residentialmarket
ZVA Updates Residential Study
Downtown poised to absorb 1,750 units in 5-7 years

An update to Project Downtown's 2010 residential market study, recently published by Zimmerman/Volk Associates Inc., shows a significant increase in residential market potential for Downtown. The study states that Downtown Wichita can absorb 1,425 to 1,870 market rate units through the adaptive reuse of existing non-residential buildings and/or new construction projects. Per the study, Downtown Wichita can absorb 1,750 additional units over the next five to seven years, predominantly rental dwelling units.

Since the initial 2010 market study, 201 new units have opened in Downtown with nearly 700 either under construction or in various stages of final planning. 

 

"The strength of the results reflected in the residential update astounded me. Downtown Wichita's success is due in large part to the strength of the work the city and community have gone through with the master plan process and its implementation," said Laurie Volk of Zimmerman/Volk Associates, Inc.

 

The study was funded through the WDDC and the following partners: INTRUST Bank, Fidelity Bank, Emprise Bank, Commerce Bank, Marketplace Properties, BOKEH Development, Slawson Companies, and Security National Life.   

The Flats 324
The Flats 324 announces 60 additional units

With the continued redevelopment of the St. Francis Street corridor, The Flats 324, located at 324 N. Emporia in the Historic Wichita High School, has announced construction of 60 new units in addition to the existing 68 units. One-bedroom apartments are expected to start at $700 a month with the two-bedrooms renting at $1,150 a month. Construction is proposed to begin in fall 2014.

The LUX
The LUX anticipates being the first LEED Gold Certified building in Downtown Wichita

The LUX, a recently completed project offering both residential and commercial, continues to strive for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification. LEED Certification provides verification that a building was designed, built or renovated using strategies aimed at sustainability, water saving, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality - in effect it becomes a Green Building. Learn more about The LUX seeking LEED Gold Certification through site design, translucent walls, green rooftops and more at theluxliving.com.


WaterWalk Apartments

Construction continues as finishing touches are made to the 133-unit WaterWalk Apartments. This development combines hotel convenience and apartment essentials with all bills paid, short leases, furnished or unfurnished one, two or three bedroom new apartments. The apartments are located on the West bank of the Arkansas River and adjacent to the Wichita Ice Center.


River Vista Apartments

 Design development continues for River Vista on the West bank of the Arkansas River. This 154-unit development will offer residential and commercial space, as well as improvements to the public space along the riverfront and in Delano Park. River Vista also includes "Boats and Bikes," a facility that will be used by area rowing groups and also offer public boat and bike rentals.

143 N. Rock Island Lofts

The former Grant-Billingly fruit company warehouse is currently under construction to become eight upscale apartment units above three retail/office spaces. Six of the eight apartments will be two-level. The apartment units will range from 600-1,700 square feet with rents ranging between $1,000-1,850 per month. The retail/office spaces range from 1,000-4,000 square feet. 

downtowndevelopment
Union Station
Developers announce $54 Million project

Renovation of one of Downtown Wichita's most iconic buildings will soon be underway as new plans have been announced. Developer Gary Oborny of Occidental Management identified $54 Million of redevelopment and expansion projects for the Downtown Union Station campus, which includes the Wichita Historic train station, Union Station, Rock Island depot and baggage facility, and the former Wichita Grand Hotel, as seen in the site plan below.

Plans include updating the four existing buildings in the campus, and also an additional 150,000 SF of new space through two newly constructed buildings and the expansion of an existing building. 

 

The redevelopment efforts will also provide a new parking garage that can house retail, restaurants and office space. Additionally, over five acres of public space will include public access walkways and a redeveloped plaza area that fronts Douglas Avenue. Learn more about the new Union Station development plans from a recent Wichita Eagle news article and news story from KWCH Channel 12.

Rock Island Depot
Union Station Plaza
Grand Hotel
Block One
First retail tenant announced for Block One

The Block One transformation, guided by Project Downtown, encompassed the new Kansas Leadership Center, Ambassador Hotel Wichita, the Henry's Building, and the new Block One Parking Garage and Urban Plaza. This investment in the 300 block of East Douglas exceeded $40 Million. With the recent completion of William Street into 2-way on the South side of the block, Block One and surrounding areas are poised for increased growth and vibrancy. The first tenant in the retail space will be Al's Old & New Book Store, which will be moving by late summer or early fall. To inquire about additional retail space at Block One call 316-268-3201.
Macy's Garage
Redevelopment efforts continue for Downtown parking garage 

The Wichita City Council recently approved a plan to renovate the former Macy's Garage at 215 S. Market, which the City gained ownership of in November 2013. The renovations will allow the garage to fully utilize 550 spaces of the nine-story structure, benefiting nearby businesses and the public. New lighting and updated colors for the garage are currently under consideration. Fences surrounding the garage will be removed when construction is finished, opening up the closed traffic lanes on Market and William. Tentative completion is scheduled for April 2015.

