There is a 40 percent chance of storms and rain tonight, according to the National Weather Service.
Strong to severe storms are possible, the weather service said. Hail up to quarter-sized and gusty winds will be possible, but probably will not be widespread, according to the weather service.
The Wyandotte County forecast for tonight calls for new rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter-inch, mainly after 7 p.m. The low will be around 73 degrees.
Temperatures will rise for the rest of the week and into the weekend, with highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s Thursday through Saturday, according to the weather service. Storms again are possible early next week, but severe weather is not anticipated.
The high today will be near 86 with south southwest winds of 7 to 14 mph, gusting to 18 mph, the weather service said.
On Thursday, the high will be near 89 with mostly sunny skies and a heat index as high as 97, according to the weather service. A south wind of 8 to 11 mph is expected, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
Thursday night, expect mostly clear skies with a low of 72 and a south wind of 7 to 10 mph, according to the weather service.
Friday, it will be sunny with a high near 88 and a south wind of 7 to 10 mph, according to the weather service.
Friday night, expect mostly clear skies with a low of 70, the weather service said.
Saturday, it will be sunny with a high near 88, the weather service said.
Saturday night, expect mostly clear skies and a low of 68, according to the weather service.
Sunday, it will be mostly sunny with a high near 85, the weather service said.
Sunday night, it will be partly cloudy with a low of 66, according to the weather service.
Monday, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 82, the weather service said.
For more weather information, visits www.weather.gov.
Jon Stephens, right, the UG’s acting economic development director, talked with a resident during Tuesday night’s Indian Springs town hall meeting, held at the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools’ Central Office near 59th and Parallel Parkway. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
by Mary Rupert
About 200 residents participated in a town hall meeting on Indian Springs tonight, sharing their vision for the future of the former mall. They also heard a new unsolicited proposal for Indian Springs from a developer.
During the first part of the town hall meeting, residents met in small groups to talk about their vision for Indian Springs, ranking their priorities for its use.
Among the priorities mentioned by residents: a full-service grocery store, retail stores, cultural center, destination site, mixed-use entertainment, something that would create more jobs, sustainable development, affordable senior housing, multi-use facility, something that addresses food needs and everyday needs, a facility for youth and teens, something that would generate revenue and bring jobs, a health and wellness center, general housing, a unique high-quality development, green space, something with less than 40 percent public money in it, a development attractive to millennials, and a Village East development.
During the second half of the meeting, the residents shared their reactions to a new proposal that would place a grocery store, convenience store, office building, four to six restaurants, a national headquarters, and a solar field-nature trail at the Indian Springs site. There was mixed reaction to it.
The town hall meeting was held at the Central Office of the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools, 2010 N. 59th St.
Mayor Mark Holland told the gathering that he wanted to hear their dreams of what should be at Indian Springs, and what they think about a new proposal.
A flex-tech proposal, with a light industrial building, on the site was rejected this spring after public opposition.
Jon Stephens, the UG’s acting economic development director, told the audience that retail stores in America are currently in the midst of great changes, with thousands closing and others changing. The changes are largely due to the rise of online shopping. Last year, $400 billion was spent nationally on online retail, Stephens said. He said while retail stores are in general declining, new entertainment and restaurant areas are growing, particularly local restaurants.
A developer earlier told the UG that it was difficult to get any retail stores to locate at Indian Springs.
Stephens did not reveal the name of the developer who submitted a preliminary development idea to the UG, nor the total amount that the development would cost. He said it was a Kansas City developer in the food distribution and manufacturing industry.
“They’re interested in working to build the community,” Stephens said.
Stephens said although there is still an active tax-increment financing district at Indian Springs, with several years left, that it wasn’t a factor in moving these projects along. He said each project will be evaluated individually and financing would most likely be redone on a new project.
According to Stephens, the retail square footage in the new proposal ranges from 75,000 to 85,000 square feet. It would be about a third of the size of the former retail shops at Indian Springs. The proposal does not have any big retail stores similar to department stores. Instead, it has food stores.
Officials explained that the solar field and green space was planned on the west side of the 110-acre Indian Springs property. That area is undermined and a former medical building on that site had to be closed after the ground shifted, according to officials.
The audience reaction to the new proposal tonight included comments that they liked green space and job creation, and they wanted more information on the financial aspect of the project; the proposal needs fine tuning to capture their vision; more information was needed, more retail is needed; they are concerned about pollution; one group was split with six for, six against, and four indifferent; another group wanted to know the history of the developer; another group wanted housing and more community inclusion; another group was for it 10 to 4; another group liked the overall concept, was disappointed there was not a tourism aspect, and wanted to know more of the financial plans and if bonds would be used.
Lou Braswell of the Leavenworth Road Association, who was attending the meeting, offered her personal opinion that she disagreed with some residents who thought a grocery store should be at Indian Springs. She said the grocery store should be at 10th and Quindaro, as there is a greater need in that area for one. She thought residents who lived near 47th and State Avenue were probably closer to other grocery stores than residents who lived at 10th and Quindaro.
Joe Vaught, a former city councilmember who had worked on behalf of the former owners of Indian Springs before it was declared blighted and condemned, attended the meeting and participated. He said it was necessary to know how much the new proposal would cost.
