELOPMENTPLAN

PROJECTBOUNDARY
•TrumanRoad(north)
•WalnutStreet(south)
•NolandRoad(east)
•PleasantStreet(west)

OVERVIEW
•Downtownhasmanyassetsincluding;
•Historicstorefronts…………Confluenceofthetrails…………..TrumanCourtHouse
•RelocationofCityHallandPoliceHeadquarterscreatesnewlargescaledevelopmentsites
•ItistimetoReimagine,RepurposeandRevivetheHeartoftheIndependenceCommunity




REDEVELOPMENTOPPORTUNITYPLAN
MASTERPLAN

OPPORTUNITIES–COMMERCIALDEVELOPMENT/INVESTMENT
OPPORTUNITIES–GATEWAYS&WAYFINDINGNODES


OPPORTUNITIES–CONNECTIONS&LINKAGE




OPPORTUNITIES–ARTSANDCOMMUNITYAMENITIES




OPPORTUNITIES–ENTERTAINMENT&HOSPITALITY



DEVELOPMENTFOCUSAREAS



FOCUSAREA1–MULTIFAMILY






FOCUSAREA2–INCREASEDCIVICOPPORTUNITIESWITHACOMMUNITYCENTERAND
OPENSPACE




FOCUSAREA3–ENTERTAINMENTANDPARKING


FOCUSAREA4–VARIETYOFRESIDENTIALTYPESANDINFILLDEVELOPMENT






MASTERECONOMICPLAN

MASTERECONOMICPLAN
PRIVATEINVESTMENT:
Withafewexceptions,therehasbeenverylittlenewPrivateInvestment
Privateinvestmentrespondstoincentives
Earlyadopterswillreceivelargeradvantages
PUBLICINVESTMENT:
CommunityCenterfundingthroughGOBondissuance
DevelopmentAgreements–UtilizeStandardEcoDevoTools,including TaxAbatement,TIFFinancing,CommunityImprovementDistricts,TransportationDevelopmentDistricts
INVESTMENTGOALS:

VariousformsofCityinvestmentincludingtheCommunityCenter,LandAcquisition,PublicInfrastructureareallrequired.
PublicInvestmentwillcausePrivateInvestment
IMPLEMENTATION

IMPLEMENTATION……….WHATISREQUIRED……….WHATWEAREASKINGFOR…….
LEADERSHIPFROMELECTEDOFFICIALS:
AdoptthisMasterPlan,AmendOrdinances,CreateOverlayDistrict
Engageinstrategiclandacquisition;Investinutilityinfrastructure
COMMUNITYCENTER(IncludeintheGOBond):
Benefittoallagecohorts…….creatinga“reasonforcomingtotheSquare”
BRANDDEVELOPMENT:
Leveragetherichandstoriedhistorytoexpandawareness;Create“Cool”Factor DEVELOPEROUTREACH:
Solicitinterestfromregionaldevelopmentcommunity

INDEPENDENCEDESERVESBETTER………………….
COMPARABLECOMMUNITIES:
Commonbeliefisthat“Ourcommunitydoesnotdeservethis……….”
20to25Yearsago,bothKCKandLenexawantedmore,andtheywilledittohappen
WHYAREWEHERE:
2017CitizensRedevelopmentCommitteesaidwe’vehadenough,andwewantmore…..
COMMUNITYCENTER:
PeerCity’sacknowledgethatCommunityCenter’sdriveoverallsatisfactionandexternalinvestment CommunityCenterhasamultipliereffect;UrgefundingthroughtheGOBond
NOWISYOURTIME:

You’vedonethehardworkandrealizethatyouwantmore.Nothinghappensunlessyoustart.
Yourplanisaproactive-marketdrivenplanthatallowsyoutobegintochangeyourfuture,RIGHTNOW!!!
THANKYOU



NOVEMBER12,2024