UNDER CONSTRUCTION / PLANNING
Hyatt Regency Wichita
Cost - $1.6 Million
This investment marks the final phase of a multi-phase expansion and renovation of the riverfront hotel. This phase encompasses approximately 35,000 square feet of meeting space improvements with a completion scheduled for the first quarter of 2012.
J.P. Weigand and Sons Realtors
Cost - $500,000
J.P. Weigand and Sons, Inc is renovating their Downtown Corporate Office at 150 N. Market Street. Work on the new façade along with interior renovations of the three-building complex is scheduled for completion in January 2012.
Bite-Me-Bar-B-Q
Cost - NA
Bite-Me-Bar-B-Q has purchased 130 N. St. Francis and plans to open their restaurant in the first quarter of 2012. This project is part of a number of capital investments underway along the St. Francis Street corridor between 2nd Street and Douglas Avenue.
Kansas Health Foundation Expansion
Cost - $9 Million
The Kansas Health Foundation is expanding their Douglas Avenue offices which will include about 25,000 square feet of meeting rooms and headquarters space for the Kansas Leadership Center. Construction will commence in 2012. The project is utilizing their current surface parking lot on Douglas Avenue for the expansion.
The LUX
Cost - $20 Million
The LUX is the redevelopment of the Kansas Gas & Electric Building, most recently serving as the headquarters of Protection One. The project will be a mixed- use development offering office, residential and luxury terraces overlooking the City's skyline. The project is scheduled for completion in 2013.
Ambassador Hotel
Cost - $30 Million
A development team is renovating the historic 14-story Douglas Avenue Building into a 117-room Boutique Hotel. This historic building is located at the corner of Douglas Avenue and Broadway. The City of Wichita will construct a parking garage with approximately 272 spaces and 8,400 square feet of retail space facing William Street. The City will also construct a new urban that will connect the new garage and the historic hotel. The block’s alley will be redesigned to make it more compatible for pedestrians and vehicles, as well as adding to Downtown's mid-block circulation patterns. The project will open December 2012.
Douglas Avenue/Market Street
Cost – N/A
An investment group purchased in the summer of 2011 three key Downtown sites; a development site located on Douglas Avenue (between Market and Main), the other on Market Street – 62,910 square foot Board of Trade Building and the previous Merrill Lynch Building at the corner of Douglas Avenue and Market. The investment group is finalizing their development concepts with an anticipated announcement in the first quarter of 2012.
Victoria Park Apartments
Cost – N/A
The project is located at 612 E. Douglas Avenue and will offer 18,000 square feet of residential units with ground floor commercial uses. The building is also in the same block as the Zelman’s project which is under a mixed-use conversion by the same investment group. Victoria Park Apartments are scheduled for completion in 2012.
Douglas Avenue – Streetscape Development
Cost – $6 Million
The Design Workshop firm of Colorado has derived streetscape design concepts for Wichita’s signature corridor, Douglas Avenue. The design concepts will be presented for City Council adoption in January 2012.
Central Family YMCA
Cost - $23 Million
The Wichita YMCA is constructing a new Downtown location consisting of 110,000 square feet. The facility will house the system's corporate offices as well as a new state of the art work-out and activity facility. The project is developing approximately ¾ of a city block adjacent to City Hall and the Sedgwick County Courthouse. The new facility is expected to serve 30,000 people throughout the area. There are more than 103,000 people within a three-mile radius of the new Downtown YMCA location. The Greater YMCA serves more than 250,000 kids and adults. The project will open in 2012.
The Catholic Diocese – St. Mary Cathedral
Cost - $16 Million
The Catholic Diocese is restoring the historic St. Mary's Cathedral located at Broadway and Central. The renovations include restoring the 105 foot dome and incorporating additional lighting to highlight its architectural details. All buildings on the campus will be connected by a new covered structure, which will serve as a gathering space as well. The renovations and construction will be completed by the end of 2012 to celebrate the Cathedral's 100-year anniversary.
Zelman’s Building
Cost – estimated $1.7 Million
Located at the corner of St. Francis and Douglas Avenue, this project is converting an historic structure to have nine residential units on the second floor and first floor space for either retail/restaurant. Pre-leasing is underway for the residential units. The project will open December 2011.
Sedgwick County/ City of Wichita/ Rotary Foundation/ Coleman
Cost – Approximately $2.3 Million
This project has four public/private sector partners. Sedgwick County is redeveloping the previous Coleman Warehouse site to accommodate parking for the INTRUST Bank Arena. The Downtown Rotary Club Foundation is providing a new urban park celebrating their centennial year and Coleman is contributing funds for a monument to commemorate Coleman's first manufacturing site. The City of Wichita is implementing new streets and streetscape for two consecutive city blocks (see below). The project will open in December of 2011.
