OLATHE, Kan. — Change is on the way in downtown Olathe with several projects in the works that could forever alter the face of the city.
Johnson County, Kansas, is building a new courthouse just to the west of the Olathe City Hall. The building which currently serves as the courthouse will be demolished in 2021.
The county had three plans for the outcome of the current courthouse on which residents could vote. Online voting has ended, but the results have yet to be released.
The City of Olathe is also involved in the process, as the current county courthouse site sits right in the heart of its downtown.
"We would like to see an active community space, something that is engaging, something that can be programmable, where you see events,” said Emily Carrillo, who is senior planner for the City of Olathe.
Meanwhile, the city council just approved a multi-story Milhaus residential apartment complex which will be where the current library sits between Chestnut and Water Streets.
The new library will be built just east of city hall with places for shops and a restaurant inside.
It’s change of which many business owners approve.
"Anything that's going to bring family fun and just some more people down here to walk the streets when there's things to do, I like that,” said Douglas Flick, owner of Parks Street Pastry.
Some people 41 Action News spoke with fear development may change the identity of Olathe. Others embrace it.
"There's not enough activity to keep people in the downtown area outside the government, so anything that would improve that would be a good thing,” said Olathe resident Randy Pickert.
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