By Kathy Feist
In 2022, Grandview voters approved a $21 million “Building Up Grandview” to improve various infrastructure projects. Those projects are coming to fruition thanks to the bond and other sources of funding. The revival of this close-knit community has been an exciting process.
In this season of gift giving and appreciation, we sat down with Mayor Leonard Jones to review the numerous projects that are making Grandview an attractive community to live in and visit.
Main Street
Fifteen years ago Grandview renovated most of its Main Street district, leaving the western portion near the train tracks mostly undeveloped. With the passage of the bond, Grandview was able to finish the job. The stretch from 3rd Street to 7th Street received wider sidewalks, angled parking, curbing, landscaping and newly paved streets. The project created a better outdoor dining experience for Dunn Deal BBQ and Simply Grand restaurant. It also sets the stage for the next project.
Construction has already begun on the Main Street Marketplace, which will be an indoor venue for farmers markets, live music and community events.
“We don’t call it a farmers market, because it can be used for many things,” says Mayor Jones.
The structure will have 14 to 16 garage doors, electricity, heating and cooling, restrooms and a kitchenette. The cost is $2.1 million funded by the bond.
This past year also saw the conversion of the former Jackson County Advocate building into a new DMV facility. A brightly colored mural celebrating all things Grandview makes a fun addition to the tone of Main Street. As a result of the DMV moving out of City Hall, the city building underwent a complete remodel for its municipal court, city offices and police department.
Blue Ridge Boulevard
Right now driving down Blue Ridge Boulevard can be a discouraging experience due to unsightly vacant buildings. And like many suburban shopping districts, a lack of sidewalks makes it pedestrian unfriendly.
Over the next few years, the streetscape along Blue Ridge Boulevard will change. Already the first phase, from Grandview’s western border to 3rd Street, is almost finished.
Sidewalks, new curbing, landscaping and repaved streets make the stretch more pedestrian friendly and connected.
The second phase–from 3rd Street to almost Grandview Road–will see a complete change.
“It is the most costly but the most important,” says Mayor Jones. “It’s also the one that took the longest to get approvals.”
The street will be widened to four lanes, including underneath the Canadian Pacific Kansas City railroad trestle.
Currently, pedestrians are forced to walk into the roadway under the bridge. The crumbling concrete trestle will be replaced with a red brick reconstruction. The trestle will include an extra rail for CPKC. Additionally, a new sidewalk will be constructed on the north side of the boulevard and a 10-foot wide trail on the south along with new curbing, landscaping and repaved streets.
The third phase–from Grandview Road to I-49–is still under discussion. Roundabouts may replace stop lights at two locations, including Truman Market Place and near McDonald’s, according to Mayor Jones. A new road is being proposed through the vacant Western Sizzlin property to more easily connect traffic, especially heavier vehicles, to the industrial area on north Grandview Road.
Sidewalks, new curbing, landscaping and street repavement are a certainty.
This entire project is a $24.1 million gift to residents, with funding coming from the federal government, CPKC, the city, grants and private sources.
Outer Roads
It is now easier to travel up and down the outer roads that run parallel to I-49 Highway, thanks to the $15 million I-49 Outer Road Conversion Project that was completed in 2022.
Up until then, commuters could only travel one way on each side of the highway.
“It is one of the best things that we could have done for the businesses there. But more importantly, the residents are happy about that,” says Mayor Jones. “We had residents on the south side that, if they wanted to go south, had to drive all the way north.”
Thanks to the Missouri Department of Transportation, the outer roads have been reconstructed for two-way traffic from 150 Highway to Harry S. Truman Drive.
150 Hwy
City planners have only now begun discussions regarding development along 150 Highway. A study is expected to be completed next year.
“If you think about Grandview, the last true frontier of land that we have available is the 150 Corridor from I-49 all the way to Kelly Road,”That corridor is pretty important. So we’re trying to make sure what we do is going to be long term, lasting and beneficial.”
With some apartment complexes and a smattering of housing development, much of the corridor is vacant ground.
Leading the discussion is a shopping center that would include the city’s second grocery store. Some would like to see the area develop much like Lee’s Summit has along 150 Hwy.
With the expansion of the Kansas City National Security Campus (formerly known as Honeywell) nearby, and its potential 1000 new jobs, development here would greatly benefit Grandview.
In the meantime, Grandview’s Park and Recreation Department completely updated the playground and parking lot at Belvidere Park in the area.
Presidential Trail
Those who like to bike or hike the trails along Longview Lake will have yet another scenic pathway to explore. The Harry S.Truman Presidential Trail, along Harry Truman Drive from Raytown Road to Southview Park, will be converted from a gravel trail to a 10-foot wide concrete path. A Bailey Bridge (formerly the Kenneth Road Bridge) will be installed over an arm of the Longview Lake Greenway adding great visuals to the pathway. ADA-compliant curbing enhances the inclusive experience.
Double A Rating
Grandview is about to distribute brand new signage around the community as well as new art pieces.
“One thing that I’m the most proud of for 2025 is that we got the AA rating from Standard & Poors,” Mayor Jones says. “We had the double A minus for so long. So to get Standard & Poors and others to look at us and say, ‘Hey financially, you guys have sound footing’ and move us up is amazing.”
The result of having a higher rating is lower borrowing costs. And that can mean even more development in Grandview.
“When you look at that for the future, that is awesome,” says the mayor.