the dawn of a new era

Shown

“Just as Astra was an important employment center for thousands of families in its previous life, we believe it will be even more significant in the decades ahead,” said Chuck Hunter, principal Kessinger Hunter.

This 9,000 acres of land has heavily influenced the area since it was first developed in 1942. “Over its extensive history, Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant has impacted the area like waves, with each peak production period bringing a swelling of the population.”

With over 12,000 people employed in 1945, during World War II, “housing, schools and traffic were filled and overflowing Highway 10, the main street, which is 83rd Street, was a ‘snarled mess.’ In later years, employment was over 5,000 people when the Korean War began in 1950. The plant ceased production in 1992.*

The Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd plans to have 4,000 employees at their electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing facilities, which will be hired in increments at the renamed Astra Enterprise Park.

Shown above, top: Sunflower Water Towers, photo by Tonya Wycoff Dye. “I grew up in town and love those towers,” Tonya shares. “My grandfather worked at the plant for 40 years.” The towers hold much significance for many. “The towers are located on the Panasonic property. At the current time there are no decisions that have been made–if they will remain or be torn down,” commented John DeHardt, managing principal, Kessinger Hunter.

In our current era, with modernized means of technology and business support, there is an immense amount of strategic planning already in place. These include studies, design and construction timelines, with a commitment to responsible growth. Though daunting in scope with the amount of development ahead, it is the dawn of a new era that will make new history for De Soto.

–comments by Rose M. Burgweger, editor/publisher

* Previously published in Discovering De Soto Fall 2017 “World’s largest Ammunition Plant comes to De Soto: with exerpts from “De Soto is 160 Years Old” De Soto Historic Society, and The De Soto Explorer “Children of the BOOM” by Elvyn j. Jones December 17, 2009 and “An ordnance plant, a book” January 4, 2010.

9,035 total acres Astra Enterprise Park

309 acres Panasonic 700 acres for public benefit

2,000 acres parklands

Flint Commerce Center 370-acre industrial park

Flint Development is the managing developer of Flint Commerce Center. They facilitate managing the whole design and construction process–working with engineers, architects, contractors and municipalities.

Future development in remaining acres: state-of-the art manufacturing, industrial and energy production.

Flint Commerce Center is located in the area shown at left, at Edgerton Road and 103rd Street, in De Soto.

Find more information about De Soto’s major developments online: Astra Enterprise Park, 9,000-acre project https://www.astraenterprisepark.com download brochure

Panasonic’s 309-acre EV battery facility https://na.panasonic.com/us/panasonic-energy#

Kessinger Hunter & Company, LC Kansas City, Missouri https://kessingerhunter.com

Flint Commerce Center, 370 acre project Flint Development Prairie Village, Kansas https://www.flintdevelopment.com/under-construction

The Economic Development Council (EDC), part of the De Soto Chamber of Commerce, was instrumental in finding “the right developer with a vision for the property and the capacity to match what was envisioned,” as stated in Expanding De Soto, “Looking to the Future,” 2022-2023. The De Soto Chamber of Commerce & De Soto Economical Developmental Council’s annual publication can be viewed in its entirety online: https://issuu.com/sunflower_publishing/docs/ desoto_22-23_spreads

De Soto finds itself in the beginning stages of several ongoing construction projects that will contribute to the town’s expanding growth. This includes road improvements, future developments of Astra Enterprise Park and Flint Commerce, and currently, the new construction of the Clearview substation by Evergy, which is located near Sunflower Road and West 95th Street.

A substation is, in simple terms, an electric distribution facility. Electrical power is sent over transmission lines from the power plant at a high voltage. When that power arrives at a substation, it’s lowered to a safe and usable voltage that can be sent through distribution lines to be used in homes, offices, schools and everything in between. In De Soto, it will help support electric distribution power to the City and the surrounding area. It will also serve as a subtransmission emergency power source for the future Panasonic electric vehicle (EV) battery plant.

The construction of the new substation will allow for the removal of an aging substation on the north side of De Soto that is nearing the end of its useful life, according to Kaley Bohlen, communications manager at Evergy.

“Clearview substation will enhance electric reliability and support growth in De Soto, as well as strengthen the regional power grid,” she writes via email. “The infrastructure will be stronger, more efficient and will incorporate technology that can help reduce power outages, both in frequency and length. Clearview substation also has space available to add additional electrical capacity for future needs of the community.” Sourced from 115 kV transmission voltage, Clearview substation adds 12 kV distribution capacity and 34.5 kV subtransmission capacity, with space within the substation for future additional distribution and subtransmission capacity as needed, Kaley adds.

“Evergy works with cities, states and economic developers to identify sites for future economic development,” says Jason Klindt, senior director of external affairs at Evergy. “We’re also part of the team that helps make a pitch. Project developers always want to know things like the timeline and ultimately, pricing.” The Evergy team played a major role in helping Kansas land the Panasonic project. “We spent a lot of hours working to assess Panasonic’s needs and how we might be able to meet them,” Jason adds.

In 2020, the Kansas Legislature authorized economic development rates (EDRs), which allow for a discount for projects if it meets certain criteria, according to Jason. Because of this, Kansas has seen a jump in economic development and activity with many clients and companies interested in moving to the Sunflower State. “These two years have been unlike anything in economic development,” says Jason. “It’s been a challenge to keep up with the number and size of projects that are looking to be here in Kansas.”

For De Soto residents, this means new equipment in the area and increased reliability as Evergy’s work progresses to provide dependable utilities to Panasonic and surrounding areas throughout the next two years.

“I expect that this won’t be the only thing that comes to De Soto,” says Jason. “I suspect that De Soto and the surrounding areas are going to see more residential growth. But I bet we will also see Panasonic suppliers that will want to locate here in the area. It could be in that same general area or even more in the Johnson County areas, depending on what type of supplier they are, and what’s available.”

The construction of the Clearview substation began in January and is scheduled to be in service by this summer. –interview with Jason Klindt, senior director of external affairs and Kaley Bohlen, communications manager, Evergy written by Katherine Diaz, contributing writer https://www.kansascommerce.gov/panasonic

View “Kansas Commerce + Panasonic” on this informative website from the Kansas Department of Commerce. Learn about The Project through videos and links, along with current press releases.

The brand new, state-of-the-art infrastructure is designed to support large-scale enterprises with energy from renewable sources. Astra will be well suited to produce energy from sustainable and renewable sources, including solar forms, hydrogen conversion technologies and others.

–Astra Enterprise Park Overview R11 / page 12