Category: Wichita city government
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Hawker Beechcraft might not be viable, in Wichita or Louisiana
News reports that the state of Louisiana has lured Wichita-based Hawker Beechcraft to relocate there is being greeted — understandably — with grave concern by Wichitans and Kansans. But Louisiana may be buying — and Wichita possibly losing — a company that isn’t viable, at least in its present form.
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Drury request for more Broadview Hotel subsidy should be rejected
Tomorrow’s meeting of the Wichita City Council features a public hearing on the creation of a Community Improvement District to benefit Drury Southwest, developer of the Broadview Hotel in downtown Wichita.
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Some Goody Clancy Wichita findings not credible
Last week Boston planning firm Goody Clancy presented its master plan for the revitalization of downtown Wichita. As this plan is now part of the political landscape in Wichita, we ought to take a critical look at some of its components.
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Good intentions, and planners, can sap a city’s soul
The following article by Kansas City writer Jack Cashill, courtesy of Ingram’s Magazine, explains some of the problems with city planning of the type Wichita is undertaking at this time.
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Subsidy for Planeview Save-A-Lot grocery store bad for Wichita
I am troubled by what I see the Wichita city government doing to the owners of the Checkers Grocery store located near the Wichita Planeview neighborhood. At the public hearing before the Wichita City Council on September 14th, one of the Checkers owners testified that their grocery business has been serving the people of Planeview…
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For Wichita city hall, ‘stakeholder’ has a narrow meaning
Recently the City of Wichita held a stakeholder meeting regarding Community Improvement Districts and the city’s policies regarding them. While the term “stakeholder” is vague and means different things to different people, you might think that such a gathering might include representatives from the community at large. In an effort to achieve diversity, you know.…
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Photos of Wichita Planeview grocery stores
Supporters of a proposed Save-A-Lot grocery store in Wichita’s Planeview neighborhood claim that there are no grocery stores nearby. Therefore, the city is willing to grant over $800,000 in special tax treatment to this store. This special tax treatment — let’s call it what it is: corporate welfare is not available to the store’s competitors…
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Wichita City Council subsidizes pizza and doughnuts for Planeview
At the September 14th Wichita City Council meeting the public was treated to tales of the helpless nature of Wichita’s Planeview residents. It sounded as if residents are being held in an open-air prison, victims of society, greedy QuikTrip stores, and price-gouging cab companies, unable to obtain the necessities of life without trekking an entire…
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Economic incentives and corporate welfare in Wichita
At a Wichita city council meeting, economic development incentives in the form of property tax abatements are discussed.
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Economic development planning in Wichita on tap
Tuesday’s meeting of the Wichita City Council features four public hearings concerning Community Improvement District. One CID also will have a public hearing on its application for tax increment financing (TIF).
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For downtown Wichita, Mayor Brewer has a vision
In Sunday’s Wichita Eagle, Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer penned a piece that states his belief in the importance of downtown and prepares the people of Wichita for the start of a prescriptive planning process, with accompanying subsidy to politically-favored developers willing to fulfill the plan.
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More intervention for Wichita proposed
Tomorrow the Wichita City Council will consider accepting petitions for the formation of another Community Improvement District. In this case the applicant is the Broadview Hotel in downtown Wichita.