Celebrating the Spirit of the Community
It’s a time for celebration in Lee’s Summit, as the City enjoys booming economic development, national recognition and exciting plans for the future. On Sept. 24, Lee’s Summit Mayor Bill Baird delivered the State of the City address. Aptly titled “Celebrating the Spirit of Community,” Mayor Baird celebrated how our community has come together to make Lee’s Summit what it is today and what’s still to come as the City keeps evolving.
Lee’s Summit continues to position itself as a prime destination for development. In the past 12 months, City Council has approved numerous high-profile developments, bringing more than $500 million in construction investments to Lee’s Summit. These developments range from public libraries to luxury apartment complexes. Streets of West Pryor will bring a new grocery store, McKeever’s Market, to the area along with other retail, restaurants and apartments. A new luxury apartment complex in downtown Lee’s Summit will deliver more options for people who want to live closer to our vibrant downtown. And a third Mid-Continent Public Library branch is being built right now near 50 Highway and Blue Parkway. It is expected to be completed by late 2020. These developments will create jobs, attract more people to the City and open opportunities for residents.
The State of the City address also presented the mayor with the opportunity to make a surprise announcement regarding the future of downtown Lee’s Summit. The City recently finalized a deal for the land across from City Hall, where a permanent farmers market and performance venue will be built. This is an announcement many residents have been eagerly anticipating. The conceptual plan features a market pavilion and conservatory, boutique hotel, office space, retail, apartments and an outdoor performance venue. This project will further cement downtown Lee’s Summit as one of the great downtowns in the country.
Lee’s Summit has experienced exponential growth over the past few decades and is taking a strategic approach to future growth. Earlier this year, City Council approved a strategic plan to guide our City moving forward. The strategic plan identified seven critical success factors: strategic economic development; cultural and recreational amenities; strong neighborhoods with housing choice; community engagement; community health and well being; collaborative relations with education partners; and City services and infrastructure. Now that the planning phase is over, it is time for the execution phase. In the coming weeks, City Council is expected to approve seven committees comprised of City staff, councilmembers, community partners and citizens. These committees will be responsible for developing strategies to successfully implement the critical success factor objectives.
While there is much to celebrate about living in Lee’s Summit today, there is still work to be done. Now, more than ever, it is more important for residents to be active participants in the community. As the City works to keep growing, evolving and prospering, the more voices involved in the process, the better the outcome. There are a variety of ways to get involved, from attending City Council meetings to joining a board or commission. The people who live in Lee’s Summit are what make it a truly remarkable place. And it is the voices of those same residents who will help take our community to the next level.