Changes are on the way to downtown Merriam.
Last month alone, the Merriam City Council has approved the city’s purchase of another downtown property and the use of federal funding for roadwork on Merriam Drive, which runs through the entire downtown.
The city council is also anticipating an update on the federal government’s design concept for flood mitigation efforts in downtown sometime this spring.
Among all these moving parts, the city wants to plan for downtown’s future with a master plan. The master plan process will include public input to understand what residents and businesses want out of downtown Merriam.
Here’s a look at all the changes coming to downtown Merriam — and what’s still up in the air.
Flood mitigation along Turkey Creek is a top focus
For now, the city of Merriam’s flood mitigation efforts for the downtown area remain in the design phase.
Assistant City Administrator Caitlin Gard told the Post in an email last week that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still working on a design concept for the portion of Turkey Creek that runs along Merriam Drive.
Gard said the city anticipates the Corps to reach 65% completion for these concepts by this spring, at which time the concept will come before the city council.
Simultaneously, the city has entered an agreement with local engineering firm HNTB to come up with additional flood mitigation options for the city to consider.
Early HNTB concepts show the potential to raze all the buildings in the historic part of downtown, between Johnson Drive and 50th Street.
Downtown business owners generally oppose razing the buildings that some of their businesses currently occupy.
Over the years, as the Corps’ design work on the project has continued, the city has paid the Corps for the local match associated with the study.
On Jan. 26, the city council unanimously approved an agreement with Johnson County to receive a $412,500 reimbursement for local match payments the city made in 2025.
This is for a $1.6 million design agreement the city entered with the Corps in 2022, for which there is a 65/35 shared federal and local match, respectively. Of the 35% local match, the county is paying for 75% of that with the city paying for the remaining 25%.
Merriam paid the Corps a total of $550,000 in 2024 and 2025, and 75% of that local match is $412,500.
The city also paused all work on future planning for the site of the now-demolished Irene B. French Community Center until flood mitigation solutions are determined. This property, 5701 Merriam Drive, remains green space for now.
The city is buying up and tearing down properties
For years, the city has purchased various downtown properties along Merriam Drive or adjacent to Merriam Drive in the name of ensuring “the future highest and best use for the community” with these downtown property purchases — and preparing for potential flood mitigation solutions.
The city has spent $3.2 million on downtown property purchases since 2023. Most of these purchased properties have been demolished.
Here is a list of the properties the city has purchased in downtown Merriam since 2023 and their associated payment prices that the city agreed to, per city documents:
- 9224 W. 57th St. for $400,000
- 5713 Kessler Lane for $250,000 (demolished)
- 5015 Merriam Drive for $180,000 (demolished)
- 5005 Merriam Drive for $210,000 (demolished)
- 5017 Merriam Drive for $140,000 (demolished)
- 5726 Merriam Drive for $425,000 (demolished)
- 5718 Merriam Drive for $1 million (demolished)
- 5700 Merriam Drive for $822,360 (demolished)
- 5001 Merriam Drive for $205,000 (demolished)
On Jan. 12, the city council added to the growing list of downtown property purchases by unanimously approving the $150,000 purchase of 5030 Merriam Drive.
The owner of the 1910-built home reached out to the city about buying the property, City Administrator Chris Engel told the city council on Jan. 12. The plan is to demolish this home.
Merriam Drive is getting rebuilt from 55th Street to the north
In 2027, the city plans to completely rehabilitate Merriam Drive from 55th Street north to 50th Terrace.
City staff received a $2.8 million surface transportation block grant, or federal funding, for the project.
On Jan. 12, the city council unanimously approved entering an agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation in order to use those federal funds.
The project calls for the following, according to city documents:
- A 2-inch mill and overlay
- Replacement of curbs, gutters and sidewalks
- Stormwater improvements and pavement markings
- A new 10-foot shared use path on the west side of Merriam Drive
The southern end of this project is near a bridge on Merriam Drive that may need to be demolished and rebuilt at a higher elevation to help with flood mitigation.
This, and the potential need to rebuild the Johnson Drive bridge down the street, is something that the Corps is currently studying.
If the both of these bridges need to be rebuilt for flood mitigation, then all of Merriam Drive may need to be realigned.
A downtown master plan encompasses all moving parts
As the city racked up several moving parts that could change all of downtown, from roadway work and flood mitigation to demolishing buildings, the city decided to seek a professional partner for a downtown master plan.
This master plan intends to help guide the city in shaping the future of its downtown area.
Gard told the Post via email that the city’s downtown master plan is launching this spring.
“This will include extensive community and business engagement, Council work sessions, and a transparent look at the opportunities and constraints (including floodplain issues) that shape this area,” Gard said.
The master plan will focus on the following, according to city documents:
- Establishing an identity for downtown Merriam
- Attracting and retaining businesses for economic development
- Improving multi-modal accessibility, wayfinding and parking
- Visioning future redevelopment and land use
- Enhancing pedestrian safety, public infrastructure and branding
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