By Maria Carter
Kansas City, MO – The Olathe City Council will hear public testimony tonight on plans to bring several museums to the area by Bass Pro Shops. KCUR's Maria Carter reports.
- - - - -
The proposal would bring three museums to a retail area near the newly opened Bass Pro Shops in Olathe. Two of the museums would be extensions of the University of Kansas' Spencer Arts Museum and Natural History Museum. The developer is hoping the museums will create a regional attraction and qualify for STAR bonds, which divert sales tax revenue to pay for construction costs. Olathe Spokesman Tim Danneberg says the museums could be a major draw.
Tim Danneberg: "With a destination type of component, obviously with bass pro and potentially with museums, ideally you'll be attracting visitors from many miles away to come into Johnson County, to come into even the Kansas City metropolitan area. "
Danneberg says the Olathe City Council will need to formally approve a STAR bond district and then take the proposal to the Kansas Commerce Department.