The City of Wichita reconstructed St. Francis Street from Douglas Avenue to 2nd Street. This streetscape transformation converted the existing one-way configuration to two-way and also provides angled parking. In addition to improved infrastructure, the streetscape improvements added amenities such as street trees, new lighting, benches and decorative pavers. The revitalized streetscape will provide an important pedestrian connection between the INTRUST Bank Arena and Old Town. 

The new streetscape complements new, as well as existing retail, restaurants, service industries and interactive public spaces. 

Existing businesses include: 

Contract Furnishings - 114 N. St. Francis - (316) 267-5763

Grace Wu Kung Fu School - 122 1/2 N. St. Francis - (316) 264-9640

Tracy's Automotive - 529 E. First - (316) 558-3880

IPortrait Studio - 221 N. St. Francis - (316) 461-1194

Coleman Factory Outlet - 235 N. St. Francis St. - (316) 264-0836

New businesses along the corridor include the following:

The Wichita YMCA is constructing a new Downtown location consisting of 110,000 square feet. The facility will house the system's corporate offices as well as a new state of the art work-out and activity facility. The project is developing approximately three-fourths of a city block adjacent to City Hall and the Federal and Sedgwick County Courthouses. The new facility is expected to serve 30,000 people throughout the area. There are more than 103,000 residents within a three-mile radius of the new Downtown YMCA location. Wichita's Greater YMCA serves more than 250,000 kids and adults. The project will open in December of this year. Website

Open Door has consolidated many of its services at it's new location at 402 E. 2nd St. The United Methodist's new center houses the former Drop-In-Center and Klothes Kloset and serves a large portion of Wichita's citizens in need. Website

The Catholic Diocese is restoring the historic St. Mary's Cathedral located at Broadway and Central. The renovations include restoring the 105 foot dome and incorporating additional lighting to highlight its architectural details. All buildings on the campus will be connected by a new covered structure, which will serve as a new gathering space. The renovations and construction will be completed by the end of 2012 to celebrate the Cathedral's 100-year anniversary. Website

Mark Friday, June 29th, 2012 on your calendar as the official opening celebration of the St. Francis Street corridor. Starting at 4:30 p.m. there will be a plethora of fun activities happening in conjunction with Final Friday. The Mayor and Vice Mayor will make special remarks at 5:00 p.m., Centennial Plaza and Rotary Time Tower, 2nd and St. Francis. Come check out the new businesses along St. Francis including Bite Me BBQ,  Mr. Diggs Dwelling & Co. and Cassandra Bryan Design in addition to visiting your existing favorites. More details will follow.

Westar Energy committed $10,000 toward the formation of the Westar Energy Downtown Development Internship program at the WDDC's Design & Innovation Center. The Design & Innovation Center provides key resources in the development of Downtown Wichita.  

Westar's generous contribution matches grant funds received from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation allocated to engaging architecture, landscape architecture and community planning students in the Downtown planning and implementation process.

Through this partnership, the WDDC has recently hired Aaron Johnson as our full-time summer intern. Aaron is in his fifth year at Kansas State University and just returned from a semester study abroad program in Italy. Aaron will be a tremendous asset to our team. He not only brings a fresh perspective and new ideas, but will also be able to graphically illustrate the concepts discussed in the Design & Innovation Center.

Project Downtown, through implementation strategies, is providing the framework to develop a nationally recognized Downtown and region. Over $60 million of development was completed in 2011. Over $94 million in development is currently in progress and over $20 million in development is initiating in 2012. View the full 2011 Project Downtown Annual Report

Downtown Wichita is making headlines. Below are some recent mentions in the press and ways in which Downtown is moving forward. 

Wichita Eagle

"City's heart is beating"

"Millions of dollars invested in downtown, City Council hears"

Wichita Business Journal

"More than $170 million in Wichita downtown development projects"

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