The Gardner Rotary Club hosted a panel of city leaders Thursday, September 15 to hear plans for the city’s downtown corridor. The panel consisted of Mayor Todd Winters, Dave Knopick, community development director, Jason Leib, Gardner Chamber President, and local business owners Stacey and Sam Boyajian.

Steve Hines, rotary club president, led the panel through a series of questions starting with how they felt about downtown in its current condition.

The common theme from everyone was “potential”.

Leib said he was still getting to know the community, but his involvement as co-owner of Transport Brewery in Shawnee allowed him to see similarities in the two cities’ downtowns. “I see the same experiences,” he said. “I see the same challenges of open store fronts. I don’t see the dirth of activity.”

Leib said the key was economic revitalization and the types of businesses and events to keep the community feel. Winters said they are starting to see a lot of potential.

“When the recession hit it went downhill but it is starting to grow again,”he said. Winters said there are challenges with the Highway going through downtown, but the city has a downtown destination plan, and he thinks they are on the right track.

Stacey Boyajian said she had been a part of downtown since 1997 and seen the potential all along. “It’s getting the momentum behind it to see something happen,”she said. “It is vital. When downtown thrives the community thrives as well.” Sam Boyajian said downtown has lacked for years in destination spots and they need more than one or two spots. “It’s a good thing we are moving that direction,” he said. “Having a half a dozen spots should be the goal. It makes for a good, tight knit downtown.”

Knopick said he believed the city was truly at a decision point. “It’s time for the community to make a decision that they are in or out,”he said. “We need to discuss as a community—partnership. People who have skin in the game. Are we ready to invest and move forward with it.” Sam said he found it disheartening that some people had to have it explained to them why downtown was different than the rest of the community.

“Downtown is the face of the community,”he said. “If you don’t see that as an elected official you’re missing the boat.”

Knopick said it takes community commitment and he agreed downtown is the heart and soul of a community.

“The concern is so much growth,”he said. “It’s disconnected. How do we create connection? Get people engaged,”he said.

Hines said how does the Kansas Department of Transportation formalize processes on community involvement and is there still a plan.

Winters said they had had lots of meetings initially.

“We need to do more community involvement,”he said.

Knopick said there was high growth from 2018 to 2020 and it was starting to pick up again after two slowed years from the Covid-19 Pandemic.

“It’s about balancing new growth plans and infrastructure needs,”he said. Hines said other places had created places to live in their downtown and where did the city see that for them. Knopick said mixed use new development and recognition of historic qualities would be important for downtown.

“Increasing density is critical while respecting the downtown core,”he said. “It’s a unique balance.”

The panel answered questions from rotary club members. They were asked what was the city willing to set aside to invest in downtown and their priorities. Winters said nothing had been set aside and there were costs associated with each project that the governing body decides on. Knopick said the the plan identifies the costs with projects they decide to be engaged in. “We have to be opportunistic with partnering with the right people— who invest and bring the right resources,”he said. “It has to be a partnership effort from public and corporate money. Partner with those who bring things to the table.” Leib said in Shawnee Transport Brewery was the first destination spot in Spring 2018.

“Things moved pretty quickly,”he said. “In a little less than four years downtown Shawnee has had a complete transformation.”

Leib said the Chamber and Economic Development had been very involved and there was a lot of extra effort. Sam said Gardner had lost a lot of retail downtown in the past 25 years.

Stacy said it had gone from a shopping area to hodge podge and they would like to see more cohesiveness.

Knopick said there are good individual bones in downtown and individual pieces were coming along. Stacey said the Chamber was vital but businesses have to have incentive.

Hines said he had a personal desire to to have murals similar to other towns to give downtown personality. Jason Camis, former Chamber President, said they had to have financial commitment and a strategic timeline.

“Private businesses have to know you’re investing in the community,”he said. “What about incentivizing private? An overlay district that allows a blank canvas that knocks out rules and regulations. A downtown overlay district that took piece by piece.”

Knopick said the real key is emotional investment.

“It sounds esoteric,”he said. “You have to own the downtown. When you own it you care about it.”

Knopick said they do have planned districts and lots of flexibility. “It depends on the demeanor and attitudes. It’s an interesting dilemma,”he said. “The biggest threat is indifference.”

Keith Davenport , who is running for Representative of District 43, said every city has its own personality and who really takes the lead. “We need certain businesses to come to downtown,”he said. “Who is deciding who comes and is getting them here.”

Knopick said so many of the leaders are new and it’s a reliance of the city and chamber working together.

Camis said the problem has been being reactive instead of proactive.

“I think there is to a of potential,”he said. “Why Transport here? We approached them before they opened in Shawnee. if figured out as a community— need to go out and seek what we want. We tried bringing a bakery/ restaurant. If we get more of it we will have more of it.”

Hines said he thinks they are at the tipping point for downtown.

Knopick said momentum was building and used downtown Overland Park’s Farmer’s Market as an example for the revitalization of their downtown.

“It sat stagnant for a long time,”he said. “It took 20 years to get where they are. It needs to be on the hearts and minds of every person. The evolution of downtown is constant. “