Table of Contents
PROJECT DOWNTOWN IN 2013
Project Downtown on gray

Project Downtown: The Master Plan for Wichita continues to serve as an effective blueprint in the revitalization of Downtown Wichita.

 

2013 was filled with many important milestones in the progress of our Downtown. A selection of these include:

 

Union Station acquisition

 

The River Vista Development team selected for City's Catalyst Site One. The ground breaking for the mixed-use residential development will take place later this year.

 

WDDC received a grant from the Kansas Health Foundation for participation in inaugural Urban Sustainability Accelerator Program (USA) through Portland State University

 

Inaugural Downtown Economic Report

 

Kansas Leadership Center at Block One completed

 

Continued educational engagement in the WDDC Design & Innovation Center through K-State Design Studio and Portland State University

 

WDDC received Westar grant to continue Design Internship Program

 

Conversion of William Street initiated

 

Bids initiated for Phase One Douglas Ave streetscape and transit improvements

 

WDDC received Knight Grant for Douglas Ave Underpass project 

 

Commercial and residential tenants began moving into The LUX

 

Century II Convention Study by CS&L

 

Century II Performing Arts Study by AMS Planning & Research and Fisher Dachs Associates initiated

 

Populous/ GLMV/ Sasaki retained to develop design options for Century II Convention Center & Performing Arts Complex

 

Over 100 volunteers at Downtown Clean Up

 

Block One projects completed and celebrated with ribbon cutting ceremony

 

Two new ground up residential projects, Corner 365 and VALUE PLACE Apartments, initiate construction

 

Approximately 200 residential units currently under construction and 400 are scheduled to commence in 2014

 

A net gain of approximately 20 new businesses opened in Downtown

 

High Touch Technologies purchases Downtown building

 

City of Wichita acquires Macy's Garage

 

Sunflower Development announces plan for Market & Main residential project

 

Hyatt Regency Wichita initiates $7.5 Million in renovations

 

INTRUST Bank Arena completes Guitar Bar and Thunder Team Store

 

Phase One renovations at Courtyard by Marriott completed

 

KE Miller Engineering completes interior and exterior office renovations

 

The Arnold Group completes exterior facade improvements and interior renovations

WICHITA BUSINESS JOURNAL'S 2013 NEWSMAKERS

The WDDC would like to congratulate all of the Wichita Business Journal's 2013 Newsmakers. Thank you for your leadership in developing an economically vibrant Wichita.

 

These individuals will be honored at The Wichita Business Journal's 2013 Newsmakers Event on January 30. 

RACE FOR THE CURE MOVES DOWNTOWN


As part of their 25th anniversary in 2014, the Kansas Affiliate of Susan G. Komen � will be moving their Race for the Cure to Downtown Wichita. The Race will be on Saturday, September 27, 2014. The Race will start and end at Waterwalk at 515 S. Main. The Race for the Cure will be partnering with the Wichita Wagonmasters Downtown Chili Cookoff which will be held on the same day along with other community events and Downtown businesses.
CANDELA AT THE LUX


Candela at The LUX, an event venue space, is the newest feature of the redevelopment project, The LUX. This space is capable of hosting up to 280 people for meetings, conferences, reunions, benefits and parties. 

Built in 1954, The LUX, located at First and Market, has unique features and mid-century modern architecture. The facility speaks to a time when design and function were celebrated. As a result, Candela embodies style and class. Visit the Candela at The LUX website to book your event today!

Knight Grant Awarded to WDDC
Revitalizing the Douglas Avenue Underpass

The WDDC was recently awarded $75,000 from the Knight Foundation through the Wichita Community Foundation in order to derive design concepts that will revitalize the historic Douglas Avenue underpass from its current status into an inviting Downtown gateway. This grant has allowed the WDDC to hire LawKingdon Architecture to lead the design team to help in the first phase of the project. 

 

The overall "vision" is to transform the underpass from the eyesore and barrier that it is in its current state, to an inviting gateway into our Downtown that not only serves as a landmark of distinction but also a public space for the community to engage and interact through technology, social media and the arts. Public input meetings will be held throughout the process. The first meeting is Thursday, February 13, 5:30 - 7:00pm at the WDDC Design & Innovation Center (505 E. Douglas Ave). 

