Kansas Governor Laura Kelly joined Curtin Property Co., Johnson County government officials and business leaders today to break ground on Aug. 29 for the $2-billion Meridian mixed-use project. The development will feature 4.8-million sq-ft of office capacity; urban living spaces with 2,000 apartments, two hotels; and retail, restaurant and entertainment venues. The 200-acre property will focus on health and wellness, including more than 100 acres of usable green space featuring fountains, recreational golf, fitness facilities, walking paths, connections to hiking and biking trails and forested and open lawns. The first development phase includes infrastructure work, two mixed-use residential/retail buildings, a grocery store, retail and restaurants and usable green space.
Meridian is anticipated to accommodate more than 16,000 jobs in the office and retail spaces., according to the press release. An article in the Shawnee Mission Post said Phase 1 of the project is expected to wrap up by 2025 and include more than 300 apartments and nearly 13,000 sq f of retail. The development is the second largest construction job currently underway in Kansas, Panasonic’s EV battery plant being built in De Soto, KS, is valued at $4 billion.