“I would support that concept, but what is it going to cost?” Vaught asked.
Indian Springs could be financially successful if it was developed into what he wanted to do with it in the first place – make it into a hub for trucking, he said.
Vaught said although it was said by officials that there was $18 million spent by the UG already on Indian Springs, he believes the figure is probably closer to $25 million when lost sales tax, lost property tax, attorney fees and other expenses are figured in. The project that is selected should generate enough money to cover the costs.
Stephens said the community comments tonight would be valuable input to him, as well as the UG staff and the developer.
Mayor Holland asked the crowd if they were willing to wait five or 10 years for a development at Indian Springs, and most were not – instead, they preferred something in two to three years. He said it would have to be a balance of getting as much as they can of what the community wants in this limited time. He also complimented people for giving an evening of their time to this effort.
The UG staff plans to tabulate tonight’s comments and present the totals at a future date.
Those who did not attend tonight’s meeting may fill out an online survey on Indian Springs at http://www.wycokck.org/Home/News-Slider-Data/Large-Set-One/Indian-Springs-Vision-Survey.aspx. Already, 200 persons have filled out the survey, according to officials.
Residents expressed their opinions on Indian Springs during a town hall meeting Tuesday night in Kansas City, Kansas. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) A new proposal for Indian Springs was shown in this drawing during the town hall meeting Tuesday night. On the left is a solar field, the green rectangle is a national warehouse distribution headquarters, the blue rectangle is an office headquarters, the red area is retail and restaurant, and the beige area is a convenience store. The main retail area is a grocery store, according to officials. (Staff photo) Mayor Mark Holland gave an introduction at the town hall meeting on Indian Springs on Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Jon Stephens, UG acting economic development director, made a presentation about development and Indian Springs at the town hall meeting Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Jon Stephens, acting director of economic development for the UG, presented this slide on trends that affect development. (Staff photo) Small groups met to discuss their priorities at the town hall meeting on Indian Springs Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Small groups met to discuss their priorities at the town hall meeting on Indian Springs Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Small groups met to discuss their priorities at the town hall meeting on Indian Springs Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Small groups met to discuss their priorities at the town hall meeting on Indian Springs Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Small groups met to discuss their priorities at the town hall meeting on Indian Springs Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Small groups met to discuss their priorities at the town hall meeting on Indian Springs Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Small groups met to discuss their priorities at the town hall meeting on Indian Springs Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Small groups met to discuss their priorities at the town hall meeting on Indian Springs Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Small groups met to discuss their priorities at the town hall meeting on Indian Springs Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Small groups met to discuss their priorities at the town hall meeting on Indian Springs Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Small groups met to discuss their priorities at the town hall meeting on Indian Springs Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Small groups met to discuss their priorities at the town hall meeting on Indian Springs Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Small groups met to discuss their priorities at the town hall meeting on Indian Springs Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Small groups met to discuss their priorities at the town hall meeting on Indian Springs Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Joe Vaught, right, a former city councilmember, said he thinks more information is needed about the proposed project’s cost. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Small groups met to discuss their priorities at the town hall meeting on Indian Springs Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Small groups met to discuss their priorities at the town hall meeting on Indian Springs Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Small groups met to discuss their priorities at the town hall meeting on Indian Springs Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Small groups met to discuss their priorities at the town hall meeting on Indian Springs Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Small groups met to discuss their priorities at the town hall meeting on Indian Springs Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Small groups met to discuss their priorities at the town hall meeting on Indian Springs Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Small groups met to discuss their priorities at the town hall meeting on Indian Springs Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Small groups met to discuss their priorities at the town hall meeting on Indian Springs Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Eric Morgenstern of Morning Star Communications was the facilitator of the town hall meeting. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) A resident asked a question about Indian Springs at the town hall meeting Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Small group discussions were part of a town hall meeting on Indian Springs Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Residents discussed future uses for the Indian Springs site during a town hall meeting Tuesday night. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Mother Nature shined on our Leavenworth Road Association parade again this year. She knew we needed rain, so she visited during the sleeping hours with the rain parading out of the area by mid-morning. Happy faces all around us.
The parade participants, either marching Leavenworth Road, watching and cheering on the sidelines, patrolling, traffic control, volunteering, or judging, it all shows a community working together.
Our line-up crew at Washington High School and Sunset Hills Church kept the line in order for the more than 50 entrants.
Washington RORC presented the colors along with Makynzie Sanchez singing the National Anthem. Superintendent Cynthia Lane of the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools was our 2017 parade marshal.
Deniese Davis was not marching in the parade, because she was still working lots of areas, as our parade chairman.
Our judges had a tough job, but did narrow it down to the winners:
Music/Dance/Precision: Kristi’s Academy of Dance
Enthusiasm/Theme: Kansas City Marching Falcons
Riding/Any mode of transportation: KCK Council of PTA
The Judges also thought the KC Gators deserved honorable mention. Our 2017 judges were Kevin Steele, Kristin Love and Russ Love; Russ was also announcer.
All trophies will be awarded at our Oct. 10 meeting at Eisenhower Center, 2901 N. 72nd St. We also begin with a potluck dinner and social hour at 6 p.m. followed by our monthly meeting at 7 p.m. We hope all winners will be there , along with our 2017 judges and all those involved behind the scenes.
Lou Braswell is the executive director of the Leavenworth Road Association.
