Landmark Commercial Real Estate President and CEO Brad Saville recently joined the Wichita Business Journal’s BizTalk podcast to discuss the momentum building in downtown Wichita and the opportunities that could shape its next chapter.
During the conversation, Brad shared his perspective from more than 30 years of working in Wichita commercial real estate and participating in downtown development projects.
“I’ve never been this optimistic” about downtown Wichita, Brad said, pointing to the increasing number of people living and working in the city’s core. Major investments such as the Wichita Biomedical Campus, continued residential demand, and renewed interest from developers are creating new opportunities throughout downtown.
A New Phase of Downtown Growth
The Wichita Biomedical Campus is expected to bring thousands of students, faculty members, employees, and visitors downtown. Brad noted that this increased daily activity could support surrounding restaurants, housing, retail, and services.
Downtown housing is also seeing strong demand. According to the figures discussed during the podcast, downtown apartment occupancy is approximately 95%, with some properties performing above that level. As more existing buildings are converted and repurposed, future residential growth may increasingly depend on new construction and public-private partnerships.
Brad also shared that he has heard more investors and developers discussing downtown opportunities in the past six months than he has in years, including groups that have traditionally focused on suburban locations.
Could a Grocery Store Be Downtown’s Missing Piece?
A significant portion of the conversation focused on plans for a potential downtown grocery store, an amenity that has been discussed for more than a decade.
The mix of downtown residents, medical students, employees, and visitors could help create the customer base needed to support a store. However, Brad explained that a successful downtown grocery concept requires more than available retail space.
Important considerations include:
- Convenient access for nearby residents
- Parking for customers and pickup orders
- Refrigerated truck access and delivery logistics
- Walkability and pedestrian safety
- A store format suited to downtown shopping habits
- Proximity to existing and planned housing
Rather than making large weekly shopping trips, downtown residents may purchase smaller amounts of groceries every few days. That difference could influence the store’s size, product selection, parking needs, and overall design.
Continued Investment and Riverfront Opportunities
Brad also discussed the importance of activating Wichita’s riverfront and creating more destinations that attract residents and families downtown.
While traditional brick-and-mortar retail continues to face challenges, entertainment, recreation, hospitality, residential development, and experience-driven concepts could create new activity along the river and throughout the city’s core.
Looking at the long-term progress of cities such as Oklahoma City, Brad emphasized the value of maintaining momentum. Successful downtown development often requires a series of connected investments rather than relying on one major project to complete the work.
“Activity breeds more activity,” Brad said. As excitement and investment grow, downtown Wichita can continue attracting developers, businesses, residents, and visitors.
Listen to the Full Conversation
The BizTalk episode also explores downtown parking, adaptive reuse, construction costs, development incentives, performing arts, family-friendly attractions, and the projects contributing to Brad’s optimism about Wichita’s urban core.
Listen to the full BizTalk conversation with Brad Saville through the Wichita Business Journal.