General News in the 316

[SubGod22]

Just to keep tabs, for the 5th time in 2024, Towne West has been disconnected by Evergy

[SubGod22]

KFDI - INTRUST Bank Arena announces Cirque du Soleil event

Cirque du Soleil, which has brought a number of its shows to Wichita over the past decade, has announced another touring production that will be here early in 2025.

INTRUST Bank Arena officials have announced that the production OVO will be performing on February 7th, 8th and 9th. The show is described as “a colorful intrusion into a new day in the life of insects, a non-stop riot of energy and movement. Through show-stopping acrobatics highlighting selected insect species’ unique personalities and abilities, OVO explores the beauty of biodiversity in all its contrasts and vibrancy.”

Tickets are now available to Cirque Club members and they will go on sale to the general public on Monday, June 10th. The performance schedule will be:

• Friday, Feb. 7^th at 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Feb. 8^th at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
• Sunday, Feb. 9^th at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

[SubGod22]

The KEYN and Bradley Fair concert series begins this week from 7:30 to 9:30 each Thursday.

The lineup includes:

June 6: Keo & Them, a neo-soul group from Wichita with influences ranging from ‘70s pop/R&B to contemporary neo-soul, alt R&B, and beyond, according to its website.

June 13: Pretend Friend, a Wichita bluegrass band known for its improvisational jams.

June 20: King Cabbage Brass Band, billed as “Oklahoma’s only brass band,” performing pop, R&B, hip-hop, rock, New Orleans music and original tunes.

June 27: The Canterberries, a Kansas City-based indie female trio who have been friends since age 5 and began singing cover songs in 2020.

July 4: Daydream, a nine-piece funk band from Wichita including several local college music professors and Wichita Symphony members, performing original compositions. Fireworks will follow the July 4 performance.

There's also the summer concert series beginning June 14 and varies between Naftzger Park in Wichita and Capitol Federal Amphitheater in Andover

June 14, Naftzger: Across the Pond, a Wichita based band that plays British music from the 1960s and ‘70s, including The Beatles, The Who, The Zombies and The Kinks.

June 28, Andover: Llew Brown Band, a five-person Wichita group that plays a mix of rock, country and pop.

July 12, Andover: Big Fat Fun, a Wichita band “covering your favorite party tunes from the past 50 years,” according to its Facebook page.

July 19, Andover: The Banned, a Wichita hair metal band with hits from the 1980s.

July 26, Andover: The Source Band, a Wichita-based “high energy party band” with dance music from big band to Top 40, Motown and disco.

Aug. 2, Naftzger: Fast Lane, classic rock covers from the 1960s through ‘80s.

Aug. 9, Naftzger: Lucky People, a Wichita variety band with hits from the ‘80s to now.

Aug. 16, Naftzger: The Roadhouse Saints, specializing in classic rock from the ‘60s to ‘80s.

[Kung Wu]

The currently closed ramp is supposed to open before this one is shut down and become used for the detour of those that would generally use the one that is going to be shut down.

If that makes sense.

It's hard to keep track of them all.

It does make sense and what I was hoping to hear!

[SubGod22]

Have they opened any back up?

The currently closed ramp is supposed to open before this one is shut down and become used for the detour of those that would generally use the one that is going to be shut down.

If that makes sense.

It's hard to keep track of them all.

[Kung Wu]

Another ramp closure.

KSN - Another major I-135 ramp in Wichita to close

Have they opened any back up?

[SubGod22]

Another ramp closure.

KSN - Another major I-135 ramp in Wichita to close

Starting next Wednesday, June 5, road crews will close another exit ramp on one of the busiest interchanges in Wichita. The interchange connects Interstate 135 with Kellogg, U.S. Highway 54 and U.S. Highway 400.

The Kansas Department of Transportation will close the northbound I-135 ramp to westbound Kellogg until early August.

