‘That’s the heart of our city’ — Merriam residents push back against 2 plans that would reshape downtown

A federal plan to reduce flood risk of Turkey Creek in downtown Merriam may require up to a decade of additional planning and construction, as well as the removal of 17 buildings. After four years of design work and $6.5 million, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers revealed 65% of its plans for flood mitigation in downtown Merriam — namely, 740 feet of levee, more than 6,000 feet of floodwall and the replacement of both the Merriam and Johnson Drive bridges. The city of Merriam has yet to sign onto the Corps’ plan, and is simultaneously mulling a flood mitigation plan from a separate, private entity. That private engineering firm’s plan calls for demolishing all of historic downtown between the Johnson Drive and Merriam Drive bridges. Alongside the flood mitigation efforts in downtown Merriam, the city is also in the middle of a downtown master plan to guide future redevelopment in the area.
Read more: Johnson County Post