General News in the 316

[Shoxing Me Softly]

They axed the pedestrian bridge too - a major aesthetic and functional component to the whole development, and part of the original sales pitch to Wichita taxpayers. Money was there for it at some point, but it just evaporated into the pockets of who knows who. Nice little City of Wichita slight of hand there. A skill they have polished to a fine jewel luster by this point in time.

And city development staff allowed the use of good ol’ high class gravel on the new parking lots to the immediate west of the ballpark. Such a Wichita move. Armpit gonna armpit.

Totally agree about Wichita doing dumb things but axing a pedestrian bridge that sat smack in the middle of two other bridges isn’t dumb. Foot traffic from anywhere on that part of the East bank can get to the West Bank with ease as is.

[SHOCKvalue]

Totally agree about Wichita doing dumb things but axing a pedestrian bridge that sat smack in the middle of two other bridges isn’t dumb. Foot traffic from anywhere on that part of the East bank can get to the West Bank with ease as is.

I don’t know… it was supposed to lead directly to the east entrance of the stadium.

For me, it’s a good bit about aesthetics. Adds an interesting focal point to the area.

And most importantly, where did the funds that were allocated for its construction disappear to? It was a lot of money. I want to say $8M. Who is held accountable for this stuff? That’s rhetorical obviously because no one is… like ever… at any time… in PPP projects in Wichita.

[Shoxing Me Softly]

I hear ya on the accountability part.

On the aesthetics I would say that’s obviously a subjective thing and for me having some weird diagonal footbridge in between two bridges that are only 1500ft apart looked dumb.

[shocker_torero]

You all are misinformed or not reading correctly. The pedestrian bridge across the river is not axed. The pedestrian bridge from the proposed office to the proposed hotel is. Because that development fell through. What will be made in place of the office space will be apartments. The hotel is still in the plans. There is no need for a ped bridge over the road from apartments to a hotel. There was 1 million dollar grant that was to be used for that bridge. The pedestrian bridge over the river and the money coming from the gov for that is still in planning for the broader development of the area.

Where do you guys come up with this stuff?

[Ta Town Shocker]

From what I can tell there isn't a timeline and it was announced 4+ years ago. There doesn't appear to be a website tracking progress. Perhaps you could share a website with information so we can stay informed.

[shocktown]

You all are misinformed or not reading correctly. The pedestrian bridge across the river is not axed. The pedestrian bridge from the proposed office to the proposed hotel is. Because that development fell through. What will be made in place of the office space will be apartments. The hotel is still in the plans. There is no need for a ped bridge over the road from apartments to a hotel. There was 1 million dollar grant that was to be used for that bridge. The pedestrian bridge over the river and the money coming from the gov for that is still in planning for the broader development of the area.

Where do you guys come up with this stuff?

Sometimes when people see things through a jaundice eye it makes comprehension hard.

[shocktown]

From what I can tell there isn't a timeline and it was announced 4+ years ago. There doesn't appear to be a website tracking progress. Perhaps you could share a website with information so we can stay informed.

Everything he stated was in the Carrie Rengers article on Kansas.com.

[Kung Wu]

You all are misinformed or not reading correctly.

Where do you guys come up with this stuff?

Personally, I mostly use ChatGPT. Example: "Generate 10 things to ***** about in Wichita"

[SHOCKvalue]

You all are misinformed or not reading correctly. The pedestrian bridge across the river is not axed. The pedestrian bridge from the proposed office to the proposed hotel is. Because that development fell through. What will be made in place of the office space will be apartments. The hotel is still in the plans. There is no need for a ped bridge over the road from apartments to a hotel. There was 1 million dollar grant that was to be used for that bridge. The pedestrian bridge over the river and the money coming from the gov for that is still in planning for the broader development of the area.

Where do you guys come up with this stuff?

What are you talking about? I was always referring to the pedestrian bridge over the river. Do you have any documentation that is still a thing? It was supposed to happen with the ballpark. I’ve seen nothing about it in forever.

[Ta Town Shocker]

Everything he stated was in the Carrie Rengers article on Kansas.com.

I was hoping for a website dedicated to the development since I'm not a subscriber to the Eagle. Here's an example from Omaha's development project.

https://theriverfrontomaha.com/visit...clark-landing/

From what I'm reading, Wichita has a "plan" but that's about it. Please correct me if I'm wrong as I'd like to spend a little more time around the area. In May, the area immediately east of the river was still pretty much the same as it's been the last 20 years. Perhaps worse due to trash and the homeless hanging out in the area.

[shocker_torero]

Everything he stated was in the Carrie Rengers article on Kansas.com.

Incorrect. I quote from the aforementioned article below (1). My own stressors on the wording. There is no mention of the planned bridge over the Arkansas River. My point stands.

A mention of the pedestrian bridge over the Arkansas River can be found in the Wichita City Council Agenda packet for Tuesday the 15th. Note, the development being mentioned is not the only development in planning at the river location. Here is a quote from the Agenda Packet (2). Again, my own emphasis added.

