A Kansas City developer is asking for STAR Bonds to help bring a major entertainment complex to the east side of Goddard.
Rick Worner is the man behind the Village West development in Kansas City. That development includes the Kansas Speedway, Great Wolf Lodge and Bass Pro Shop.
Plans for Goddard might even include an Olympic Training Center. Worner's attorney, Korb Maxwell, says he has had interest from the U.S. Olympic Committees of several minor sports in a training center here in the midwest. He thinks an empty field in East Goddard, bordering the new Walmart, may have what it takes.
But that's just preliminary. It's not the only idea they have for the proposed entertainment complex. Other ideas include specialty restaurants and entertainment venues that include year round cross country skiing facilities.
"Putting the money influx into our town, so that's wonderful," said Rick Nunnelly, a long time Goddard resident. "Whatever they do is wonderful. Goddard's not that big a town so it's kind of laid around for awhile. So it's now it's time to move. I think they're going to move fast, now."
Before these ideas can go forward the developer wants a STAR Bond to help pay for the project. That means sales taxes from the development would improve things like roads and sewers.
The proposed area is south of Kellogg between 183rd and 199th Streets. Local and state leaders must approve STAR Bonds. That's why projects like this take a long time.
"It's going to take some time," said Goddard mayor Marcey Gregory. "Nothing like this happens overnight. The Walmart that we're getting here in town, my city staff and council and I literally worked on that project for three and a half to four years."
The next step is a public hearing in Goddard on December 17th. Then, they'll have to take the project to the state's Secretary of Commerce for approval. Goddard voters will also have to pass a sales tax hike next spring.
