So, let’s quickly clear up a few misnomers. No, Costco is not coming to the area as of yet, and it certainly won’t have a joint location with a Sam’s Club slated for the Old Tiffany Springs Road development. But yeah, Sam’s is adding another location in the Northland along with a Menards in that area, and construction should start in the spring. And they’ll be bringing more business and infrastructure changes with them.
Alicia Stephens — executive director of the Platte County Economic Development Council — detailed some of the progress and gave some insight into the near future during a recent Platte City Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Development in the area is no secret, but it’s important to realize how much more change is still left.
Construction could start on the members-only Wal-Mart behemoth soon. The current closest Sam’s is on North Oak Trafficway, a long way to go for many in the area of their bulk purchases — unless, you plan to go on a weekend day and try to collect enough free samples to constitute a meal.
Not that I condone that, nor participated in such action.
Same for the Menards, which in addition to building supplies, home furnishings and home and garden supplies also bizarrely offers its fair share of clothes and snack items. Currently, you have to go to St. Joseph or another surrounding location to experience this unique warehouse-style store. It’s truly a special place, at least in Joetown.
And other pads will be situated near these locations, more development to the Old Tiffany Springs Road that continues to fill out.
Added retail and dining opportunities won’t be the only additions. A new Tiffany Springs overpass bridge — long sought after and always rumored to be coming up soon — will happen, and don’t forget about the renovations to the former Ramada Inn at that intersection with NW Prairie View Road.
The new bridge, slated for completion in 2017, will help accommodate increase traffic and take out the maddening curves that connect Prairie View with the current retail development that includes Target and other stores. No, it won’t have access to I-29, but at this point, any new structure has to be better.
And while the façade of the old Ramada looks much the same, Stephens insists there’s much going on behind the scenes to improve the building’s interior.
You might remember that the owner of the building received a full 10-year tax abatement to renovate the decaying 11-floor building. Meecorp Capital Markets of Fort Lee, N.J., which foreclosed on the property in 2006. The developer also plans to renovate the existing tower and build two more with a total of 275 luxury apartment units planned.
Seven 301, the name given to the project, referring to its address at 7301 NW Tiffany Springs, will be the first high-rise luxury apartments in the Northland.
Renovations are already underway, and the site should grow to include amenities associated with luxury apartments. This should be another welcome change to a site that has become a bit of an eye sore since going out of business.
So keep your eyes open because the developments and changes will start to spring up fast, and the construction will likely cause delays to your travel. Just don’t believe everything you hear about the area.
There’s plenty more of anticipated changes coming, but the truth is usually never quite as exciting as the rumors in Platte County.
Ross Martin is publisher of The Citizen. He may be reached via email at editor@plattecountycitizen.com. Follow him on Twitter: @Citizen_Ross.