OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — The company behind a giant development in southern Overland Park, Kansas, received approvals from the city council Monday night allowing it to continue moving forward with plans for an arena and multi-sport center.
BluHawk plans to build the arena and complex near an existing shopping mall with restaurants and a grocery store along 159th Street at 69 Highway.
Monday, city council members agreed to a payment plan for taxes the developer will pay on the arena. BluHawk negotiated paying just over $8 million in property taxes for the arena over its first ten years of existence.
Council members also raised the amount of money BluHawk can raise with a 1% sales tax on items sold in a transportation development district. The developer can now collect $51,450,000 as opposed to $32,000,000.
And the city modified an application for a STAR Bond from the Kansas Department of Commerce. The amendment eliminates a satellite location of Hutchinson’s Cosmosphere museum as part of the BluHawk development.
STAR Bonds are reserved for tourism-generating projects. The Department of Commerce previously gave preliminary approval to the BluHawk plan. It is now conducting a feasibility study before deciding to grant final approval.
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