A Rising Need for Housing

De Soto developers join efforts to increase options for new workers.

ARTICLE BY Jill Dutton

PHOTOS BY Sarah Reeves

After the July 2022 announcement that Panasonic will build a $4 billion plant in De Soto to make electric vehicle batteries for Tesla, the small city prepared for significant growth that includes about 4,000 new job opportunities.

“The Kansas City region, just as it has over the past century, is cementing its rightful place as a leader where transit innovation is occurring,” said Tim Cowden, president and CEO, Kansas City Area Development Council, in a Panasonic press release at the time. “We are incredibly proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Panasonic as they revolutionize the global transportation industry from the center of the most dynamic economy in the world.”

To accommodate the increase in jobs, the City is responding to a surge in demand for housing with new residential projects across town.

Expanded Opportunities

“Panasonic deeply values the strong relationships we build with the local communities where we live and work,” said Megan Myungwon Lee, chairwoman and CEO, Panasonic Corp. of North America, in the Panasonic press release. “This factory will open new career opportunities for De Soto residents in one of the most exciting industries in our modern economy. We hope it will also serve as a source of inspiration for the community’s young people, who will become the innovators creating a more vibrant and sustainable future, and we are committed to helping them achieve their goals.”

To further those goals in supporting the community, the company has made an initial $25,000 donation to the local school district, USD 232, to support student education.

“The City of De Soto is thrilled to work with Panasonic and welcome them to our amazing community,” said Mayor Rick Walker in the press release. “De Soto has a rich history of supporting critical manufacturing facilities and we have been planning for this growth and the return of advanced manufacturing jobs to this area for years. We’re especially excited for the opportunity to invest in the renewable energy industry and provide strong jobs for generations to come.”

Residential Properties

Sara Ritter, president of the De Soto Chamber of Commerce/ EDC, says that once Panasonic made the announcement, “The main discussion became the fact that we needed housing to accommodate some of the workforce.”

Dustin Baker, a developer with Alcove Development, says Arbor Ridge will fill the need for a variety of housing options, with homes that range from just above $400,000 to slightly below $600,000. With 63 single-family lots, Arbor Ridge is in the third phase of construction and plans to open more phases in the future.

“We’re providing a nice offering of homes with varying price points as well as floor plans. Arbor Ridge is a place for all generations, whether someone is looking to raise a family, wanting a place to retire, or something in-between. Located on the east side of town, there’s easy access to K-10, nice sidewalks, fantastic schools, and a great De Soto community.”

In addition to the housing, Alcove Development plans to proceed with a 7,000 square foot office building that will include an urgent-care center.

Alcove Development is also planning additional housing east of the new Veterinary Clinic.

courtesy Alcove Development

“They’re also looking for other types of medical groups for the area, and (Alcove is) building duplexes that will lead straight straight into De Meadows. So there’s this progression of medical facilities, a veterinary clinic, the duplexes, and then homes that will all serve the area,” Ritter says.

All of these changes bring growth to De Soto as a whole, small businesses included. In addition to the expanded veterinary clinic, Ritter says the new housing also will help small businesses such as grocery stores and restaurants.

“It’s really exciting for us as we watch some of the areas that were closed or not being utilized being resurrected with the new development,” she says.

Ritter says a “top-notch housing planner,” Marty Shukert with RDG Planning Design’s Omaha office, has visited twice, emphasizing three keys to expanding residential areas: housing, affordability, and walkability.

“So those were some of the things we took into consideration,” Ritter says.

While Panasonic’s move to De Soto is “absolutely historically groundbreaking in Kansas,” Ritter says, “we have to remember that there are other opportunities out there too. We can work with our existing businesses to get them connected with Panasonic—then they’ll need employees. It’s a matter of connecting existing businesses with the future businesses and trying to be cohesive and figure out if we have enough housing.

“It’s an exciting time for our community,” she says.

De Soto values

The opening of the Panasonic facility has brought new energy and excitement to De Soto, and the addition of these new residential projects can only increase the city’s appeal. De Soto has always had a strong sense of community and pride, and these new developments are strengthening that bond. With modern amenities, convenient locations, and attractive designs, these new housing developments are sure to become popular choices for existing citizens and for those looking to call De Soto home.

Ritter says it’s important to keep the city’s values, even during growth.

“The growth was coming our way … We could either embrace it and stay ahead of it—and get something we wanted as a result—or let it overtake us. I think it’s our values that will sustain our community, now and into the future.”

For the full Panasonic press release from July 2022, go to https:// na.panasonic.com/us/news/panasonic-energy-breaks-ground-evbattery-factory-kansas

Friendly, People, Neighbors: Surveying De Soto

Growth is ahead for De Soto. With the much anticipated Panasonic plant estimated to open in 2025, De Soto has its eye on building out the community landscape. Toward that end, the City of De Soto has partnered with the survey specialists at ETC Institute to gauge residents’ all around satisfaction with the city and gain a deeper understanding of the community’s priorities. The survey was provided to all De Soto households in the fall of 2022 and received hundreds of responses.

The results are in, and the feedback is positive: De Soto rated significantly above the national average in 23 of the 34 service areas assessed, with an overwhelming 85% of De Soto citizens recommending the city as a terrific place to call home—35% higher than the national average.

In the survey, residents defined “small-town” with the words “friendly,” “people,” and “neighbors,” and expressed their love for the small-town intimacy as one of the highlights of life in De Soto—a sentiment reflecting the profound sense of community that defines the city.

Flying Colors

Citizens gave top marks in the following areas, indicating either “satisfied” or “very satisfied.”

Quality of Life

• Feeling of safety: 86%

• Terrific place to raise children: 86%

• Quality of public schools: 82%

• Quality of life: 80%

City Services

• City employees are always or usually courteous: 89%

• Ease of getting in touch with staff: 85%

• Customer service from employees: 75%

• Quality of services provided: 74%

Talking Shop

De Sotoans voted on the retail shops they’d most like to see touch down in De Soto. (And there’s a dark horse! The most popular write-in was cast for a hardware store.)

• Food services, including restaurants, bars, and specialty grocers

• Health and personal care shops

• Wellness outfitters, including fitness centers, dance and yoga studios, and martial arts gyms

City Priorities

Based on community feedback, the city will focus on refurbishing areas needed for the ongoing progress of the community.

• Planning and community development: anticipating growth and using land strategically

• Wastewater and utilities: upgrading operations and ease of use

• Street maintenance: improving infrastructure for snow removal, cleanliness, and mowing/trimming

• Communication: continuing a transparent and open dialogue between city officials and the community

“I’m encouraged by the overall high level of satisfaction,” says Mike Brungardt, De Soto city administrator. “We know the recent announcement of the Panasonic plant has residents focused on planning and communication. We look forward to using the survey to help us continue to improve service delivery and allocate resources effectively.” The community survey is an important stepping stone that goes hand in hand with the Design De Soto initiative, the city’s strategic development plan. Keep your eyes on the horizon as De Soto blueprints its future.