(front row, l–r)
Rick Usher
City of Kansas City, MissouriJim Martin
Shawnee Economic Development CouncilRich Noll
City of Kansas City, MissouriAnn Smith-Tate
City of IndependenceBrent Miles
City of RiversideGene Thompson
Raymore Economic Development DepartmentRandy Miller
Pleasant Hill Economic Development DepartmentJim Hampton
Clay County Economic Development CouncilTerry Rumery
Rumery & Associates
(Chillicothe and Excelsior Springs)Tom Weigand
Ottawa Area Chamber of CommerceConi Hadden
Historic Downtown LibertyPete Fullerton
Platte County Economic Development Council(back row, l–r)
Jeff Samborski
North Kansas City Office of Economic DevelopmentJane Pennington
Downtown Lawrence, Inc.Mayor David Anderson
City of De SotoMayor Carol Lehman
City of GardnerBecky Boerkircher
St. Joseph Downtown PartnershipMichael Yanez
City of TonganoxieSteve Lambeth
Leavenworth Main StreetP.J. Stephenson
Ottawa Main Street AssociationIndustry Outlook Downtown Economic Development
Despite challenges that make greenfield developers grow pale, downtown growth is flourishing throughout the Kansas City metro area.
That was one conclusion of Ingram's 2007 Economic Development Assembly on Hot Downtowns. While not surprising from a group comprised of city-center advocates, the lively Sept. 6 gathering was equally aware of problems facing both large and small city centers.
One of the oldest challenges is the perception of crime and safety, even in outlying areas such as Lawrence. “Because of a couple of incidents, there is now a perception that it’s not safe,” noted Jane Pennington, director of Downtown Lawrence, Inc. “And there appear to be editorial forces that seem to want to reinforce that, rather than dispel it.”
Most noted aging infrastructure and the cost of improvements. “Funding for projects that we know we need to be successful is a major question,” added Becky Boerkircher, executive director of Downtown St. Joseph.
«September 2007 Edition