Today's Developments in Liberty

Liberty is among the largest suburbs of Kansas City. The city limits of Kansas City touch the western and southern borders of Liberty. Some businesses formerly in Liberty have jumped across I-35 to Kansas City, lured by tax abatements and room for expansion. Liberty is redeveloping the Liberty Triangle, an 88-acre (360,000 m²) parcel bound by I-35 and State Routes 152 and 291. Liberty proposed annexing three unincorporated areas in 2005/2006. The first two went to a vote in 2006 and one was approved. A third area is expected to be put on the ballot in the near future and would more than double the city in size. All three areas would increase out the city boundaries to the school district boundaries.

Future Planned Development

The South Liberty Parkway, a half-finished road bypass of central Liberty, will act as a shortcut between I-35 and 291 Highways. It is expected to open 3600 acres of land to mixed development. A 600,000-square-foot mixed-use retail and residential center is planned on the western end of the area.

New Town at Liberty, a new urbanism development in the early stages of planning, is the largest planned development in the city's history. It is expected to last 10-15 years and cost $2 billion. It will be on over 900 acres of land with 10,000 housing units built.

Shoal Creek Valley in Kansas City is a 1700 acre development. It is a mix of residential and retail plus a 200 acre golf course. The area is almost entirely inside the Liberty School District and is more in the culture and influence of Liberty than of Kansas City.

The planned "Flintlock Flyover" bypass bridge is meant to alleviate traffic over current I-35 intersections. It will connect the Shoal Creek area with the South Liberty Parkway.

A downtown redevelopment plan is in the concept stages.