Three years after Panasonic announced plans to build a $4 billion plant near De Soto, the city has seen major changes in the opening of new businesses and other development.
De Soto Mayor Rick Walker shared updates on economic development projects and infrastructure improvements during his State of the City address Wednesday night.
Walker said there’s a feeling in De Soto that things are happening, especially with all the new activities and businesses in the last year. This includes a pilates studio, restaurants, a Montessori school, a nail salon, an urgent care center and a dental office, he said.
“More than just amenities, they’re a sign of growing confidence in DeSoto as a place to invest and without that new development, well, we wouldn’t have the new restaurants, and we wouldn’t be able to bring the Friday nights to life with a weekly music and market series downtown,” he said.
Panasonic has made that market series possible as it agreed to sponsor the Rhythm and Roots market series, he said.
Walker also said that without that development, the city wouldn’t have been able to lower property taxes. This year, for the first time in the city’s history, they were able to reduce property taxes by about one-third, he said. That decrease saved about $200 per home when property tax values rose by about 7%. De Soto is the only city in Johnson County that accomplished that, he said.
Panasonic plans to have a grand opening event July 14, three years to the day of its announcement that it would be coming to town, he said.
Walker also referenced the $895 investment from Merck Animal Health coming to town, as well.
Investments like these are also helping local businesses and increasing retail sales in town. In 2022, De Soto’s average retail sales hovered around $7.8 million per month, which increased to an average of $18.4 million monthly in 2024. It’s averaging around $19.6 million per month in 2025, he said.
The lasting benefits of the development mean not just bringing new people here, but making life better for the existing community members, he said.
De Soto is able to spend $1 million more on street maintenance this year than last year. That includes money for sidewalk upgrades,
Downtown De Soto is also getting a revitalization due to a capital improvement plan to refresh the streetscape, he said.
The city has upgraded its water treatment facility and added a new water tower, which will increase capacity from 200 million gallons to 800 million gallons. It was a $54 million project that would normally be dependent on taxpayer money, but was funded by Panasonic, Walker said.
The sewer treatment facility has been improved, too, due to $83 million from Panasonic.
The city has also completed work on 103rd Street from Evening Star Road to the K-10 interchange. The road was made into four lanes with sidewalks and a bike path.
A new fire station for the Northwest Consolidated Fire District will replace the 80-year-old building they are in. It will be a 20,000 square foot building that reflects growth and evolving needs of first responders.
“It features private bunk rooms, decontamination areas, improved ventilation and fitness and training spaces, all designed to support the health and well-being of our firefighters. It also includes our district’s first ever aerial fire truck and adds seven new full-time firefighter positions, expanding our ability to serve the community with faster, more capable response,” Walker said.
The project will cost $19 million, but will have no effect on local property taxes. It includes a $1.8 million aerial truck fully funded by Panasonic.
Walker said the city has four ongoing housing developments under construction, and what excites him is the variety of options being built. In total, more than 1,500 new housing units are coming to De Soto, he said.
In partnership with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, the city has also expanded law enforcement services, he said.
The contract provides 24/7 patrol coverage and a deputy assigned specifically to De Soto. A deputy was added during peak hours, bringing another 40 hours of coverage time when it’s needed most, he said.
This is also fully funded through Panasonic, which contributes $100,000 annually toward policing and road maintenance.
Johnson County Parks and Rec is soon adding 2,000 acres of new park land in De Soto. It will make Kill Creek Park the largest park in Johnson County, he said. The city has also prioritized other parks and rec activities, like the new disc golf course.
De Soto is working on next steps for a new community center to come to the area. After completing a resident survey, they found there is strong interest in a facility with amenities like an indoor court, sports, fitness areas, child care facilities, walking tracks and aquatic spaces. The city is now exploring funding options for the project.
City Hall, originally built in 1918 as a schoolhouse, is also receiving necessary renovations, he said.
Johnson County Transportation is also helping the city reconnect key arterial roads that were previously blocked off by the Sunflower Army Ammunition plant.
“The plan is evaluating how to reestablish important east/west and north/south corridors between De Soto, Eudora, Olathe, Gardner and the surrounding areas, while ensuring Astra Enterprise Park and the developments are seamlessly integrated into the county’s broader mobility network,” Walker said.
