Local Trends

Downtown Renaissance Underway

Downtown Wichita is the dominant commercial center in the region. Its 3.9 million square feet of office space comprises almost one-half of the entire market. The 21,800 workers and 1,400 businesses dwarf’s any employment center or business park. With over 45 restaurants, 70 retail shops and salons, 11 parks and many other amenities, Downtown Wichita truly provides a quality of life that is unmatched by any other business setting.

Even with these assets, Downtown is arguably experiencing the greatest growth spurt in the City’s history. Three large-scale projects are now underway that is transforming Downtown right before our eyes.

Start with the Downtown arena. The arena vote in November 2004 was a huge issue not just for Downtown but the entire region. The Wichita Downtown Development Corporation (WDDC) and other organizations led the way and its efforts were rewarded as local residents voted to approve the arena. After obtaining project approval from the State legislature, the arena is now well on its way to a reality.

The County is set to select the arena site by January 2006. Land acquisition will then occur and construction will get underway before the end of the year. The 15,000 seat facility is slated to open in late 2008.

The City of Wichita is also creating a redevelopment plan for the neighborhood around the arena. This plan will be completed in mid-2006 and will help guide development and land use decisions to maximize the economic potential of the arena.

Another huge project reshaping Downtown is the Wichita WaterWalk. This $138 million mixed use project will add new retail, office and residential space to the center city. The development also includes high quality water features and park space. The anchor retail tenant is Gander Mountain, a specialty outdoor shop, and they are scheduled to open in September 2005. New buildings for office and residential use are set to begin construction on the 25-acre site before the end of 2005.

The remaining major initiative changing the face of Downtown is housing, especially owner-occupied condominiums. Grant Telegraph Centre opened in 2004 and was Downtown’s first condo project. Its thirteen, high-end units were quickly purchased and, based on its success, two more condo projects are now underway. The Rumley Building is bringing another 28 units to the center city. The Lofts @ St. Francis will add 27 more condos to Downtown. Both projects will open in 2006.

These owner-occupied units complement the steady increase in rental housing in Downtown. The Garvey Center is planning to add another 80 units to its current inventory of 77 apartments. Apartments are also under construction at the Caldwell Murdock Building.

Taken together, these projects and development trends are driving unprecedented investment and activity in Downtown Wichita. While critical to the future of Downtown, economic development professionals continue to recruit and nurture small businesses to the center city. While many people tend to focus on the big projects, Downtown’s success ultimately rests with these smaller projects. When several smaller projects are completed and added together, their cumulative effect can be substantial.

The Downtown Renaissance has many other projects and initiatives underway. Two new hotels are in the works. The Q line trolley will be running each summer through 2008. The $100 million Central Railroad Corridor project is underway and will rebuild bridges and overpasses in Downtown. The River Corridor Project will invest $27 million along the Arkansas River to improve access to museums and other attractions. The WDDC’s Tenant Improvement Grant Fund and Housing Grant Fund continue to be popular incentives for new or expanding businesses. A feasibility study is also underway to develop technology based business incubator.

While we can be proud of the many successes over the past few years, the entire region is excited about the future of Downtown. In fact, the new projects and initiatives underway right now will reshape the center city for a generation. Although more work remains and the ride will assuredly have some bumps along the way, the Wichita Downtown Development Corporation is eager to continue strengthening Downtown as the heart and soul of the community.