Developers thinking big with new south Overland Park project

For a decade, Price Brothers Inc. has worked on plans for a massive development in south Overland Park.

The recently unveiled plans for BluHawk are so expansive, it would take 8 to 10 years for the entire mixed-use project to come to fruition.

Proposed or already under development for the 300 acres between 159th and 167th streets, and U.S. 69 and Antioch Road:

▪ 129 single family homes with 10 homes already sold and occupied, and another 45 under construction. Work will start on 52 villas in the fall of 2015.

▪ At least 750,000-square-feet of retail. The developers are in talks with Cosentino’s Market to anchor the first phase with a store that would be 50,000 to 55,000 square feet. Other tenants could include restaurants, a movie theater, a bank and services like a dry cleaners.

▪ Health club of 80,000 to 100,000 square feet.

▪ BluHawk Sports Center with regulation-sized courts for soccer, basketball, volleyball, futsal, lacrosse and other team events.

▪ A tie-in with the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center in Hutchinson, Kan.

“We would view this as a teaser facility that hopefully would get people excited about coming to view the main facility in Hutchinson,” said Jim Remar, president and chief operating officer of Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center.

▪ Shawnee Mission Health - Blue Valley, including 400 beds, a full-service emergency department, imaging, primary care, medical offices and more.

However, Mallory Laur, spokeswoman for Shawnee Mission Health, said it is still working on its plans for the BluHawk development and will have an announcement in 2015. In early 2008, the medical center said it intended to buy 42 acres on the site for a facility that would include 240,000 square feet of medical office space.

▪ A 600-unit luxury apartment community - a combination of town homes and flats.

▪ 40 acres of park land for Frisbee golf and foot golf.

A new full diamond interchange at 159th, just east of Antioch, is under construction, raising interest in the BluHawk project. More than 21,000 vehicles are expected to use the interchange on average daily after its late-2015 opening.

“It’s the last great retail center in Johnson County. We think we have it. It’s a great retail opportunity and these folks are coming,” said Scott Buescher, vice president of development for Price Brothers.

This story was originally published December 2, 2014 at 2:36 PM with the headline "Developers thinking big with new south Overland Park project."