FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 28, 2007

Groundbreaking celebrates City's Freight House District project

The City of Kansas City, Mo., Capital Improvements Management Office and the Downtown Council of Kansas City will host a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction on the City's Freight House District infrastructure and streetscape improvement project.

This event will be held March 2 at 4:30 p.m. at the intersection of West 22nd Street and Central Street. Mayor Kay Barnes, other City officials, community leaders and developers will be present to celebrate the commencement of this highly anticipated project. The groundbreaking will be followed by a reception in the club room of the historic Freight House Lofts, 2121 Central St.

The City will begin construction on its Freight House District improvement project by mid-March, after utility relocation for the area is completed by Kansas City Power & Light. The project will affect 22nd Street from Baltimore Avenue to Northwestern Avenue, Central Street and 21st Street. Construction is scheduled to run through March 2008.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Commerce -- Economic Development Administration, City general obligation bonds, and Public Improvements Advisory Committee funds are paying for the $3.5 million project. The project will separate the area's storm and sanitary system, and add larger-capacity water mains to handle the increased residential use and help to mitigate flooding. New curbs, sidewalks and additional street lighting will be installed to enhance vehicle and pedestrian safety. Existing utility poles will be removed and all utilities will be relocated underground.

Street closures will be necessary during construction, but will be staggered to lessen inconvenience to area residents and businesses. The closures primarily will be restricted to 22nd Street, which runs parallel to the Freight House District restaurants, and Central Street, which runs to the west of the Freight House Lofts. A map highlighting these street closures is available at http://www.kcmo.org/cimo.nsf/web/dtconst.

In conjunction with the start of construction, private development continues throughout the Freight House District. Coordination of those projects will occur concurrently with this City project, condominium development and construction for a new private parking garage.

Taliaferro & Browne Inc., a local minority-owned engineering firm, designed the project and Fahey Construction is performing construction services. The City's Capital Improvements Management Office is managing the project.

Media inquiries and other requests for more information should be directed to Marny Burke, communications specialist in the Capital Improvements Management Office, (816) 513-2749.