New Developments in Downtown Wichita Reinvigorate City’s Historic Center
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From a distance‚ downtown Wichita may look unchanged. But get in a little closer‚ and you’ll see a lot of activity‚ both in existing buildings and new construction.
The downtown area has always been a hub of activity‚ and with some 21‚000 people working there‚ it’s the biggest employment district in the region. Besides serving as an active business and finance center‚ the area is home to many churches and nonprofit organizations. But things are hap pening now – including new residential and entertainment development – that will take downtown to the next level‚ says Ed Wolverton‚ past president of the Wichita Downtown Development Corp.
“We’re emerging as a center of housing‚” Wolverton says. “We’ve added 400 housing units in the last five years‚ with more on the way. We’ve added our first condo units ever‚ with more on the way‚ in the last three years. We’re seeing downtown as a place to live becoming a growth area‚ which will reinforce downtown’s position within the community.”
According to Wolverton‚ $480 million in projects are under way downtown‚ with $294 million in development already completed within the last five years. Major components of the downtown renaissance include the $200 million Sedgwick County Arena and WaterWalk‚ a $130 million‚ 30-acre mixed-use planned community on the Arkansas River.
Developments like these have spurred increased interest in downtown as a viable work/shop/play destination‚ bringing in major players such as Minnesota’s Real Development Partnership. Since first visiting Wichita in September 2004‚ Real Development leaders have snapped up more than 1 million square feet of space downtown‚ most recently the SC Telecom building at 125 S. Market. The landmark local building joins holdings that include The Lofts at St. Francis and Exchange Place.
The combination of affordable real estate and the major projects to come within a few years was a strong lure‚ says Michael Elzufon‚ chief executive officer of Real Development.
“There was quite a bit of time where we were known as the ‘Minnesota guys‚’ but now that people have seen that we’re not short-term real estate raiders‚ they’re supportive of our efforts‚ and that’s key‚” Elzufon says. “Now and going into the future‚ we’re transitioning to having enough others believing in what we’re doing to make commitments to come and live down town. We’ve been doing things in a grassroots way‚ and those roots are solidifying very well.”
More people coming downtown to live‚ or even staying longer when they visit‚ is important to members of the Old Town Association‚ a coalition of businesses in and around the Old Town Wichita District‚ which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. For those who’ve been around a while‚ the new activity is welcome‚ says Chris Arnold‚ owner of the River City Brewing Co.‚ which opened in 1993.
“We are very excited about everything going on‚” Arnold says. “We love the arena‚ we love WaterWalk‚ and the more really great retail shopping we can get down here‚ the more attractions‚ it’s better for all of us. We’re ‘the more the merrier’ kind of guys‚ and the more good reasons there are to come downtown‚ and get in the habit of parking and taking off walking to see what there is to see‚ the more excited we are.”
Story by Joe Morris
