By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com
For the first time in a number of years, there's positive economic development news surrounding the Indian Springs Shopping Mall location.
Ground was broken Wednesday morning on the new Midtown Transit Center at 47th and State Avenue.
The $4.5 million transit center is a partnership between the Unified Government and the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority.
It will serve the increasing need of public transportation, county officials said Wednesday.
Along with serving transportation needs, the 11,000 square-foot-center will also be the home of the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department's Midtown Patrol and the Area Agency on Aging offices.
The center, which plans to be operational by late 2013, will be the home of eight transit buses.
Unified Government Mayor/CEO called the groundbreaking another example of economic activity in Wyandotte County.
"We're moving our vision into a reality," Reardon said Wednesday. "Our transit system is being put to use."
As part of the move, the Unified Government will be moving its Indian Springs offices to 4953 State Avenue. That location will also host the Neighborhood Resource Center.
The Midtown Metro Center, along with a new Downtown Transit Center located at 7th and Minnesota Avenue, will combine to provide a new 14-mile transit route that will begin at 10th and Main in Kansas City, Mo., and end at Village West.
As for the mall itself, the demolition is expected to come in February 2013.
