KSHB 41 reporter Olivia Acree covers portions of Johnson County, Kansas. Share your story idea with Olivia.
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Merriam is one step closer to bringing a grocery store to the city.
Monday night, the city council voted to approve a $120 million redevelopment plan.
The plan involves redeveloping the area around Shawnee Mission Parkway and Antioch. A big draw to the project is the promise of a grocery store.
Merriam hasn’t had a grocery store since 2018. While the city hasn’t said what store it will be, residents told KSHB 41's Olivia Acress in May they are just happy to have one back in the city.
“I'm super excited being able to have something in our town and local and closer than driving outside of Merriam,” said Kristin Garcia, Merriam resident.
Angela Bennett is new to Merriam. She is all for a grocery store closer to home.
“I thought it was a great idea because you have to drive so far to go to the nearest grocery store,” Bennett said.
In addition to a 12,500-square-foot grocery store, the Grand Station Marketplace plan includes a restaurant and over 200 apartments.
The city is committing $32 million in bonds and extending the TIF district around I-35 to 2037.
City leaders also started a Community Improvement District (CID) for the development. Purchases made there will have a 1% sales tax, except for groceries.
“It's been important to the council all along that if we were ever to get a grocery store and we were able to have a CID that we don't add sales tax on to the cost of food,” said Chris Engel, Merriam City administrator.
The redevelopment plan states vertical construction can’t start until the grocery tenant is secured.
We’ll update you as soon as we know who will fill the space.
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