Category: Wichita city government
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Planning downtown Wichita revitalization: an impossible task?
At tomorrow’s meeting of the Wichita City Council, consideration of a plan for the revitalization of downtown Wichita is on the agenda. Before the city goes down this path, we ought to become aware of some of the difficulties with this type of planning. Randal O’Toole, in his book The Best-Laid Plans: How Government Planning…
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Wichita sales tax likely to be proposed
Two recent events have led me to suspect that as part of the plan for the revitalization of downtown Wichita, we’re going to see a sales tax proposed.
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Goody Clancy proposal for Downtown Wichita revitalization master plan
Last Friday a selection committee selected one company from four finalists to lead the planning effort for the revitalization of downtown Wichita. If some city leaders had their way, citizens of Wichita wouldn’t be able to see this document until after the city council makes a decision to follow — or not — the recommendation…
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Wichita press release mislabels Wichita Downtown Development Corporation
After selecting a firm to assist with the planning for the revitalization of downtown Wichita, the city issued a press release that contains a mischaracterization of a Wichita institution.
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Wichita planning firm hopefuls make pitch
This past Tuesday and Wednesday, the four planning firms that were selected as finalists for the master plan for the revitalization of downtown Wichita made their public presentations.
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DeBoer plan for Wichita downtown redevelopment largely realized
Hundreds of millions have already been spent for downtown redevelopment and what do we have to show for it? In contrast, look at the benign neglect the city has had on the thriving east and west sides of town where projects on Maize and Webb roads have prospered despite heavy property taxes.
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Downtown Wichita presentations: what’s the point?
As part of its effort to revitalize downtown Wichita, the city wants to hire a planning firm. Four firms have been selected as finalists. Tuesday and Wednesday, (September 22 and 23), the firms will make public presentations as part of the selection process. I had through that it would be great if the public would…
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Wichita city council: more travel on tap
At tomorrow’s meeting of the Wichita City Council, approval of more travel is on the agenda.
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Janet Miller’s junket follow-up
At Tuesday’s meeting of the Wichita City Council, I asked a question about council member Janet Miller and her travel and got a bigger response — from the mayor, the Wichita Eagle, and the public — than I expected. Some issues are still unresolved, however.
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Wichita’s redevelopment role model needs scrutiny
On the City of Wichita’s cable channel 7, Kansas City’s Power & Light District is presented as a model for the revitalization of downtown Wichita. Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer sees this district as Wichita’s competition. So yesterday I went to take a look for myself. And I agree with the mayor. It’s a neat place.…
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Wichita City Council, September 15, 2009
On today’s public agenda of the Wichita City Council, I have two things to discuss with the council. One is the city’ refusal to make public proposals submitted by planning firms wishing to be awarded a contract by the city. Background is here: Downtown Wichita proposals not available to citizens. Then, there’s Janet Miller’s junket…
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More Wichita travel on tap
At tomorrow’s meeting of the Wichita City Council, approval of more council member travel is on the agenda.