October 21, 2023

The project team led by the City of Lee’s Summit and LANE4 Property Group is pleased to announce a ceremony for the groundbreaking of the Downtown Market Plaza on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 4:30 pm. The ceremony will mark the commencement of construction for the highly anticipated, mixed-use project located in Downtown Lee’s Summit across from City Hall at Third and Green streets.

The first phase of the project is expected to be complete in spring 2025 and includes a four-season Farmer’s Market and Event Space, a covered Outdoor Performance Area, and a Streetscaped Pavilion. Future phases are planned to include a freestanding restaurant/entertainment building, a boutique hotel, and urban apartments.
The project embodies the growth and revitalization Downtown Lee’s Summit has sustained over the past decades and will bring to life the City’s vision of a community-centric gathering place within that area.

“I am thrilled to be breaking ground on the next evolution of our cherished downtown district,” said Mayor Bill Baird. “Building on what is already a strong asset for our City, we have boldly reimagined a local and regional destination that will increase accessibility to arts and culture, spur economic activity and foster community and well-being. The unique programming planned for this space on the community’s stage will offer inspiring experiences in our downtown core that will provide even more opportunities for Lee’s Summit residents and visitors to gather and connect.”

The Downtown Market Plaza centers around a dynamic structure that will serve as the permanent home for Lee’s Summit’s long-running Farmer’s Market. Retractable garage-style doors opening to the Outdoor Performance Area will accommodate the Farmer’s Market and other events’ use of both indoor and outdoor space. When the Farmer’s Market is not in session, the building will serve the community as a unique event space for a variety of gatherings.

“In an already thriving area, the bar has been set high to deliver a project that enhances the downtown experience. We believe our team has created something that accomplishes this and ensures that downtown will remain vibrant for generations to come,” said Weston Buckley, LANE4 Partner.

Adjacent to the Farmer’s Market and Event Space, an Outdoor Performance Area with synthetic turf, overhead canopy structure and a mobile stage will give Downtown Lee’s Summit the ability to host live entertainment and other large events throughout the year. During the week, the City will utilize this space for more intimate events. Programming for the area is anticipated to include exercise classes, family-friendly entertainment, yard games and art exhibitions.

Serving as the gateway to the project, the Streetscaped Pavilion will transform Green Street into a lively interactive pedestrian walkway. This park-like environment will include an art walk featuring work from local artists, an immersive kids’ playground, and open community gathering areas. Like the Outdoor Performance Area, the Pavilion will be programmed with regular community-centric events.

Initial phases of the construction process will focus on relocation and improvement of public utilities, including water, stormwater, and sanitary sewer. Next, demolition and site grading will prepare the site for future phases of public and private development. Vertical improvements will follow soon after.

More information on the Downtown Market Plaza, including an immersive flythrough video, can be found at cityofls.net/downtown-market-plaza.

In addition to the City of Lee’s Summit, project team members for the Downtown Market Plaza project include:
The Downtown Lee’s Summit Community Improvement District
Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street, Inc
LANE4 Property Group; Master Developer
GLMV Architecture; Master Architect
McCownGordon; Construction and Pre-Construction Services
Biederman Redevelopment Ventures; District Manager
Olsson Engineering; Civil Engineering
Olsson Studio; Landscape Architect
Collins | Webb Architecture; Architectural Consultant