St. Francis Streetscape Improvements
Cost – Approximately $2.4 Million
The City of Wichita is reconstructing St. Francis Street from Douglas Avenue to 2nd Street. This streetscape transformation will convert the existing one-way configuration to two-way and also provide angled parking. In addition to improved infrastructure, the streetscape improvements will add amenities such as street trees, new lighting, benches and decorative pavers. The revitalized streetscape will complement the mix of retail, restaurants and interactive public spaces that are emerging along the corridor as well as provide an important pedestrian link between the INTRUST Bank Arena and Old Town. The entire project will be completed spring 2012.
Pixius Corporation
Cost – Approximately $3 Million
Pixius Corporation has purchased 301 N. St. Francis Street for their new corporate headquarters. The firm is targeting early 2012 for project completion.
Commerce Street Residential Project
Cost – estimated $500,000
Located at 416 S. Commerce Street, the project will retrofit an historic building for mixed-use. The project will offer commercial/retail space on the first floor and four apartments on the second floor. The project is slated for completion in 2012.
Wichita WaterWalk
Cost - $68 million (to date investment)
The WaterWalk project is creating a new destination for Downtown Wichita. The project offers commercial space, residential, plazas and gardens, destination retail/restaurant locations and direct connectivity to the Arkansas River. In November 2009 the first residents of WaterWalk Place moved into the condominiums. Other commercial developments such as Gander Mountain, the headquarters for the Wichita Area Association of Realtors and the new WaterWalk Fairfield Inn have been completed.
Exchange Place and Bitting Buildings
Cost - $48 million
Real Development is finalizing plans to retrofit the Exchange Place and Bitting Buildings to offer 207 residential units located in the heart of Douglas Avenue. The development will incorporate a parking garage, office and retail space. Construction is scheduled to commence in 2012.
Wichita Executive Center
Cost – $1.2 million (to date investment)
Progress continues on the Wichita Executive Center. Previously the SC Telecom building, the project offers quality office space in downtown Wichita.
Albert Paley Sculpture Installation
Date Completed – December 2011
Cost - $350,000
The Albert Paley Sculpture, located at the NE corner of the WaterWalk development at Waterman and Main Street, is a contemporary sculpture comprised of bronze, stainless and Cor-Ten steel. The 38-foot-tall metal sculpture will be an icon for Downtown and will create a sense of place with the large surrounding plaza and bosque of River Birch trees that act as a backdrop. The sweeping upward motions of the sculpture are meant to signify Wichita's aviation heritage while the earth-tone colors of the bronze and Cor-Ten steel are suggestive of the natural environment significant to our Native America Indian heritage. The project will be completed by the end of 2011.
Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview
Date Completed – August 2011
Cost - $29 million
Drury Southwest has completed renovations of the Historic Broadview Hotel. The hotel offers 200 guest rooms and suites, and relocates the guest entrance and check-in to face the river; the renovations also include the construction of a skywalk connecting the parking garage with the hotel. The building’s interior has been restored to reflect the historic character of the hotel.
Riverfront Improvements
Date Completed – June 2011
Cost - $2.2 million
The Riverfront Improvements between Douglas Avenue and 2nd street include venue space, pedestrian access from Waco Street and river overlook areas. This component of improvements completes the east bank improvements connecting the Keeper of the Plains and WaterWalk. The improvements also connect to the Drury Plaza Broadview Hotel.
Fairfield Inn & Suites Wichita Downtown
Date Completed – June 2011
Cost - $11.5 million
The new 131-room Marriott hotel opened in June 2011. The hotel is located on the northwest corner of Main and Dewey. The hotel opens onto the gardens of WaterWalk. The design of the hotel incorporates key design principles from Project Downtown, the Master Plan for Wichita.
Cargill Innovation Center
Date Completed – summer 2011
Cost - $14.7 million
The 75,000-square-foot Innovation Center is located on Wichita Street between 1st and 2nd. The new center houses a food service culinary center including a model commercial food kitchen so Cargill chefs can test and demonstrate to customers how their products perform. There is also a retail center of expertise which includes model home kitchens to showcase and simulate for retailers how Cargill products will work in shoppers' homes. The center also houses an analytical laboratory and small processing facility where the company can work on developing new products and technologies.
The Flats 324
Date Completed – 2010
Cost - $6 million
The Historic Wichita High School was converted into 66 market rate apartments with two unique apartments in the building’s old art and boiler rooms. The Flats opened in January 2010 and had 100% occupancy by July 2010.
Airbus
Date Completed – 2010
Cost - $1 million
Old Town developer Dave Burk bought the building at 238 N. Mead, the former Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, in February 2010 and leased it to Airbus. Airbus moved into the new facility in May 2010. With the expansion, Airbus added approximately 80 to 100 jobs in Wichita.
