North Kansas City Development Initiative
The North Kansas City Development Initiative is a long-standing effort to revitalize and support economic growth within the city, particularly through the One North development project. Initiated several decades ago, this initiative began with the city’s acquisition of approximately 64 acres of land requiring environmental cleanup, followed by nearly $38 million in site infrastructure improvements. The project has since evolved to include a diverse mix of businesses such as retailers, restaurants, hotels, and residential apartments, creating a vibrant community atmosphere. Despite facing challenges like legal disputes and competition from larger grocery chains, the initiative continues to seek innovative solutions, including potential incentives, to attract full-service grocery stores and address the area’s designation as a food desert. With a dedicated focus on community development, infrastructure enhancement, and retail diversification, the initiative aims to foster sustainable growth and improve residents’ quality of life in North Kansas City.
News Summary
Despite efforts lasting over two decades, North Kansas City continues to face challenges in attracting a full-service grocery store. Key issues include legal disputes and failed partnerships, leaving residents reliant on limited options like Save-A-Lot. The city’s demographic growth and investments in infrastructure, particularly around the One North development project, emphasize the need for better grocery options. Faced with competition from major retailers, North Kansas City is exploring incentives to encourage new grocery developers as part of its revitalization efforts.
North Kansas City is facing significant challenges in its long-standing effort to attract a full-service grocery store, a goal that has persisted for over two decades. The city is particularly focused on the area off Armour Road and the junction of Interstates 29 and 35, which is part of the ongoing One North development project. Despite investing in infrastructure improvements and having financial resources set aside, the pursuit of a suitable grocery option has remained elusive.
Key hurdles include various legal disputes and unsuccessful partnerships with developers that have delayed progress. Currently, residents of North Kansas City have access to limited grocery offerings, most notably a Save-A-Lot store that is frequently criticized for its lack of essential features, including a deli and fresh produce options. The arrival of a new Trader Joe’s in northeast Johnson County has underscored the growing demand for better grocery options in North Kansas City and highlighted the disparity in retail offerings.
As of now, the city has approximately $5.2 million in escrow allocated to assist in the establishment of a grocery store. Recently, officials have opened a bid process encouraging new retail development proposals, with a specific focus on fulfilling grocery needs. However, attracting larger grocery operators has become increasingly difficult due to rising competition from established companies like Amazon and Whole Foods, which have raised customer expectations and made traditional grocery operations more challenging. The grocery industry is currently grappling with razor-thin profit margins and disruptions in supply chains, which have made it even harder for new stores to succeed.
North Kansas City’s One North development project dates back several decades, beginning with the city acquiring around 64 acres of land that required environmental cleanup before development could commence. Over the years, North Kansas City has made significant investments, totaling nearly $38 million in site infrastructure improvements. Recent developments on the One North site feature a diverse mix of businesses, including Meierotto Jewelers, various restaurants such as Burger King and Old Chicago, hotels like Element and Aloft, apartments, and a Starbucks, providing a vibrant community atmosphere.
Demographic trends further bolster the city’s case for a full-service grocery store, as the population within a one-mile radius of the proposed grocery site has grown by roughly 20% over the last fifteen years. In addition, a considerable increase of 23,000 people has been observed within a five-mile radius since 2010. Overall, North Kansas City has seen a population spike of more than 26% since 2020, further indicating a need for enhanced retail options.
The absence of a full-service grocery store has resulted in North Kansas City being classified as a food desert, an area lacking access to nutritious food primarily due to low median household income and significant distances residents must navigate to obtain groceries. This designation is supported by criteria established by the Department of Agriculture, which identifies food deserts based on access to supermarkets and prices of nutritious food options.
To attract grocery developers, North Kansas City is contemplating potential incentives, such as tax breaks, which may be extended to other businesses as well. The One North area qualifies for tax incremental financing and a community improvement district, allowing the city to redirect tax revenues to support redevelopment efforts.
With an eye toward revitalization and increased retail development, North Kansas City is actively encouraging businesses to submit proposals by August 4, 2025. As the city navigates its challenges, the hope remains that a sustainable solution for a full-service grocery store will ultimately benefit the community and enhance the quality of life for its residents.
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Additional Resources
- Kansas City Local News
- Wikipedia: Grocery Store
- Fox 4 KC News
- Google Search: Food Desert
- Kansas City Local News
- Google Scholar: Retail Development
- KC Today: Farmers Markets
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Retail
- KCKansan News
- Google News: Grocery Industry
