Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct an error. The city council’s vote was 5-3, including a “yes” vote from Councilmember Tony Gillette.
The Shawnee City Council has approved a loan request for a private retail project in the downtown area.
Located at 5900 Nieman Road, the building is under renovation with plans to lease spaces for retail and other small businesses. The city council on Monday approved a $55,000 grant to help pay for the renovations.
The city council voted 5-3, with Councilmembers Tammy Thomas, Mike Kemmling and Jacklynn Walters in dissent.
The Shawnee Entrepreneurial and Economic Development grant program (often called SEED) is a city-run program that provides one-time payments in the form of forgivable loans to businesses as part of the city’s efforts to encourage expansion of existing businesses and attraction of new employers, according to city documents.
Funding for the economic development incentive program comes from Johnson County landfill impact fees paid to the city.
The privately-funded project needs SEED money for ADA requirements
Operating under the name 5900 Nieman LLC, the property owners, which includes real estate firm owner Sheryl Vickers, purchased the quad-level building for $550,000.
Vickers said her team is renovating the building to eventually house three businesses, including her firm, Select Sites LLC. They are also courting a photography studio and popcorn and ice cream shop.
“We want to attract these small retailers that can’t really afford your typical storefront for $3,000 to $4,000 to $5,000 per month,” she said. “Those small retailers are a little bit different animal, but they add a lot of flavor.”
Vickers is also involved in several other local business projects, including the Merigold project next door.
After purchasing the property with three other people, Vickers said her team needs the $55,000 in SEED grant money to ensure the building complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“We couldn’t get by with two beautiful bathrooms that exist,” she said. “We have to build two new ADA bathrooms, including all of that framing and construction, plumbing, fixtures, plus those ADA ramps and new doors.”
Here are a few other image design renderings of the project.
Some councilmembers oppose use of SEED funds for private use
While Councilmember Kemmling said he was all for business development, he disliked knowing the government had a hand in funding it.
“This is $55,000 that could go back into the general fund and either be part of a future mill levy decrease or another expense that we have at the city level,” he said.
His opinion was in line with Councilmember Thomas, who praised the project, but also voted against the grant approval.
“I support people who are after small business and want to enrich an environment,” Thomas said. “However, I don’t think it’s the place for government to be subsidizing that.”
Other councilmembers want to give businesses a boost
While Councilmember Kurt Knappen complained of “SEED fatigue,” he said the project was impressive enough to get his vote.
“I think last time, I said ‘I think this might be my last time,'” Knappen said. “But that said, I just get so much positive feedback about our downtown. We’ve come so far.”
Councilmember Eric Jenkins agreed, saying that it’s another positive step in a series of forward-thinking moves.
“The developer is taking on the lion’s share of the load here,” Jenkins said. “They’re asking for a leg up, just a little bit of help to get to the ADA requirements and that is the purpose of the SEED grant, and I do favor it.”
Vickers hopes to have the space up and running by spring 2024
The Nieman project is expected to have signed leases from small businesses before the end of October.
“I’ve already started [demolition], so it’s not like it’s going to take a year to build out. We just use some paint, do nice, little bathrooms and build that ADA ramp, and we’re off and running,” she said.
Other Shawnee development news: Major downtown Shawnee redevelopment seeking $1.5M
