MARCH 14, 2012

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II PROJECT DOWNTOWN: BUILDING A DYNAMIC CITY



Victoria Park


The Renfro
Project Budget - N/A
Projected Completion Date - Fall 2012

 

Dr. Robert Eyster and Michael Ramsey are renovating the three-story Renfro, formerly known as the Victoria Park Building, at 612 E. Douglas. With construction underway, the plans include remodeling the building to provide 20 apartments - including five two-story spaces that will double as living spaces and office space with ground-floor commercial along Douglas Ave. Expect more information regarding leasing to be announced soon.





Player Piano Bldg


Player Piano Building
Project Budget - $4 Million
Projected Completion Date - 4th Quarter 2012
 

Old Town developer Dave Burk recently announced plans for a 40-unit apartment project in the Player Piano building in the 700 block of east Douglas. The project introduces six two-bedroom and 34 one-bedroom apartments ranging from 700 - 1,200 square feet in the six-level structure. The 33,000-square-foot building was built in 1901 and has great features such as large wood columns, wood beams and floors with exposed exterior brick walls and 16-foot ceilings on the first and second floors. Contact Marketplace Properties at 316-267-0505 for leasing information.





Commerce Street


Commerce Street Residential Project
Project Budget - $2 Million
Projected Completion Date - 2nd Quarter 2012
 

 

Four new residential units are coming on board in the Commerce Arts District. Chris Stong will introduce four-one bedroom market-rate units at 416 S. Commerce Street. All four units contain attractive features such as exposed wood columns, beams and exterior brick walls with bedroom lofts located above the main living space. The ground floor contains approximately 10,000 sq. ft. commercial space with partial frontage along Commerce Street. Contact 316-204-3407 for leasing information.





Howerton+White


Howerton+White Expansion & Renovation
Project Budget - N/A
Project Completion Date - 2nd Quarter 2012
 

Renovation construction is underway at 520 E. Douglas, home to Howerton+White. The 3,000-foot expansion on the second floor will provide much needed space for staff, which has grown from 4 to 21 employees in just six years. The Classical Revival two-story building was built by the Stites brothers in 1889, just two years after the opening of the Carey House (the Eaton Hotel). The remodeled first and second floors will become a very open, functional space for the agency and will include a new staircase and a 13-foot stainless steel slide to connect the two floors. Howerton+White is a full-service ad agency and can be reached at 316-262-6644 or www.howertonwhite.com





Mr. Diggs


St. Francis Street has two new businesses
 
Mr. Diggs Dwelling & Co.
Opening - March 2012

 

Mr. Digg's Dwelling & Co. is moving into the 5,500 square-foot former warehouse building on the northeast corner of First and St. Francis. The new store plans to sell unique furniture, home d�cor, art and lamps in the new space. Mr. Diggs will be open 9am - 9pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday but only during the third week of every month. The Grand Opening is planned for March 22nd - 24th. 



Bite Me


Bite Me BBQ
Project Budget - $500,000
Project Completion - 2nd Quarter 2012
 

Bite-Me-Bar-B-Q has purchased 130 N. St. Francis and plans to open their restaurant in the second quarter of 2012. This project is part of a number of capital investments underway along the St. Francis Street corridor between 2nd Street and Douglas Avenue.





Eaton Block


Eaton Block sees new retail businesses opening
 
Salon Teased - 509 E. Douglas Ave   316-260-5203
 
Zeni Clothing - 515 E. Douglas Ave   316-201-1909
 
Core Strength Pilates & Gyrotonics - 515 E. Douglas Ave   316-201-1909
 
Zeni's Inner Radience (Infared Sauna Therapy) - 515 E. Douglas Ave   316-201-1909
 
3D Photography Studio - 511 E. Douglas
 
McCracken Guitars - 110 S. Emporia
 
RJ's House of Fades - 106 S. Emporia 




Downtown YMCA


Downtown YMCA - Construction Progress
Project Budget - $23 Million
Project Completion Date - 4th Quarter 2012 

 

The Wichita YMCA continues construction on their new Downtown, 110,000-square-foot facility. The new facility will house the organization's corporate offices as well as a new state-of-the-art work out and activity center. The project will occupy nearly three-quarters of a city block adjacent to City Hall and the Sedgwick County Courthouse. The new facility is expected to serve 30,000 people in the Downtown area. The YMCA serves more than 250,000 kids and adults in the Greater Wichita area. Contact the Greater Wichita YMCA at 316-264-9374 for membership information.





