January 1, 2010 – Economic development director has vision for Raytown
Tom Cole is nothing if not an optimist.
One year ago, he joined the City of Raytown as economic development director with a vision of what the community could become. Despite a difficult economy for development, he believes he is making headway.
“For the past 10 or 15 years, the newer parts of the metro have attracted a lot of interest from developers,” he said. “But we now are at the point in the economy where they are looking for places that have not been oversaturated.
“Raytown is between Kansas City and Lee’s Summit, and we are not overdeveloped. With more than 35,000 to 40,000 cars traveling on Missouri 350 every day, big retailers are starting to notice.”
The Gregory Square project at Missouri 350 and Gregory Boulevard is the farthest along. Christie Development Associates has acquired the site of the former Holiday Motors, which it will demolish to make room for a 17,000-square-foot ALDI food store. Developers also are finalizing negotiations with a national restaurant chain to locate in front of the store along Missouri 350.
“The only step that remains is getting the final plat approved on Dec. 7,” Cole said. “This is a high-profile location and will make the area more attractive for other businesses in the area, such as the Hy-Vee store across the street.”
Block and Co.’s Raytown Crossing East project, at the corner of Missouri 350 and Raytown Road, also is moving through city governing bodies, he said. The first phase will include demolition of a Dodge dealership to make way for a new IHOP restaurant. Future phases include additional retail and restaurant pad sites, and demolition of the former car wash and service station.
Cole is especially pleased about plans by Sutherland Lumber Co. to take over the former Walmart building at 6709 Blue Ridge Blvd.
“Historically, former Walmart buildings have had a tendency to sit vacant for a long time,” he said. “This is a huge project for us. Raytown currently doesn’t have a full-service lumber yard, so this will fill a need in the community. It also will add to our sales tax revenues and help revitalize an important section of town.”
Cole hopes the 90,000-square-foot project also will help spur interest in the former Hy-Vee location next door, which is vacant.
A number of smaller projects also are moving ahead. For example, McDonald’s plans to expand and update its restaurant on Missouri 350, including a facelift of the exterior. Wendy’s also is improving the façade of its location at 63rd Street and Raytown Trafficway.
“These are the types of projects that improve the aesthetics of the city and encourage other owners to also upgrade their businesses,” Cole said.
One of the biggest challenges is redevelopment of the former First Baptist Church site downtown.
“A development team was selected in May,” he said. “The developers are in the process of putting together a business and finance plan, identifying what the total built-out project would cost, securing the funding and seeing what, if any, gaps remain.”
Cole is cautiously upbeat about the coming year.
“I don’t see the national economy turning around anytime soon,” he said, “but I think opportunities still will be there in 2011. With most towns in eastern Jackson County already having all of the amenities they need, developers will take a closer look at Raytown. We have laid a lot of groundwork over the past year, but it still is just the tip of the iceberg.”