The entire Kansas City metro area initiated a series of corridor studies and plans intending to improve regional mobility and to enhance the quality of life in those communities impacted by regional highways. Shawnee, KS received a planning grant focusing on the Neiman Road corridor, the historic commercial heart of town wrestling with gradual disinvestment and commercial vacancies. The community sought to restore interest in the corridor, working with local business owners and community members to envision a future for the corridor and adjoining neighborhood that they could fully embrace.
Our team convened an advisory committee and implemented a comprehensive engagement program. Our “storefront studio,” conducted in an active retail space on the corridor, became the focus of the planning effort, with a pair of community workshops, a survey and focus group sessions conducted during the one-week run. The plan’s recommendations built on investments made by the local business community, earned unanimous support from the City Council, won an award from the KS APA chapter, and is being implemented.
Client Reference:
Doug Allmon
Community Development Director
Dates of Involvement: 2013 – 2015
Cost: $75,000
