A developer’s vision for the future of one of Westwood’s most-watched properties still has a ways to go.
Mission Woods-based Karbank Real Estate Company in March proposed a redevelopment project for two adjacent properties — one, the site of the former Westwood Christian Church at 5050 Rainbow Blvd., and the other, the old Westwood View Elementary building at 2511 W. 50th Street.
Following the Shawnee Mission School District’s sale of the school building to the city, Westwood this week laid out a timeline for the project and when residents could expect to see action on the prominent development.
The project envisions a park and offices
- Karbank wants to bring a 3.5-acre public park to the old school site, which totals 4.5 acres.
- The office part of Karbank’s concept would sit on the old church property on Rainbow Boulevard, and total 120,000 square feet in four separate buildings.
- There are no plans for residential units to be part of the redevelopment, and Karbank is not seeking tax incentives for the project.
SMSD sold the school building to the city
- Shawnee Mission last week agreed to sell the old Westwood View Elementary building to Westwood for $2.65 million.
- Currently, students from Rushton Elementary are using that building as a temporary school while their new school is under construction.
- As part of the agreement signed with the district, Westwood will lease back the building to SMSD for $1 annually through July 2024, about a month before the Rushton Elementary rebuild is supposed to be completed.
The city council will discuss the project June 8
- In Wednesday’s edition of The Westwood Buzz, the city newsletter, Westwood officials outlined a number of actions that need to be taken before the development comes to fruition.
- First, the city council on June 8 will consider the terms of a development agreement with Karbank, a city property sale contract of Dennis Park and a city property purchase agreement.
- The city would then need to consider a resolution of intent to establish a tax increment financing district.
- A public listening workshop would then be scheduled, followed by a public hearing to establish a tax increment financing district.
More steps will have to happen after that
- The next step is for the planning commission to review the development plans, materials and the request for rezoning at a public hearing to send the city council a recommendation.
- The city council, at a future meeting, would also need to consider a resolution of intent to establish tax increment financing — which would ultimately require a public hearing to be approved.
- Mayor David Waters previously said in an email that the city may seek tax increment financing for public infrastructure such as the park, but TIF dollars for public benefit would not go toward the proposed office buildings or to Karbank.
- The city council would then need to vote to approve a final development plan.
- The final step, as outlined by the city, is to begin the process of planning the new public park.
Go deeper: Westwood lays out 4 scenarios for future of former Westwood View, church site and city hall