Waltzing Fountains 2


WaterWalk Activity
 
Waltzing Waters taking shape at WaterWalk
Project Budget - $1.8 Million
Project Completion Date - Summer 2012

 

Construction has begun on the new Waltzing Waters fountain project. Scheduled for completion this summer, this new attraction will feature spectacular water, light and musical productions which promises to be a new destination for Wichitans and visitors in our Downtown.

 

WaterWalk Place Ground Floor Retail

 

Fabulous Salon & Gifts - 515 S. Main Ste 112   316-262-5545



Gander Mountain Academy


WaterWalk's Gander Mountain Expansion

 

Gander Mountain recently completed an expansion and store remodel. The expansion incorporates a new academy and the store's remodel includes new signage, better site lines and a better flow to the store giving guests a better overall shopping experience. For more information, contact Gander Mountain at 316-303-9333 or www.gandermountain.com





Design & Innovation Center


WDDC Design & Innovation Center
 
Weststar - statement
Westar Energy has committed $10,000 toward the formation of the Westar Energy Downtown Development Internship Program the the WDDC's Design & Innovation Center.


The WDDC's Design & Innovation Center offers a number of development resources. The following is a brief listing:

 

Project Downtown, the Master Plan for Wichita

 

Developer's Guide - provides the latest list in development projects, market demand opportunities, available commercial, residential and retail properties, etc.

 

Aerial photography at 1'' = 200' for assistance with proposed developments

 

Marketing brochures to assist in business recruitment

 

Working studio space to assist the private and public sectors in project development

 

Staff available for presentations on the development of Downtown

 

Makes available the continued resource of the Goody Clancy Master Plan team

 

For more information visit www.downtownwichita.org or come by our office at 507 E. Douglas Avenue.

 


See a full list of under construction, completed, and proposed projects.

II DOWNTOWN SPOTLIGHT

 

Save the Date 

April 17, 2012

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Wichita Boathouse

515 S. Wichita St.

 

Peter Kageyama

 

Key Speaker - Peter Kageyama

 

Peter Kageyama is an internationally recognized expert on community development and grassroots engagement. He is the author of For the Love of Cities which explores in detail the value of emotional engagement with our cities, how that connection is created and nurtured, and how it can be turned into a development resource for places.  

 

His book, For the Love of Cities, was recently recognized by Planetizen as a Top 10 Book for 2012 in urban planning, design and development.  

 

Author Peter Kageyama looks at what makes cities lovable, what motivates citizens to do extraordinary things for their places. Peter will speak about how we can turn peoples' emotional engagement with their place into tangible action and use that excitement and energy as a much needed community development resource. 

 

Live. Work. Play.
Live. Work. Play. "For the Love of Anchorage" Timelapse.mov

 

Workshop description

 

FREE Community Workshop - "For the Love of Wichita"

 

This half day workshop explores how people connect with in their own community, how to improve and maximize that connection and lead more people towards being "in love" with their place.

 

The workshop identifies key community assets including the emotionally engaged citizens that shape the city and develops strategies and tactics to engage these local development resources. We emphasize locally based solutions that do not require significant resources and can be quickly implemented.

 

Elements Include:

* Overview of Lovable Cities

* Map of what you love about your city - "Wall of Love"

* Messages and marks - designing the city's t-shirt

* Love Notes - samples of what people love from around the world

* Empathy mapping of key demographics such as young professionals, kids and retirees

* Brainstorming the "$500 Dollar" project

* Voting and ranking of the best ideas for next steps

 

Who Should Attend:

* Elected officials

* Planners and City Managers

* Municipal workers and department leaders

* Arts and Cultural leaders

* Entrepreneurs and business leaders

* Not for profit leaders

* Education leaders

* Young professionals

* Student leaders

* Neighborhood Association leaders

* Concerned citizens who want to share their ideas on the community

 

A save the date will be going out later this week.


Downtown Clean Up Day
 
April 14
Clean Up Day 2012 gray background
Help cleanup our Downtown Saturday, April 14th. Meet at 8:30am at the Wichita Chamber. 
 
Projects include sweeping, painting curbs and streets and general cleanup. All supplies will be provided.
 

The day's activities will wrap up at noon with a complimentary lunch. RSVP to [email protected]

 

WDDC 10 year logo
WDDC 10 year logo_gray background

 

The Wichita Downtown Development Corporation is proud to announce 10 great years in Downtown Wichita. In celebration we have created a 10 year logo that we will use for the remainder of 2012.


II        507 E DOUGLAS        II        316.264.6005        II        www.downtownwichita.org       II