A new proposal for an arts and entertainment complex in Gardner is pushing big plans for a 335-acre space on the north side of I-35 at 175th Street.
Velocity Arts is a mixed-use plan comprised of many pieces, including a 15,000-seat indoor concert venue, a school focused on media production, apartments, a shopping area with restaurants and a grocery store and a hotel with a spa.
Also in the plan is a performing arts center containing a mainstage theater as well as a black box theater for community use.
The busy interchange at I-35 has been on the Kansas Department of Transportation’s radar, potentially for a $25 million overhaul.
Part of the idea of having the school in this complex is to provide real-world learning opportunities for the students via the various entertainment venues.
A press statement from Velocity Arts described the assorted sites pieces in the plan as being interconnected, with the idea that visitors will walk from one feature to another, spending more time there overall.
They’re also intending to include amenities for business meetings and an arena to host esports competitions.
Councilmember Kelly Johnson said she doesn’t know much about the project, because it hasn’t been presented to the Gardner City Council yet, but she has “high hopes” for it and looks forward to hearing more.
“Any development project that is proposed is always intriguing to me, because we’re always looking for ways to make Gardner a better place to live and to ease some of the tax burden on our residents,” Johnson said.
She pointed out the “exciting news” about the project, and pointed out key city meeting dates on her social media for residents to get involved.
The city’s planning commission will hear the plans for rezoning and the preliminary development of the area on Aug. 24, with a plan for the city council to review it Sept. 21.
“We’re looking forward to working with Velocity and seeing how the project will fit in within our community,” said Daneeka Marshall-Oquendo, communications manager for Gardner.
Populous is designing the space. Helming the construction is McCownGordon with civil engineering from Kimley-Horn.
“They submitted an application, so staff is reviewing the planning processes that are related to the zoning and land use,” Marshall-Oquendo said. “It’s in draft form, so there’s potential for revisions and things like that to be made.”
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