Renovation of a mixed-use development in Blue Springs, Missouri. Working plans call for the renovation of a municipal facility, religious / funeral development and retail development.

This project involves city-owned property known as the Railside Area, part of the Blue Springs Downtown Master Plan. The site is bounded by railroad tracks to the east, Main Street to the south, 15th Street to the west, and Vesper Street to the north, with 14th Street bisecting the site. There are twelve city-owned county parcels, which include five buildings for potential adaptive reuse, seven vacant lots, and right-of-way space for parking, circulation, curbs, and sidewalks. The City intends to engage the community to determine consensus on potential tenants for the assembly and commercial spaces. The project area is approximately 3.63 acres, excluding the right-of-way. The Blue Springs community envisions a vibrant, mixed-use downtown that serves as the social and economic heart of the city. The vision has been shaped through years of community dialogue, including Downtown Blue Springs initiatives, multiple citizen-driven visioning efforts, and collaboration with community partners, such as the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce. Recent successful projects have built strong redevelopment momentum, and this project will play a key role in advancing and realizing the long-term vision for downtown. The site is located at 204 NW 15th Street and was purchased by the City of Blue Springs in early 2025. The property and buildings on adjacent lots had been utilized for several assembly, commercial, and residential purposes. Since the City's purchase, the residential buildings have been demolished at the City's expense in the third quarter of 2025. The five remaining buildings may be evaluated for adaptive reuse or demolition to support new infill development, with associated parking lots to be improved for better circulation and state of repair upon selection of a developer. The current zoning of the property is T-4, "General Urban", under the Downtown Development Code (DDC). While the T-4 supports a broad range of housing types and represents a predominantly residential context, the City's preference is to see this site evolve into a distinct destination that contributes to a vibrant, 24-hour downtown with a mix of land uses. To achieve this vision, rezoning will likely be required to provide the flexibility necessary for development that may incorporate retail, restaurant, office, business services, and/or entertainment uses within the central business district, but also serve as a transition to the adjacent residential historic district. The T-5, "Urban Center", zoning designation within the DDC may be an appropriate designation for the property, as it supports a denser, mixed-use environment typically located near the core of a pedestrian corridor. The site's prominence and its potential to accommodate multiple integrated uses makes T-5 a strong candidate. However, the City remains open to innovative and creative development proposals that reinforce the site as a downtown destination. As such, the property may be considered for Planned Development (PD) zoning to allow for unique design approaches and development elements not otherwise achievable under straight zoning. The City will not consider industrial uses on this site. Any applications for rezoning, whether T-5 or PD, shall be initiated by the Developer in coordination with City staff and in support of a finalized development agreement under the direction of the City Council. Final day to submit questions: February 17, 2026