Finn Lofts
Date Completed – 2010
Cost - $3 million
A contemporary-design conversion of an historic warehouse, The Finn Lofts is the first residential and commercial project of this scale in the Commerce Arts District. Home to 27 sophisticated, state-of-the-art studios, 1 and 2 bedroom lots to rent and over 7,000 sq. ft. of office and retail space, The Finn Lofts are a new look in Downtown. The project was featured in the October 2011 edition of DWELL Magazine.
INTRUST Bank Arena
Date Completed – 2010
Cost - $205 million
The INTRUST Bank Arena is a modern, state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue, perfect for concerts and conventions alike. Located in the heart of Downtown Wichita with trendy restaurants, shops and eclectic entertainment options nearby, the INTRUST Bank Arena is the premier arena in the Midwest. The $205 million arena features 22 suites, 40 loge boxes, 300 premium seats with a total 15,000-seat capacity and will boast the top notch sporting events and entertainment with the industry's best acoustics and sound system. The arena is managed by SMG, a world-leader in venue management and booking for more than 200 arenas worldwide.
Kansas Sports Hall of Fame/Wichita Boat House
Date Completed – 2010
Cost $500,000
Renovations to the Wichita Boat House for the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame were completed in summer 2010. The Boat House now serves as the headquarters for the Hall of Fame and offers premier event rental space.
Warren Theatre
Date Completed – 2009
Cost - $1 million
Approximately $500,000 was invested in renovations with another $500,000 allocated for the digital conversion. The new Old Town Warren features the latest in movie technology, including the high-definition digital projection and new sound systems. In addition, two auditoriums have been equipped with silver screens, allowing the showing of 3-D films. The destination averages 500,000 visitors annually.
Farmers and Bankers Building
Date Completed – 2009
Cost - $293,000
Built in 1911, the Farmers and Bankers Building located at 200 E. 1st Street underwent renovations in 2009. A new roof and new interior (paint, carpet, lighting, fixtures and furniture) and long-awaited exterior façade improvements will bring the building back to its original quality, making it a prime location for doing business in the downtown core.
Carnegie Library
Date Completed – 2009
Cost - $3.9 million
After opening more than nine decades ago, and standing vacant for the past nine years, the Wichita Carnegie Library Building has been carefully restored to its original glory. This magnificent Beaux Arts building was a gift to the City of Wichita from steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The lavishly detailed interiors were designed by civic cultural leader and one of Wichita's most successful women, Mrs. Louise Caldwell Murdock. The building is now the new headquarters of the Commercial Banking Division of Fidelity Bank.
Garvey Center and Apartments
Date Completed – 2007
Cost - $1.54 million
This residential project converted space formerly utilized as a hotel into apartments. The developer renovated the structure into 95 residential units.
River Corridor Improvement Project
Date Completed – 2006
Cost - $37 million
This project provides pedestrian amenities and public space along the east and west banks of the Arkansas River from the Kellogg bridge to Cowtown. The Keeper of the Plains statue raises approximately 30 feet and a set of eternal flames surrounds the statue.
Lofts at St. Francis
Date Completed – 2006
Cost - $8 million
This building was converted from an empty warehouse to plush condominiums. The development features secured parking, balconies and an excellent roof top deck with a kitchen and basketball court. The property is within a block of the Downtown arena.
Courtyard by Marriott in Old Town
Date Completed – 2006
Cost - $15 million
This project converted a two-story warehouse into a four-story hotel loaded with amenities. Located in the heart of Old Town, the property features a beautiful interior lobby, an exercise room and offers breakfast.
Grant Telegraph Centre Condominiums
Date Completed – 2005
Cost - $8.71 million
This historic building rehabilitation project cost $8.71 million and created 13 condominium units for residential use. These will be the first owner-occupied residential development project in the center city. Units will range from 1,600 to 4,000 square feet. Sales price for unfinished space is $75 to $100 per square foot.
The Harvester Apartments
Date Completed – 2004
Cost - $5.7 million
This historic building rehabilitation project created 47 residential units. The development includes mixed income clients.
City Arts – Old Town
Date Completed – 2004
Cost - $3.86 million
This community arts center provides classes to learn about arts and crafts projects. The building also includes gallery space that features new exhibits on a monthly basis.
Old Town Square/Movie Theatre
Date Completed – 2003
Cost - $20 million
This project includes a 6 screen movie theater, 30,000 square feet of retail space, 60,000 square feet of office space, a public plaza with interactive fountains and a 500 space parking garage offering free parking. Original Tenants include: Warren Theatre, Imbass Grill, Old Chicago, Best Cleaners, Andy’s Woods and Crafts, Zyng Noodlery, Old Town General Store, Lucinda’s, Muse E Yum and Uptown Grill. Old Town celebrated its twentieth anniversary in 2011.
Old Town Square Parking Garage
Date Completed – 2003
Cost - $7.2 million
This facility includes 500 parking spaces that are free for public use. The ground floor space facing the plaza contains a number of shops and restaurants.