Visioning and Planning the Future

In October 2013, Go Wichita released the first phase findings from a study to assess Wichita's convention market from Convention Sports & Leisure; this assessment showed potential for convention growth. Addressing the convention facility needs could generate an additional $30 million in economic output annually. The companion market assessment for performing arts and entertainment is currently underway by AMS Planning & Research and Fisher Dachs AssociatesIt is funded through a partnership between the Arts Council, Go Wichita Convention & Visitors Bureau, Music Theatre of Wichita and the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and should be completed by early March. The design team of Populous, GLMV and Sasaki Associates will lead a discussion on planning and design options for the future of Wichita's convention and performing arts facilities. The next public meeting will be in February.

High Touch Acquires Downtown Building

High Touch Technologies recently purchased the building that houses their Corporate Headquarters at 110 S. Main. High Touch, an employee-owned company that offers IT and technology-related services, offices 126 employees in Downtown Wichita. The company also has offices in Dallas, Denver, Corpus Christi and Kansas City. High Touch President Wayne Chambers said the employee-owners of the business opted to buy the building because they like being Downtown and the building gives them room to grow. It is anticipated that in 2014, High Touch will spend approximately $1 Million in building improvements.

Development Site Sells

Sedgwick County recently sold a 1.37 acre parcel at the northeast corner of Second and St. Francis Streets to Old Town developer, Dave Burk. The site is located directly adjacent to Old Town and Burk noted that he sees this site as an extension of that neighborhood. Burk envisions a mixed-use development and hopes to announce his plans later this year. This site has the potential to be another exciting addition along the recently revitalized St. Francis Street corridor and will serve as another great addition to Old Town.

Macy's Garage Acquired by City

The City of Wichita recently took ownership of the former Macy's parking garage, located at the corner of William and Market Streets. The nine-story, 550 space garage was closed in May of 2012 because of structural issues and safety concerns. The City has plans to repair the garage with expected improvements beginning later this year. The improvements will occur in phases and will provide parking for surrounding businesses and the public.

New Businesses Open Near Arena
2013 brought a number of diverse new businesses to the Arena Neighborhood and the surrounding area. These new businesses take advantage of INTRUST Bank Arena's central location and influx of Arena visitors, and will enhance the walking environment along the recently renovated St.Francis Street. Businesses that have opened include Walkers BarJetty's Pizza and GeekShop.
2013 State of Downtown Report
In 2013, WDDC released the first report of Downtown Economic Data - the 2012 Downtown Economic Report. This report is designed to be a resource for those who own, develop, market or invest in Downtown real estate. 

The WDDC will release the updated 2013 State of Downtown report later this Spring.
International Downtown Association

Downtown Rebirth: Documenting the Live-Work Dynamic in 21st Century U.S. Cities is the culmination of a year-long effort by the Philadelphia Center City District, the International Downtown Association, and partners across the country to develop an effective way to quantify the number of people who live and work in and around 231 job centers in 150 American cities.

 

Downtown Wichita

The Downtown Rebirth document defines a City's downtown area through Census Tracts. These areas are then comparatively listed in the document amongst 150 other American cities defined downtown areas.

 

According to the document, Downtown Wichita has 55,571 total jobs in the commercial Downtown and one-mile area with a total population of 39,274 people.

 

Downtown Wichita was ranked with a Moderately High Job Denisty with 38 jobs per acre, 14 per half mile and 9 jobs per one mile area.

 

Downtown Wichita is also ranked with a high live-work quotient with 27.2% of workers living and working within commercial Downtown and the one-mile area.

 

For more information visit the Defining Downtown website

Downtown Developer's Guide

The 2014 Downtown Developer's Guide provides all the information you need about doing business in Downtown Wichita, including economic programs, current markets, development projects and useful contacts.

Wichita Downtown Development Corporation
507 East Douglas
Wichita, KS 67202
316.264.6005

Project Downtown
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