General News in the 316

[SubGod22]

More downtown stuffs.

downtownwichita.org really does have some good information.

This link here shows you all of the residential options offered downtown. You can get a visual and a little synopsis on what each has to offer with links to each individual website with more information. My personal favorite is the recently remodeled The Baltimore. I believe it was originally built in 1910 or something and just has a classic old look to it, but the internal offerings and upgrades look quite nice. I haven't looked at all of the others, but it's my favorite outward appearance. I do like the mix of old classic structures with some sleek modern options as well. Again, all just from the outside as I'm sure none of them are rocking 1920's era internals.

Broadway Autopark is an interesting one that I'd forgotten about. It's an old parking garage that's been converted to apartments. It's apparently designed to where you can park right outside your own door. Perks of converting a parking garage I guess.

Then here's an interactive map where you can search by different categories (Arts, Museum, First Friday, Night Life, Shops...) and it'll show you all the locations of such.

A nice site that can be of value, especially to those new to the area or not overly familiar with it.

[SubGod22]

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned before, if not numerous times, that I'm a big fan of startups and the entrepreneurial spirit. I wish I wasn't so risk averse sometimes. You also never know which is the next big thing and will call Wichita home. I hope most find success on some level, but here's one that's gotten some good publicity over the last couple of years and continues to expand.

WBJ - Fresh off robot mowers, Lawn Buddy says more partnerships on the way

Lawn Buddy CEO Steven Werner says the market has been talking — and its message is helping the Wichita startup shift how it is making the most of its technology platform.

Lawn Buddy this week announced it had entered a partnership with Texas-based Robin Autopilot that ties it to the growing usage of robotic lawn mowers among its landscaping customers.

But that should be just the start, Werner tells the WBJ, noting that several more similar partnerships should be announced in the coming months.

“Through these partnerships … we want to focus on what are the main issues for our customers in lawn and landscaping and the trades,” Werner says.

Also of note, Lawn buddy has gone from 14 to 20 people since March and Werner says they plan to continue hiring.

Their user base increased 226% year over year in April. Payment processing work increased 172% over that same time.

Young company with good growth and potential to continue growing.

[SubGod22]

Here's the previous article that I missed.

WBJ - Lawn Buddy partners with robot mowing company Robin Autopilot

Robin’s fleet management system will now be fully integrated into Lawn Buddy’s business management software platform, allowing for the ability to track mowers on the job, monitor software and access wholesale pricing on parts and repairs.

"This is a milestone for the advancement of robots-as-a-service in the lawn maintenance and landscaping industry," Logan Fahey, CEO of Robin Autopilot, says in a press release. "Now, our users will be able to take advantage of the benefits of Lawn Buddy technology to virtually manage their crews in the field, simplify the invoicing process, and improve customer relationship management.”

The move helps tie Lawn Buddy — a finalist in the WBJ’s Inno Madness 2022 contest — to a growing trend in the lawn-care industry of the use of robot lawn mowers to help boost efficiency for operators and, ultimately, help them service more accounts and win more business.

[SubGod22]

Eagle - Mall Mania brings four Wichita alt-rock bands to Towne West Square

The inaugural Mall Mania, beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday at Towne West Square, will be what co-producer Patrick Heath calls “at the intersection of art and music.”

Four Wichita alt-rock bands – The Cavves, Old News, TF Bundy and BottleCap DayDream – will perform in a free, all-ages concert at the mall. Heath said the preferred entrance is near the food court, and the concert will be near Dick’s Sporting Goods.

On the perimeter of the area, 20 different artists will set up booths to display and sell their works.

“People can shop as they listen to the music and in between the bands,” Heath said.

A DJ will play music in between acts and food trucks will be on the premises.

I like this outside the box thinking and using a struggling Towne West to try and do it is a good idea.

[SubGod22]

KSN - Exploration Place fee for families this summer

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Kansas families with children in preschool through 12th grade are able to visit the Exploration Place in Wichita for free the entire summer.

The free admission comes as a part of the state’s Sunflower Summer program, which allows entry to over 90 venues and events across the state.

Sunflower Summer begins on May 28 and will run through August 14. To obtain admission to Exploration Place, along with many other museums, zoos, historic landmarks, and outdoor locations, you can download the Sunflower Summer app on the Apple Store and Google Play Store.

