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New Town at Liberty is in limbo, at least for now.

Whittaker Builders, who had proposed the new urbanism development several years ago, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in St. Louis. Whittaker also built New Town at St. Charles, which was expected to be a prototype for the 940-acre New Town at Liberty.

The concept involved a variety of housing stock of different prices co-existing in a small-town setting where residents could walk to the grocery store, grow vegetables in a community garden and in some cases live above their businesses in live/work units near a town square.

According to Tim Busse, Whittaker vice president, the company is undergoing reorganization and still hopes to proceed with the development in north Liberty as soon as the economy rebounds.

“We’re talking to the owners of the property, and we’ll know more after our negotiations,” Busse said. “We have a lot invested in Liberty.”

Busse said the existing option on the Hallmark property runs through the end of the year.

Councilman Nick King said he was sorry to hear about the company’s financial woes during this recession.

“What a bummer,” King said. “I guess we’re back to square one.”

King first brought the New Town information to the attention of the Liberty City Council about four years ago.

King said he was attending a homebuilders association meeting in Kansas City where Busse was the speaker.

“I was so enamored with the concept, idea and quality of what they were doing that I brought it to (then) Mayor (Bob) Steinkamp’s attention,” King said.

As a result, a group of city officials and interested residents twice visited New Town at St. Charles, and Greg Whittaker, owner of the company, negotiated with Hallmark Cards to buy the property.

Steinkamp said Whittaker had a nice concept that appeared to meet a market need.

“Whittaker’s product was not overpriced or outlandish. He pegged a market that was the trend.” Steinkamp said. “Five years ago, who would have thought the real estate surge would end against such a thick brick wall?”

Mayor Greg Canuteson said he hoped the project would move forward sometime in the near future when the economy improved.

“Our hope is that Whittaker can work out their debt with creditors and emerge out of this stronger,” Canuteson said.

As envisioned, New Town would have completely surrounded Liberty North High School, now under construction on 84 acres off North Church Road.

Superintendent Mike Brewer said the unfortunate turn of events would not affect the school district’s plans.

Brewer said there had been some talk with Whittaker earlier about possibly building an elementary school on the New Town site.

“If New Town gets delayed, that will give us a little breathing room,” Brewer said.

Liberty Editor Angie Anaya Borgedalen can be reached at 781-4941 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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