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 Though not as widely reported as Downtown Kansas City’s rebirth or Johnson County’s continued expansion, Clay County’s commercial and industrial development has attained a remarkably robust level. With approximately $1.8 billion in new businesses and expansion of existing firms during 2005, Clay County is achieving a level of growth long anticipated for this area that boasts prime locations near downtown Kansas City or linked by one of the area’s best transportation networks.  This easy access and national as well as regional centrality, has been a factor in several of these success stories. The 2005 announcement of a $45 million distribution hub by Musician’s Friend is one of the most recent. This 702,000 square foot distribution center followed earlier developments such as a FedEx distribution center and a Cerner Corporation data center. Another impact on commercial real estate was Clay County’s thriving medical organizations. North Kansas City Hospital recently completed a $137 million expansion while a new Liberty Hospital Medical Plaza represented a $25 million project. Other expansions occurred at Excelsior Springs Medical Center and the Children’s Mercy Hospital Northland. The newest health care addition was a new, 35-bed hospital approved early in 2006. Planned by a partnership composed of North Kansas City Hospital and Liberty Hospital, the proposal still faced some legal hurdles but if successful would build a $16.7 million, 50-bed facility on Highway 169 near 68th Street. Throughout most of its commercial development, Clay County reflected continuation of the geographic and market diversity that has served it well. North Kansas City’s large Paseo Industrial District continued to see new businesses, and a major leap was under way to attract high-tech interest with an $11-million fiber optic data system. In areas of Liberty and Kansas City North, the highly visible retail development along I-35 was also accompanied by significant office and especially light industrial development. Future development for both office and industrial development will likely follow Clay County’s several major highways that still offer undeveloped land. The Highway 69 corridor between Liberty and Excelsior Springs also holds the Clay County Regional Airport. |
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