A good opportunity for parents to get their kids out and experience Exploration Place. I may have to "kidnap" a family member to go see "Dogs! A Science Tail". Sounds like an interesting exhibit.

[SubGod22]

KSN - Wichita youth can ride city buses for free this summer

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — As part of the City of Wichita’s RIDE summer program, anyone 18 and younger are being offered free and unlimited transit rides on all regular bus routes and paratransit services from May 26 through August 31.

They have to show their 2021-2022 school year student ID.

Any youth in Wichita without a student ID can get one for free by going to the downtown Transit Center, 214 S. Topeka. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Age or student verification is required to obtain a youth ID.

I assume this is a good program. I've never lived in the city and don't know how valuable this can be.

[SubGod22]

The river is currently closed for recreation. How much recreation goes on in the Arkansas?

[ShockerFever]

The river is currently closed for recreation. How much recreation goes on in the Arkansas?

I’m glad they moved riverfest to a different date to accommodate the weather.

[SubGod22]

I’m glad they moved riverfest to a different date to accommodate the weather.

Does Riverfest still actually use the river?

I've only attended Riverfest a couple of times for specific reasons as it's simply not my kind of thing as a whole. I know growing up I'd always hear about or read about different things going on, but from what I've read it seems like they've done away with a lot of that. Or were those things simply constantly being canceled because of the weather and should return?

[SHOCKvalue]

I’m glad they moved riverfest to a different date to accommodate the weather.

Should do it in the fall. It's dry, and the temperatures are generally tolerable. In May in Kansas it is either raining, the wind is sustained at 45MPH, or it is 95 with a dewpoint of 70.

[SubGod22]

Kellogg construction to begin in 2023.

KAKE - Major construction coming to Kellogg from K-96 to Andover

The project is estimated to cost around $200 million. But the big question is, when will it be done?

"My hope is to be able to have this project constructed and people driving on it by 2026," said Reed.

It's a timeframe Winget says he's not surprised by.

"That's a ridiculously long time. So that's probably right. We're ridiculously slow at doing these projects. I don't know why, but we are," said Winget.

KDOT says the next public meeting will be later this fall. It plans on giving an update and taking more comments from the public.

If you missed Thursday's meeting, you can share your comments about the project on KDOT's website.

Why are we so slow at such projects? I want to say this is about a four mile stretch (I haven't verified that) that I drive on occasion. I drove it yesterday on the way to get groceries after work and it's a real pain in the ass during that time and things get pretty bogged down and chaotic.

[SubGod22]

A long but fairly informative article if you have access.

WBJ - THE MARKET FOR A MARKET: Why downtown Wichita doesn't have a grocery store and what it would take to get one

All told, Downtown Wichita estimates roughly 3,300 people live within the central business district based on the most recent occupancy and population data. But Gregory said big-box stores are typically looking for around 5,000 to 6,000 people. Brands themselves, though, generally keep specific real estate decision-making close to the chest.

But when it comes to site selection, Zach Zerbe, a sales associate at Landmark Commercial Real Estate, says retailers target food deserts — and there's 44 square miles of food deserts in Wichita. That means there are other, potentially higher-density communities competing for a grocer's attention.

"Every avenue toward getting a grocery store that I've ever approached is always the number of rooftops in close proximity, so it's the number of residents that live down here, not necessarily the office number," Zerbe said. "And so we're literally just data on an Excel spreadsheet, and the math doesn't work."

Also of note, there's a lot of concern about delivery access for a grocery. Apparently there have been some talks in recent memory with people interested in bringing a grocery store downtown, but the logistics of getting a semi to be able to deliver has been an issue. The mentioned that a grocer may have to open up a distribution center near downtown and then use smaller box trucks to deliver, which would severely eat into their margins which the article leads you to believe are pretty slim as it is, which I believe.

They also mention that Wichita is still a car heavy town so most people don't have an issue driving two miles to the nearest Dillon's or picking up what they need at nearby Quick Trips.

Article also points out that a downtown grocery store is most likely to come from a local source, which seems to be the case in Kansas City, Omaha and Tulsa. But you have to find someone willing to take that risk. And a local grocer may be more reliant on local businesses and such to keep things stocked as opposed to your national distribution types. This would generally make it easier and cheaper to restock.

