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Ground was broken on the Panasonic factory site. Front loaders and other construction gear crowd the grounds around the area on March 12. The Panasonic site is in the location of the historic Sunflower Ammunition Plant in De Soto. The official groundbreaking was on Nov. 2 with scheduled opening in March of 2025. The plant is expected to create more than 16,000 jobs. Since the site is miles away from Eudora, city officials are expecting large impacts to housing, education and infrastructure.
Eudora grapples with Panasonic changes, whether they like it or not
As Eudora prepares for massive change accompanied by the Panasonic plant construction and eventual opening of the factory, the community is divided on how to keep the city true to its current state.
Panasonic, a $4 billion battery plant announced last year, is expected to bring 4,000 jobs to the area and another 16,000 construction jobs since its construction won't be complete until spring of 2025. The factory will produce lithium-ion batteries for electric car manufacturers like Tesla.
From a small-town perspective, many community members worry that more people will distract from the quaint small-town vibe.
Eudora is rich in tradition, and hosts many annual events in their downtown. The crowds drawn are small, but show a deep connection to their high school and the overall community. Whether homecoming parades, red carpets, high school events, ribbon cuttings or elementary concerts, community members of all ages show up and express their support for everyone in Eudora.
The city commission has been discussing for over the past year how the city can best capitalize on and accommodate for the growth. There have been several projects in motion, including a STAR Bond district in the south part of town, which would include several retail developments and a sports arena.
Another area of concern for city officials and residents is how to account for adequate housing. There are restrictions where houses can be built based on zoning. In the past, officials have expressed hesitance on creating anything but long-term housing, as they want new residents to invest in the community. As of right now, there has been evident housing construction behind Eudora High School.
The school board decided to move forward with a nearly $40 million bond issue that will go to a community vote on May 16. Many are concerned about how the project will affect their property taxes, but Superintendent Stu Moeckel is sure the bond will not increase the district’s current mill levy. Moeckel is constantly stating the schools are the “lifeblood” of the Eudora community, but many are still not compelled. Many are concerned about making large changes now even if the population growth numbers are still so unknown. The district is conscious about saying the bond is a result of Panasonic’s decision and says that the plans were in mention before news broke of the factory.
Community members have hosted town halls, committee meetings and sent out mailers and various other videos and social media posts. The Eudora Vote Yes committee has organized yard signs and other campaign tackles to get voters to the polls. The group is most worried about voter turnout, and knows this bond may not be the last in their future as Panasonic growth nears.
The site’s groundbreaking was Nov. 2, with Gov. Laura Kelly and Panasonic CEO Kazuo Tadanobu in attendance. Just last week, the first vertical beams were placed at the site. With two more years left of construction, it’s clear the landscape will continue to be greatly altered. However, the biggest change will be what these surrounding communities look like in the coming years. This is a quandary that the City of Eudora will address as they encounter different challenges and possibilities.
The site of the new Panasonic plant sites on the old Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant in De Soto. The plant was used during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War after it was built in 1941. The plant was closed in 1992. Four water towers commemorate the old ammunition plant and are known throughout the area for this reason.
The first vertical beams were placed at the Panasonic plant factory location last week. The plant is expected to be done in the spring of 2025 and will being 4,000 factory jobs. During its construction, it is expected to bring 16,000 various construction jobs. The City of Eudora is still weighing potential options for housing but many worry they are not doing enough to prepare for massive growth.
A new neighborhood is being built directly behind Eudora High School. Many of the new homes still sit empty and construction crews continue to work on new developments as Panasonic growth looms over the city.
The Eudora Schools ‘Vote Yes’ Committee meets for their first meeting to discuss plans to help the school board pass an almost $40 million bond to improve schools. The meeting on March 29 focused on what to call their committee, how to encourage people to vote yes on the bond and other election updates. The committee plans to help distribute mailers, yard signs and social media content to help spread the district’s need for the community to approve the bond. They prioritized a need to push voters to get to the polls even if they think the bond will pass no matter what. Eudora residents will vote on the bond in a May 16 election.
Fifth graders sang, danced and played instruments during their show, Hawaiian Beach Party, on April 27 at the high school. The entire fifth grade class gathered on stage for the event, something that may not be possible in coming years as student populations increase. The show yielded a full-house audience of family members young and old.
Eudora seniors make their prom debut on the red carpet in downtown Eudora on April 1. The carpet is an annual tradition that showcases the quaint small-town focus of the city. Students name are read aloud as they stroll down the carpet with their dates. With Panasonic changes, it is unknown how much growth the school could see. Changes could alter the way district conducts events like prom. Eudora High School is set for some major renovations if the upcoming bond issue passes in May.
KU sophomores Meg Friday and Michael Maldonado wait for the doors to open for Late Night in the Phog at Allen Fieldhouse on Oct. 1, 2021. Late Night in the Phog was hosted by actor Rob Riggle and featured a performance by Run DMC, along with scrimmages from the KU basketball teams. "It's good to finally be back, like getting to actually experience this as a student because I went as a kid," Friday said. "I looked forward to that and now I get to see it."
KU student Sayan Grover, 20, stocks the pantry at the mutual aid community fridge in Lawrence, Sept. 14. The pantry is open 24/7 with free food and other items for anyone to take or leave whenever they can. Grover co-founded the pantry with student activists and Lawrence community members after realizing the need for it. "Since we opened our pantry in March, we’ve spent $16000 on pantry stock-ups, direct food distribution, and community projects," Grover said, "All of this was raised using small-dollar donations from the community, in fact, our most common donation size is $5."
Freshman Kristine Lauritzen uses a ruler to measure a stream table in her Geography 105 lab on Nov. 11. Lauritzen enjoys her 7 person class because of her ability to learn the content and ask questions as they go. "Our GTA Andrew Frederick is a really good teacher, he is patient with us and I've made friends with the people in my class which isn't always possible in college classes," Lauritzen said. "It has actually turned out to be such a fun class with some fun hands-on activities."
Caroline Blu performs at Live Music Tuesday at Bullwinkles Bar on Sept. 7.
Emma Davis and Harrison Stone celebrate Davis' 21st birthday on Nov. 7.
Ryan Dorlac sings and dances during Lawrence band The Whips performance at Bullwinkles Bar on Sept. 7.
Max Indiveri performs with the his KU band The Whips at Live Music Tuesdays at Bullwinkles Bar on Sept. 7
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