KANSAS CITY, Mo. — New construction is set to begin at the Bannister Federal Complex after a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday afternoon.
Redevelopment of the property began in 2018, when crews worked on demolition, groundwork and physical cleanup of contaminated soil for the $200 million project.
“Within days” construction work will begin on industrial warehouse and distribution space, developers said at a Thursday afternoon press conference.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, Senator Roy Blunt, and Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II spoke at the event.
“This project is transforming a historic site into a modernized manufacturing and distribution hub, which will support new permanent jobs and encourage additional economic development in the Kansas City region,” Blunt said later in a news release.
As of Thursday, there were not yet any tenants lined up to occupy the warehouses.
The Bannister complex has been a site of some controversy in Kansas City.
READ | EXCLUSIVE: Work underway to bring new life to old Bannister Federal Complex site
It used to be home to Honeywell Federal Manufacturing and Technologies, where employees made parts for nuclear missiles.
According to 41 Action News investigative reports, hundreds of former employees who worked at the property reported diseases and rare forms of cancer, which may have been a result of the more than 2,400 toxins they were exposed to there.
While many are excited about the economic impact the redevelopment will have on the area (bringing approximately 1,500 permanent jobs), others are concerned the construction is erasing evidence in still-open medical claims cases.
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