There are more residential units in the works or planned which will help with head count. There were some thoughts about maybe being able to have one somewhere along the river, which may help delivery access, but seems less desirable to many.

QUICK FACTS

• Approximately 3,300 people live in downtown Wichita
• 23 new residential properties have opened in downtown Wichita in the last 10 years, adding 1,462 new units
• There's 4.8 million square feet of office space downtown
• 81% average occupancy rate in central business district office space
• 44 square miles of food deserts in Wichita
• 277 stores in the Wichita area, 14% are considered grocery stores that sell fresh fruits and vegetables

Sources: Downtown Wichita's State of Downtown Report, 2020; Health and Wellness Coalition of Wichita's Wichita food deserts study, 2013

It really seems to come down to population. They did talk to representatives of Dillon's, Target and Trader Joe's and they all pretty much said the same thing in that they need a certain population within a certain distance to consider moving in, or to see enough future growth to make the risk worthwhile.

It'll be interesting to see if/when a grocer of some kind pops up down there.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Emerging Leader boomerangs impressed by Wichita's growth

Boomerangs are those who have left Wichita and returned.

As part of a more localized final quarter of the discussion Thursday that first focused on a poignant conversation on guns and school shooting, attendees shifted gears to talk about Wichita and what it needs.

And that lack of understanding from the outside, some felt, remains part of the problem.

“It has changed significantly,” said Adam Tannehill, of Lange Real Estate. “But I still don’t feel like we have a “brand.”

Adrienne Korson, of the Greater Wichita Partnership, said that can depend on the setting.

Go to air shows and aviation conferences like her economic development organization does, she said, and Wichita is still regarded as the “Air Capital.”

But she also acknowledged opportunities to market beyond just aerospace and, she said, previous consultants have advised branding that separates Wichita from Kansas — much in the way Kansas City, which straddles Kansas and Missouri, has branded itself more as a region.

“It has to start with us as the cheerleaders for the area,” Korson said.

They do bring up some good points. Wichita has made a lot of progress in a lot of areas, but needs to keep moving forward there and other areas. I do like the idea of trying to brand Wichita as a region. I do know WSU often talks about being the engine for the region and aspiring to have a bigger role. And Wichita doesn't need to ditch the Air Capital aspect, but they need to expand beyond that. We do have quite a bit going on and fields that are ready to grow. Branding can go a long way but it's also not a quick fix. Keep building up downtown. Keep adding more things in and around the city. Keep giving people more choices on where to spend their time and/or money. Keep trying to attract new investments and businesses/industries. I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again, but downtown OKC took a couple decades to become what it is. Wichita has a history of giving up before it really gets started.

[SubGod22]

Wasn't entirely sure where to put this one, as it does involved WSU, but we're putting it here.

WBJ - Wichita tech startup makes first full-time hires through WSU pipeline

After launching a talent pipeline initiative with Wichita State University last year, local tech startup Knowledge as a Service Inc. has made its first full-time hires through the program.

The company says in a press release that it has hired Tegan Erwin and Lillian Cota, both of whom originally joined KaaS last fall through the Shocker Career Accelerator.
.....
“The Shocker Career Accelerator aims to provide WSU students meaningful applied learning opportunities in their chosen career field – building their resumes and getting them in the door of top employers,” said Tonya Witherspoon, WSU associate vice president for Industry Engagement and Applied Learning. “Success stories like Tegan’s and Lillian’s are not rare – with nearly 74% of WSU students)accepting positions in Kansas after graduation.”

The Shocker Career Accelerator seems to have the potential to be both a value to WSU as well as the business community as a whole.

KaaS is hoping to have a staff of around 40 in the Garvey Center space this summer.

[SubGod22]

KSN - Headliners announced for Gospelfest at Wichita Riverfest

This year’s headliners feature Grammy Award-winning artist Fred Hammond and Stellar Award-winning gospel singer Bishop Cortez Vaughn.

Gospelfest is a concert that takes place during Riverfest, Kansas’ largest community event which runs from June 3-11. This concert is held on June 6 at 5:30 p.m. on Riverfest’s Kennedy Plaza stage.

Fred Hammond is a well respected performer in the industry. I'm not overly familiar with Vaughn myself.