KDOT’s recommended detour is for northbound I-135 drivers to take exit 6B, the 2nd Street exit, turn left, take the ramp for southbound I-135, and then the ramp to westbound Kellogg, U.S. 54. and U.S. 400.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Riordan Clinic receives $1-million donation earmarked for research, operations

A $1-million donation will help Wichita's nonprofit Riordan Clinic study intravenous vitamin C use in high doses, which in some studies have shown effectiveness in reducing cancer-related side effects.

The clinic in north Wichita said the donation from a longtime patient, who requested anonymity, will be split equally between integrative medical research and operations. The study is part of the nearly 50-year-old clinic's work in holistic medical research and cancer care.

The clinic said Michelle Niesly, a naturopathic physician, has accepted the role of director of research. Niesly most recently was at Pacific Integrative Oncology in Eugene, Ore., as well as executive director for the Pediatric Health Outcomes Initiative.

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Eagle - Downtown Wichita building once home to 'real cute' car dealer to get new life as apartments

The 1920 building at the southeast corner of English and Broadway — once home to “one of the handsomest automobile dealers in the southwest,” according to a 1991 Eagle story — is about to get new life.

Arena South Management, which has five other buildings in that area of downtown, is converting the four-story building into apartments called the Arnold.

“What I really love about this building is its got high ceilings, and it’s got massive windows,” said Bruce Rowley, who is co-managing partners in Arena South with Alan Banta.

Rowley said there is a lot of light, which will contribute to “very open, modern-feeling apartments.”

The Broadway Autopark apartments are across from where the new units will open in fall 2025.

42 apartments on the upper floors. One bedroom and studio.

Ground floor will be retail, anywhere from one to four depending on size of business.

Market rates.

Rooftop commons area.

$5M investment.

Good location with the Biomedical campus coming.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers continues march up annual trade publication list

A restaurant industry trade publication has again highlighted Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers as one of the most impactful brands in its space.

Earlier this month, Fast Casual ranked Freddy's No. 15 on its 2024 Top 100 Movers and Shakers list. That's an eight-spot jump from 2023 and 17 positions higher than 2022.

The list highlights innovative restaurant brands and executives that are pushing the fast casual segment forward and is comprised of 75 companies and Fast Casual's top 25 executives in the industry.

In its Freddy's analysis, Fast Casual pointed to a "historic year of development in 2023," when the Wichita-based brand opened a company-record 62 restaurants across the country and crossed the 500-location mark.

The publication also highlighted Freddy's opening its first MLB stadium restaurant last year at the St. Louis Cardinals' Busch Stadium, its new restaurant design in the St. Louis area, and other technology and equipment advances.

They're still targeting 800 restaurants by 2026.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Major projects from Wichita general contractors with the largest portfolios

Wichita's top five general contractors — ranked by dollar value of completed contracts last year companywide — have built some hallmark projects across the city.

From new Class A apartment buildings to industrial warehouses, take at look at these projects from the top builders in Wichita that are either recently completed or under construction.

JE Dunn Construction — No. 1

In addition to its continued work with Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, JE Dunn, headquartered in Kansas City with an office in Wichita and throughout the country, has a major new project in its pipeline over the next two years. The company is in a joint venture alongside Wichita design-build firm Hutton to construct the first phase of the Wichita Biomedical Campus. Work on the 8-story, 350,000 square-foot building at the southeast corner of Broadway and William will gear up starting this summer.

Crossland Construction — No. 2

Among Crossland Construction’s more prominent work in the Wichita real estate space in recent years is its speculative industrial warehouses. Closely following its work in Ironhorse Industrial Park in southwest Wichita, Crossland is moving on next to Bel Aire. Working with the Overland Park-based Aspen Funds, the general contractor will build five spec buildings that will cover just over 20 acres at 53rd and Webb Road that will be geared for industrial, manufacturing, warehouse and distribution uses.

McCownGordon Construction — No. 3

McCownGordon Construction, active in recent years with projects for Wichita-area schools, is building a new east-side substation for the Wichita Police Department. The approximately $8.4 million project is nearly finished near the former Southeast High School at the southeast corner of Lincoln and Pinecrest, replacing Patrol East’s current site at 350 S. Edgemoor, about a mile to the north.

