Diamonds Direct, a direct diamond importer and leading U.S. independent jewelry retailer, has opened its newest showroom location in Leawood. The opening marks the seventeenth location in the United States and the first location in Kansas. Located at 4500 W 119th Street in the Camelot Court shopping center, Diamonds Direct features a 4,274 square-foot showroom with top-quality jewelry and a …
Leawood Named #1 Best Small City in America
Wallethub, a personal finance website, has named Leawood as the nation’s best small city, up from #3 in 2017. Leawood tops the 2018 list of “Best Small Cities in America” which compared more than 1,200 cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000. Of all the cities included, Leawood had the strongest “affordability” ranking based on median household income, cost of …
Preliminary Plans for the Redevelopment of Ranchmart North Approved
Leawood Planning Commission unanimously voted on Tuesday, October 23, to approve preliminary plans for the redevelopment of the Ranch Mart North shopping center. Renderings and preliminary plan details reveal the project would include a complete replacement of the main building’s facade, a new commercial building, the creation of a pedestrian plaza and the upgrade of the entire site parking lot. The …
Shake Shack plans to open at Town Center
Shake Shack is planning its first location in Kansas at Town Center Plaza in Leawood. On Tuesday night, the Planning Commission approved plans for the demolition of the existing On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina building (which closed in October) and its replacement with two buildings – one which would be a multi-tenant retail building and another that would …
Leawood Amends Ordinances for Online Wholesalers
Expanding on a recent ordinance amendment for truck wholesalers whose transactions do not involve physical delivery of vehicles, the Leawood City Council has expanded the definition of online wholesalers to include any businesses that do not physically have inventory at their location. Previously, wholesalers were only allowed to locate their businesses in business parks in Leawood. In today’s internet-based marketplace, …
Council Approves Final Plan for New Office Building & Apartments at Park Place
Plans are moving forward to construct a new 50,000 square foot office building on the eastern end of the 1.2 million square foot Park Place development, as well as a new 120,000 square foot apartment building with 81 units and a parking garage. A tenant for the 50,000 square foot office building has been secured. Look for an announcement on …
City Council Approves Change to Multi-Family Ordinance
In response to changes in consumer preferences, the Leawood City Council has approved an ordinance change that gives more flexibility to multi-family developers regarding the mix of unit sizes in their project. The new ordinance maintains the current minimum unit size of 750 square feet, but moves the average unit size for at least 80% of the units down from …
Leawood Police Receive AAA Platinum Award
The Leawood Police Department has been recognized with their 5th consecutive AAA Platinum award for their Community Traffic Safety efforts. This is the highest award achievable. The award was presented to Leawood Police Chief, Troy Rettig, by representatives of the Kansas Department of Transportation. Leawood is one of 16 communities in Kansas to receive the Platinum award.
Ongoing Improvements to Mission Road
Over the next four years, Mission Road will undergo many enhancements. Resurfacing will take place between 85th and 95th streets, and sidewalks will be constructed on the Leawood side of Mission. The City of Leawood and the City of Prairie Village are teaming together on these improvements through an Interlocal Agreement with the Board of County Commissions of Johnson County. …
Vituity Opens New System Support Center in Leawood
Vituity, a California-based healthcare delivery company, has leased an 8,600 square feet office space at 2020 W 89th St in Leawood. Previously know as CEP America, the physician-owned company provides services such as healthcare consulting and job placement for physicians. The office will be used as a system support center for Vituity’s nationwide operations. Just over 65 jobs will be …