Tom Valenti, the developer of the Gateway project, spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony as Mission Mayor Laura McConwell, Mission Councilor Dave Shepard and County Commission Chair Ed Eilert listened.
The impact of the Mission Gateway development will be deeper than just a place to shop. It also will bring 1,500 jobs to northeast Johnson County, Chamber President Deb Settle said Monday.
Settle was one in the line of speakers at the official groundbreaking ceremony for the project Monday afternoon along Roeland Drive. Settle said those employees will not only be shopping here, but they will be living in northeast Johnson County and sending their children to school here.
The ceremonial shovel turn included a long line of government officials and project managers.
Mission Mayor Laura McConwell noted that the long delayed development will have both more retail than the mall that was formerly on the site, but also will bring new residential choices to the city with its 300 apartments. Mission Councilor Dave Shepard paid tribute to the persistence the long journey to groundbreaking took on the part of the developer and the city.
The groundbreaking was attended by dozens of city and county officials from the area as well as members of the development team and the construction team. Commissioner Ed Peterson said the development made a statement about the viability of the small communities in northeast Johnson County and their ability to solve their own problems. County Commission chair Ed Eilert also spoke about the collaboration with the city on the project.
Bulldozers have been working at the site in recent weeks and foundation work is expected to start later this year.