Either do your research, or shut your mouth.

1) "Also, a sky bridge that was supposed to go between the hotel and the office complex will be nixed since there won’t be office users needing to visit the hotel.

The state was going to give a $1 million grant for the bridge, but now the city probably will request the money go to riverfront improvements, which are likely to far exceed the $4 million initially planned."

2) "In order to maintain consistency in the City’s vision for the entire riverfront and facilitate desired private development adjacent to the Ballpark, the Parties will seek to agree on the precise location of a public pedestrian bridge, boardwalk and related hardscape and softscape improvements in the vicinity of the Property. The terminus for the public pedestrian bridge on the west bank of the Arkansas River will be between Texas Avenue and Maple Street. The plans for the foregoing described improvements will be subject to City approval through its standard land use process."

[shocktown]

Incorrect. I quote from the aforementioned article below (1). My own stressors on the wording. There is no mention of the planned bridge over the Arkansas River. My point stands.

A mention of the pedestrian bridge over the Arkansas River can be found in the Wichita City Council Agenda packet for Tuesday the 15th. Note, the development being mentioned is not the only development in planning at the river location. Here is a quote from the Agenda Packet (2). Again, my own emphasis added.

Either do your research, or shut your mouth.

1) "Also, a sky bridge that was supposed to go between the hotel and the office complex will be nixed since there won’t be office users needing to visit the hotel.

The state was going to give a $1 million grant for the bridge, but now the city probably will request the money go to riverfront improvements, which are likely to far exceed the $4 million initially planned."

2) "In order to maintain consistency in the City’s vision for the entire riverfront and facilitate desired private development adjacent to the Ballpark, the Parties will seek to agree on the precise location of a public pedestrian bridge, boardwalk and related hardscape and softscape improvements in the vicinity of the Property. The terminus for the public pedestrian bridge on the west bank of the Arkansas River will be between Texas Avenue and Maple Street. The plans for the foregoing described improvements will be subject to City approval through its standard land use process."

I don’t know what bug crawled up your ass but I was in agreement with the points you were making and the article by Rengers on the subject did indeed make the same points you are making.

l believe EPC, who built the catalyst site on Sycamore that includes apartments, hotel and restaurant did an exceptional job on a well managed timeframe can do the same at the ballpark without RIverfront partnering gumming up the works.

I was just trying to call out the never ending stream of negativity that always seems to come when people are triggered by the word ‘developer’.

[SubGod22]

This will impact me for the next month +.

KSN - KDOT to begin bridge repair on Kellogg

The Kansas Department of Transportation is planning repairs on westbound Kellogg that will impact Wichitans.

KDOT says bridge repair will begin at 9 a.m. Monday on Kellogg just west of Interstate 235 over the M.S. “Mitch” Mitchell Floodway

During the project, one lane of Kellogg will be closed during the week, and it will be down to one lane during the weekends. The weekend work will begin on Aug. 25 through Aug. 27, returning to just one lane closed by 6 a.m. on Mondays.

A barrier wall will be placed for the two-lane closure each weekend as needed to complete repairs on the center lane. It will be removed by 6 a.m. each Monday.

I work just off of West and take 235 around to 254 to get home. Guess I'll be heading east down Kellogg for the foreseeable future.

But any west siders need to be aware of what's going on here and how it may impact travel.

[SubGod22]

Eagle - Old Town's sculptures could soon disappear. Here's what it would take to save them

Some of the 15 outdoor sculptures that dot Old Town are made of iron and blown glass. Others are clay or steel wire. Some are representational — a human figure, a heart — and others are abstract.

They all have one thing in common, though. They could soon be gone.

Citing a lack of private funding, the Wichita Arts Council has decided to end its Sculpture WalkAbout exhibition.

“The city and the Arts Council haven’t told the artists that they immediately have to take them down. We just told them that the contracts wouldn’t be renewed, there wouldn’t be additional funds going their way after July 31,” Arts Council Vice President Matthew Broderick told The Eagle.

Since 2008, the Sculpture WalkAbout has showcased work by local and regional artists, who participate in a juried competition and earn a small stipend from the Arts Council, whether or not sculptures get purchased by collectors.

“It’s been wonderful being a part of that,” said Conrad Snider, a Newton-based sculptor who has two pieces displayed in Old Town that he plans to pick up in the next few weeks.

“There’s quite a bit of public art in Wichita. What was unique about this is that it rotated and it gave other artists an opportunity to have things out on display.”

Things like this add a little character to the city. It's a shame that it appears to be going away.

Apparently Salina and Topeka have similar programs and are able to pay the artists more for their display. Kind of sucks that we're losing to those two towns.

[ShockTalk]

Eagle - Old Town's sculptures could soon disappear. Here's what it would take to save them



Things like this add a little character to the city. It's a shame that it appears to be going away.

Apparently Salina and Topeka have similar programs and are able to pay the artists more for their display. Kind of sucks that we're losing to those two towns.

Agreed!!