Tag: Downtown Wichita revitalization
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Wichita’s Waterwalk failure breeds skepticism
A recent Wichita Eagle editorial starts with this: “Seven years into a project that was supposed to give Wichita a grand gathering place full of shops, restaurants and night spots as well as offices and condos, some City Council members and citizens remain skeptical at best about WaterWalk’s ability to deliver on its big promises.…
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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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Welshimer files for re-election to Sedgwick County Commission
Today, Sedgwick County Commissioner Gwen Welshimer filed for re-election to her position as a member of the commission. Her statement is below. Welshimer, a Democrat, is so far the only candidate in that party. There are three Republicans who have either filed or are considering filing.
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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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Wichita downtown arena parking promises not fulfilled
In 2004, as residents of Sedgwick County were considering whether to vote for a sales tax to fund the downtown Wichita arena (now known as the Intrust Bank Arena and nearly ready to open), people wondered about parking. So on a campaign literature piece, the arena supporters made this claim: “With the proposed garage structures,…
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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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Lutz, Hanson, Fahnestock owe Wichita an apology
In the campaign for the sales tax to build the downtown Wichita arena (Intrust Bank Arena), the idea of hosting NCAA men’s basketball games was promoted as something that would happen if voters approved the arena.
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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’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.…