Ambassador Hotel
The Ambassador Hotel has finalized deal with Autograph Collection by Marriott

Guests at the Ambassador Hotel will soon be able to gain reward points for their overnight stays. The Ambassador Hotel in Wichita, as well as other hotels in the Ambassador Collection in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Kansas City, have finalized plans to become part of the Autograph Collection by Marriott. The Ambassador will keep it's own identity but will be rebranded in October as the Wichita Ambassador Autograph Collection by Marriott. Guests can start booking rooms through the Marriott after the name change is complete.

Sonic Drive-In
Construction continues on America's favorite drive-in

One of America's favorite fast food drive-in's, Sonic, is constructing a new 1,800 SF location at 504 S. Broadway. This new building will replace the current Golden House restaurant and should be open by the end of the year.

communityinvolvement
Creating the spark to start a movement

Demographics are changing. Community wants and needs are changing. How do we ensure that Wichita attracts and retains talented professionals, provides unique opportunities for its citizens, and is recognized as a place others want to live? 

 

Join us for the Fuel the Fire Speaker Series where, as a community, we will engage in conversations revolving around national trends affecting Wichita. All three events are free and open to the public and will take place from 5:00-6:00pm at The LUX (120 E. 1st St. N.)

douglasavenue

Douglas Underpass Designs to be Unveiled
Final concepts to be unveiled at Public Open House on Aug. 26

Through a grant from the Knight Foundation Fund of the Wichita Community Foundation, the WDDC has partnered with LawKingdon and other design professionals in order to derive design concepts that will revitalize the historic Douglas Ave Underpass from its current state into an inviting Downtown gateway. Community opinions, garnered through public input meetings and online surveys, played a key role in the final concepts created by the design team, which address lighting, pigeon mitigation and the inclusion of art and technology in the space. These concepts will be unveiled at a come and go Public Open House on Tuesday, August 26, from 5-7pm at the WDDC Design & Innovation Center. Learn more about this project and the Public Open House at downtownwichita.org.


Douglas Avenue Improvements
Construction is currently underway from Main to Rock Island

In 2011, the City approved a new plan, led by community input, for transit and streetscape improvements along the core of Douglas Avenue from Main to Washington. Phase One design, led by the team of LawKingdon, PEC and Gardner Design, focuses on the addition of transit shelters, added streetscape amenities, trash receptacles, new bike racks and a signalized cross walk at Rock Island. The improvements will be focused on Douglas from Main to Rock Island. Phase One funding of $1.3 Million is currently being implemented with completion expected in the fourth quarter of 2014.

 

During construction, the outside lanes of Douglas may be closed at different locations. For more traffic route updates in Downtown visit downtownwichita.org.

policyupdates
City of Wichita Real Estate

In June, the City adopted new policy for disposing of City-owned real property. The policy sets in place the procedures by which the City will dispose of real property by establishing three distinct approaches based on the type or classification of the identified real estate. The classifications are as follows: Surplus Real Estate, Conditional Real Estate and Request for Proposal Real Estate. View the policy & procedures and corresponding Downtown Development Incentives Policy.

 


Old Town Entertainment District
The City of Wichita recently adopted an ordinance designating Old Town as an Entertainment District. This award-winning neighborhood is the culmination of partnerships between the public and private sectors and its development has been over twenty-five years in the making. Its adaptive reuse of historic warehouse buildings, mix of uses and offerings, including entertainment, continue to make it a destination for visitors across the region. However, with much success also comes certain challenges. Large groups of people often attract unwanted activities. Now, with the designation of an Entertainment District, the City and Wichita Police Department have the authority to enact certain provisions, such as heightened penalties for unwanted behavior. Its designation as an Entertainment District helps ensure that Old Town will continue to be a safe and thriving neighborhood that attracts visitors from across the region.
wddcinitiatives

WDDC Attends Knight Foundation Conference

In early June, Executive Vice President for WDDC, Jason Gregory, attended the Doable City Forum in Chicago, IL. The forum gathered civic leaders from across the country to discuss ways to make cities more vibrant places where people can walk, bike, have access to public transit and enjoy parks and other public spaces. The conference challenged attendees to return to their respective communities where they can be agents for change by building connections among community leaders and institutions and sharing what is possible in their cities. The two attendees from Wichita were underwritten by the Knight Foundation Fund of the Wichita Community Foundation.


2013 State of Downtown Report

Recently released, the 2013 State of Downtown Report provides economic data that documents the transformation of our City's center including an overview of Downtown investment as well as activity within Downtown's major markets: residential, commercial, hospitality and entertainment. WDDC initiatives, development project updates and Downtown demographic trends are presented in the document as well. This report is designed to be a resource for those who own, develop, market or invest in real estate. 
 
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