The Master Planning process is complete, and the development team is moving toward the City’s Planning Approval process. The team aims for a 2025 grand opening of the Farmer’s Market and Event Space, Outdoor Performance Area and Streetscaped Pavilion. Groundbreaking for these components is scheduled for late 2023. The restaurant, retail, and hotel components are likely to be developed contemporaneously or soon after.
The vacant buildings located on Green Street will be demolished to accommodate the project. Demolition and environmental remediation of these buildings is expected to occur in late fall 2023.
City employees conducted site visits with SCS Engineers and GLMV Architecture to identify items of significance related to the Ice House and to evaluate the practicality of salvaging materials for potential reuse within the project. After extensive evaluations, it was determined that, unfortunately, the majority of the limestone material cannot withstand paint removal and has limited application for exterior site improvements in other areas of the project. A minimal amount of stone and wood materials will be salvaged from the building with the intention of incorporating those materials as part of an interior public art/interpretive display within the Farmer’s Market.
There have been multiple public engagement opportunities and design charrettes dating back to 2013. Stakeholder groups have been involved and will continue to be involved throughout the design process. The project will have several updates at City Council meetings, as well as public hearings before both the Planning Commission and City Council.
As the project moves forward, public input will begin to focus on gathering feedback on programming and public art. The City will notify the public of such engagement opportunities when they become available through social media, email announcements and by posting on this webpage. The Advisory Committee of the Project’s Redevelopment Corporation will coordinate the strategy and process for gathering additional public input.
The overall budget will continue to be refined throughout the design process. McCownGordon Construction has been selected to lead pre-construction services to determine a project budget based on the updated master plan. The project team is currently evaluating the total cost of the public components of the project which includes but is not limited to the Farmer’s Market and Event Space, Outdoor Performance Area, site work, infrastructure and City Hall Plaza redevelopment.
Funding for the project will come from a variety of sources including appropriations, The Downtown Lee's Summit Community Improvement District, MDFB funding from the state of Missouri, contributions from project investors, the potential sale of naming rights, and donations.
Yes. The City’s Cultural Arts Division and Cultural Commission will be responsible for overseeing the integration of 2D and 3D public art into the project design. A public art plan will coincide with project development, ensuring that the project design complements future art installations. The project is anticipated to include a range of public art consisting of murals and both permanent and temporary art. An artist selection committee will be formed in 2023 to draft Calls to Artists and to begin identifying qualified artists and artist concepts.
The project is designed with programming at the forefront. The City has contracted with Biederman Redevelopment Ventures, a leading national expert in placemaking and public space programming, to assist the City and community stakeholders in developing a public facility that is intentionally designed for multi-purpose flexibility. Having a deep understanding of potential programs and operations early in the design process will help ensure the facility can be utilized for a wide variety of activities by a variety of user groups.