Overland Park considers incentives for new billion-dollar mega development
The first of many public discussions about a new billion-dollar project in Overland Park will kick off next month.
Global engineering firm Black & Veatch proposed a redevelopment plan for its headquarters and the surrounding area including multiple forms of housing, retail and a park.
The first public hearing — scheduled for July 7 at 7:30 p.m. — will focus on tax incentives and creating a community improvement district for the proposed area, which could add special taxes to pay for special services or upgrades in the district, located off 115th Street and Lamar Avenue.
In addition to building 612,000 square feet of new space for its world headquarters, Black & Veatch wants to build 1,884 new housing units in a mix of apartments, townhomes and condos. The company also plans to add 550,000 square feet of retail space, a 160-room hotel, parking structures for the development and surrounding area, and a new public park in the center of the development.
There would be more than 20 new buildings across the 80-acre site.
As part of its approximately $1.1 billion project, Black & Veatch is requesting $227.7 million in tax increment financing, which would use the increased property tax revenues from redevelopment to help cover its costs, $19.9 million from an added 2% sales tax within the desired community improvement district, and a sales tax exemption on construction materials.
The first hearing will focus only on the requested tax incentives. A redevelopment agreement, which will outline the specific terms and conditions for Black & Veatch, will go through an entirely separate process starting at a later date.
In the brief discussion during Overland Park City Council’s June 2 meeting, Councilmember Melissa Cheatham said she was supportive of the project moving forward but wanted to see “a number of refinements.”
“Some of the things I’m hoping to see are a commitment to sustainability, a discussion about the attainability of the housing that’s proposed, lowering the increment from 100% requested and looking at the financing of the park,” Cheatham said.
Mayor Curt Skoog said that this is “the beginning of a long process with lots of opportunities to discuss specifics.”
Overland Park City Council meetings are held on the first and third Mondays of each month at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall — 8500 Santa Fe Drive. Residents can attend in person or view a live stream of the meeting at www.opkansas.civicweb.net
This story was originally published June 4, 2025 at 6:00 AM.