Key Construction — No. 4

Among the major projects Key Construction has recently been involved with is the highly-anticipated, mixed-use Heritage Square and Skylots Apartments in Andover. The 186-unit Skylofts started preleasing in January and earlier this month the builder provided the certificate of occupancy. The 186-unit complex has 18 three-, 81 two- and 60 one-bedroom units with 19 floor plans for all units, which include studio apartments. It's arguably the most luxury apartment complex to go up in Andover yet.

Conco Construction — No. 5

Conco Construction wrapped construction last year on a 195,000 square-foot manufacturing facility for JTM Foods, the Pennsylvania-based maker of JJ’s Snack Pies. The $40-million facility is located within the new ICT21 Industrial District at 21^st Street and I-135. In fact, Conco is the builder on the entire 130-acre, multi-million dollar industrial park taking shape on former oil refinery site in north Wichita.

Just a snap shot of some of the major projects in the area.

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WBJ - As airport hotel construction picks up, developer eyes 2025 open

As anyone who has frequented Wichita's Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport in recent months can see, a highly-anticipated new hotel project just north of the airport has made notable construction progress in recent months.

So when could developer Mitesh Patel's four-story hotel — dual-branded as a Homewood Suites and a Hilton Garden Inn — open?

"We're shooting for the early part of next year — probably March," he said.

After years of delays, a commercial building permit with an $8 million valuation was issued last summer for the project, which is set to have nearly 160 rooms, as well as convention space and a restaurant.

He's not joking about the insane lead times for things like transformers, which have been at least a 52 week lead time and it's been irritating everyone in the electrical industry for some time.

Hopefully this opens sooner rather than later as it will only help when it comes to Wichita hosting large events downtown, like the NCAA tournament and such. Downtown hotels are more important, but the ease of access from the airport to the Arena District still helps.

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WBJ - $143K tourism grant bolsters Tanganyika Wildlife Park's expansion plans

Tanganyika Wildlife Park will capitalize on a $142,500 state tourism grant to expand its services and attractions.

The wildlife park in Goddard was one of 14 recipients to receive a Kansas Tourism Attraction Development Grant awarded by Kansas Tourism, a division of the Department of Commerce. On Monday, the state announced $500,000 in grant money — almost a third of which went to Tanganyika — was awarded to expand travel experiences that aim to increase visitation and generate economic impact in the state.

Matt Fouts, Tanganyika's director, said the grant will bolster a larger capital campaign.

"Now that we've got the initial grant, we're like 'Oh, this is real now,'" Fouts said. "We have a lot of big ideas, but we needed one that met their criteria, which was it needed to be built within, like, the next year to year and a half. For us, we needed to finance our projects. The grant helps get us started but we're going to need a significant amount of money to finish out the project."

Other recipients of a 2024 Kansas Tourism Attraction Development Grant within the Wichita area are Grace Hill Winery near Whitewater ($20,600) and Bartlett Arboretum in Belle Plaine (($2,200), according to the state.

[SubGod22]

Hartman Arena no more

WBJ - Lange Real Estate purchased Harman Arena in Park City and is changing its name

The recently sold Hartman Arena has a new name, one that no longer reflects the builder but the city where it resides — though the name change could be temporary.

The 15-year-old arena located north of 77th Street North and west of I-135 has been renamed Park City Arena effective Thursday, the city and new owner Lange Real Estate announced.

The announcement indicated, however, that arena naming rights and sponsorship opportunities are possible.

"If someone wanted to come in and be the title sponsor, we would be able to do that," said Lange Real Estate spokesperson Joe Robertson.

Robertson said if naming rights were sold, the city would likely have a name reference at the end, such as "in Park City" or "at Park City."

[Kung Wu]

wichita.gov is STILL down.

shoxlax what is the word on the street on this disaster?

What a cluster: https://www.wichita.gov/1199/Alert