In 2013, the ribbon was cut for Block One, the first full city block of development in Downtown Wichita. This block encompassed the first new building along the core of Douglas Ave in 38 years (the Kansas Leadership Center), the revitalization of a 12-story historic building that sat vacant for 12 years (now the Ambassador Hotel), and a new parking garage. The investment totaled more than $40 million. Since it's completion, over $180 million of development is presently underway along Downtown's prominent east-west corridor, Douglas Ave.

Concurrently, Market Street is emerging as a north-south corridor under transformation. Projects such as Exchange Place, the former Merill Lynch Building and the Parking at Market & William Garage are reviving this area through significant investment by both the public and private sectors.

The fences are now up at Market and Douglas and construction on the $66 million Exchange Place project is underway. The construction schedule for the redevelopment of the pink marble clad Exchange Building and the white brick Bitting Building will house approximately 230 residential units, with ground floor commercial and retail space. In addition, the project will incorporate a new 273-space parking garage with ground floor retail, residential and commercial space in the adjacent non-developed Douglas Ave frontage. The new infill development will replace the existing Lerner and Michigan Buildings and infill the surface parking lot adjacent to the Kress Building. This project will require approximately 20 months to complete.

The former Merrill Lynch Building, at 100 S. Market, is currently undergoing renovations after being empty for almost 20 years. New office tenants will move into the building in September and will share a conference room, coffee bar and workout center. Facade renovations and the addition of large windows to the building will greatly enhance the building's aesthetics and connection to the Douglas and Market Street frontages and adjoining park. 

The Wichita Sedgwick County Historical Museum signed a five-year lease with the Wichita Board of Park Commissioners to restore Heritage Square Park, directly east of the museum. The Historical Museum secured over $200,000 in pledges for the project in order to restore the park's centerpiece statue, replace fencing and manage the day-to-day upkeep. The Junior League of Wichita donated Heritage Square Park as a gift to the community in 1976.

The 9.5 acre Union Station project in Downtown is progressing through its first phase, which includes renovations at the Grand Hotel Building, the two smaller Rock Island Depot Buildings, and the plaza area in front of the Union Station terminal. The new plaza will include multiple, permanent kiosks made of glass and steel, which will provide opportunities for dining, drinks, and entertainment in the public space. These improvements increase Douglas Avenue's walkability, and further enhance the connection between the Old Town Entertainment District and the Arena Neighborhood. 

Old Town's walkability will be dramatically increased with streetscape enhancements on Mosley Ave from 2nd Street to 3rd Street. Corridors will be reconstructed as brick streets and sidewalks, 33 on-street parking spaces will be added, and ornamental lighting, streetscape amenities, landscaping, and bicycle racks will be installed. Construction documents are currently under final design. The project is planned to start in late 2015 and extend through early 2016.

Envision, a non-profit organization devoted to employing and treating those who are blind or vision-impaired, has a new initiative underway to build a research institute at its main headquarters at 610 N. Main. The organization is working to raise $3 million to build out the new space. When funded, the third floor of Envision will be transformed into laboratories, exam and interview rooms, conference and training rooms, and a row of offices for research scientists. The purpose of the Envision Research Institute is to carry out significant and innovative research in blindness and low vision, with the goal of removing functional barriers for vision impaired individuals.