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A new business park is coming to Independence, part of local leaders’ long-term vision for the development of the Little Blue River Valley.
Plans will be announced at today’s quarterly luncheon of the Independence Council for Economic Development at the Hilton Garden Inn.
The 360-acre Independence Business Park will be at Missouri 78 and Missouri 7, in east Independence across M-7 from the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. It will straddle M-78 and could include industrial, office and even retail space.
Today’s announcement is the result of years of talks involving the city; the Community of Christ, which owns the land; the ICED; and Clayco Inc., the project developer.
“It’s a big day for all of the parties that have visioned this,” said Steve Jones, presiding bishop of the church.
The parties involved stressed that this has been years in the making and will take years to fully develop. So far, no tenants are lined up.
“The real work begins now,” said Tom Lesnak, president of the ICED, adding “Now we can actually put this in front of businesses.”
Clayco executives stressed that this is a public-private partnership and said the city has to continue to play an active role – possibly with city money – though Independence City Manager Robert Heacock said it’s too soon to know if financial involvement will be needed or what that would look like.
The city has a large amount of underground industrial space, most of it along Missouri 291, but hasn’t added above-ground industrial space since the early 1970s when the fairly small – and generally full – industrial spaces near the city’s main power plant on Truman Road were built. Officials have said that’s been a growing need, and it’s something Lesnak has focused on since he took the ICED job three and a half years ago. The city, Lesnak said, needs this “economic development infrastructure.”
“That is,” he said, “what have I got to sell?”
Clayco, based in St. Louis, has development projects around the country, and executives said the company is deepening its commitment to western Missouri. It looks to compete for business across the Kansas City area, and executives said the area has its share of business activity and growth.
“This is going to be as active as the Kansas City region is going to be,” said Tom Schroyer, a principal at Clayco.
Clayco officials said the 1999 opening of the Little Blue Expressway interchange at Interstate 70 and the ongoing extension of the expressway northward through the valley – it’s set to reach U.S. 24 next year – were critical to pushing ahead with the business park plans.
A new business park is coming to Independence, part of local leaders’ long-term vision for the development of the Little Blue River Valley.
Plans will be announced at today’s quarterly luncheon of the Independence Council for Economic Development at the Hilton Garden Inn.
The 360-acre Independence Business Park will be at Missouri 78 and Missouri 7, in east Independence across M-7 from the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. It will straddle M-78 and could include industrial, office and even retail space.
Today’s announcement is the result of years of talks involving the city; the Community of Christ, which owns the land; the ICED; and Clayco Inc., the project developer.
“It’s a big day for all of the parties that have visioned this,” said Steve Jones, presiding bishop of the church.
The parties involved stressed that this has been years in the making and will take years to fully develop. So far, no tenants are lined up.
“The real work begins now,” said Tom Lesnak, president of the ICED, adding “Now we can actually put this in front of businesses.”
Clayco executives stressed that this is a public-private partnership and said the city has to continue to play an active role – possibly with city money – though Independence City Manager Robert Heacock said it’s too soon to know if financial involvement will be needed or what that would look like.
The city has a large amount of underground industrial space, most of it along Missouri 291, but hasn’t added above-ground industrial space since the early 1970s when the fairly small – and generally full – industrial spaces near the city’s main power plant on Truman Road were built. Officials have said that’s been a growing need, and it’s something Lesnak has focused on since he took the ICED job three and a half years ago. The city, Lesnak said, needs this “economic development infrastructure.”
“That is,” he said, “what have I got to sell?”
Clayco, based in St. Louis, has development projects around the country, and executives said the company is deepening its commitment to western Missouri. It looks to compete for business across the Kansas City area, and executives said the area has its share of business activity and growth.
“This is going to be as active as the Kansas City region is going to be,” said Tom Schroyer, a principal at Clayco.
Clayco officials said the 1999 opening of the Little Blue Expressway interchange at Interstate 70 and the ongoing extension of the expressway northward through the valley – it’s set to reach U.S. 24 next year – were critical to pushing ahead with the business park plans.
“Our mission now is a quality development,” said Kirk Warden, also a principal in the company.
Jones said the church went with Clayco for three primary reasons: its strong national reputation, the fact that its vision for developing the valley aligns with the church’s and the company’s commitment to environmentally sound development.
The business park site is not far from the Harmony residential development – now set to get under way next year – where the church also owns the land. The church has about 3,000 acres in the valley – some of which it has held for close to 100 years – and has waited for development to come. One reason for looking for a business park, as Jones described it, was straightforward: With all of the thousands of homes expected to be built at Harmony and elsewhere in the valley in the years to come, where would those people work?
That fits into the city’s overall vision for a mix of industry, commerce and housing in the valley. Heacock points out that the valley lies in the 38 square miles of eastern Independence that remains undeveloped, an area larger than many metro suburbs.
“We’re trying to have quality growth that everyone can be proud of,” Heacock said.
Those involved also said it’s important to recognize that the sour economy has taken its toll and that the business park and Harmony will take 10, 15 or more years to complete.
“These are long build-outs,” Jones said.
And Schroyer, with Clayco, put it this way: “There has to be a patience level here.”
Heacock said the city’s role is to demonstrate that this is a good place to do business.
“Are we willing to be there as partners? Are we willing to be creative?” he said.
Heacock and Lesnak pointed out that the city owns its electric and water utilities, which could be an advantage in attracting certain businesses. Plastics manufacturers, for example, use a lot of electricity. “And that’s a really good fit for our community,” Lesnak said. Another example might be food processors, which typically require large amounts of water, he said.
Some businesses in town are also saying that as they grow they might need new spaces or have to look to move elsewhere, Lesnak said.
Heacock said the city has another advantage in offering a full range of housing options.
“The plan does not call for the whole Little Blue Valley to be cul-de-sacs,” he said. “That would be ill-advised.”
