General News in the 316

[SubGod22]

Another much needed road project for the future.

KSN - K-96 to expand in Wichita, but you'll have to wait for it

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Change is coming to northeast Wichita. Drivers on Kansas Highway 96 will see some improvements to make the road wider and safer, but not until at least 2026.

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) says more than 50,000 vehicles travel on that stretch of K-96 each day. KDOT expects that to more than double by 2050. Before that happens, transportation officials want to expand K-96 between Interstate 135 and the Kansas Turnpike.

K-96 also has a lot of car crashes. Officials say that it averaged more than 200 a year from 2015 to 2020. Some of the crashes happen when traffic on the exit ramps backs up onto the highway.

The improvement plan would expand K-96 from four to six lanes between I-135 and 21st Street North, replace the pavement along the rest of the four-lane area, and reconfigure the interchanges at Woodlawn, Rock and Webb.
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Timeline

• 2022-2023 — The project is in the preliminary design phase. Officials will use this time to explore design ideas, get community input, study crash and traffic data, and review the environmental, economic, and social impacts.
• 2024-2025 — KDOT will finalize the design and finish preconstruction work.
• 2026 — This is the earliest construction could start.

KDOT says the timeline is subject to change.

“That’s going to be dependent on a few things — allocated funding from KDOT and really coordinating those adjacent projects, like the Wichita North Junction project … and then East Kellogg, the next phase of it as it comes along as well,” Borchers said.

[SubGod22]

The North Junction weekend detour tour continues this weekend.

KSN - More detours at Wichita's North Junction project

The Kansas Department of Transportation said that on Saturday, Dec. 3, southbound I-135 south of 45th Street will close from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for bridge work. A detour will direct traffic onto southbound I-235 to Broadway to northbound I-235 to southbound I-135.

Also on Saturday, the westbound K-254 exit to southbound I-135 will be closed from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. to rearrange traffic lanes for a lane extension project.

[SubGod22]

I shared a WBJ article mid October about the 5 projects reshaping downtown development. They've updated that article with a 6th structure.

WBJ - These 6 projects are reshaping downtown Wichita - even south of Douglas

701 E. 2nd St.

Description: The plan is to renovate the old Winfield Wholesale Grocery building at 2nd and Moore streets, across from Old Town Square, into a 72-unit apartment building with first-floor retail. Built in 1910, the three-story building has been vacant since 2015 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's expected to be a $16.9 million investment, and the project also involves a four-story addition to the southern end of the building.

Renovations are expected to be completed in March. Once completed, this will add a little more to the Old Town area.

[SubGod22]

Freddy's is going international

WBJ - International flavor: Freddy's moves toward Canadian debut

The Wichita-based fast-casual chain announced earlier this week that it has signed a master franchise and development agreement that sets the table for Freddy's to debut in Canada and expand across nine provinces.

North 49 Frozen Custard and Steakburgers, led by veteran franchisees Jim Werschler and Gregg Most, will lead the effort.

"Gregg and Jim are well-known and highly respected franchisees, especially within Canada, and we are thrilled to continue our partnership with them as they introduce Freddy's to their home country," said Andrew Thengvall, chief development officer at Freddy's, in a news release.

Quebec is not included in the expansion plans.

The agreement is for at least 20 Canadian locations.

[SubGod22]

Textron continues growth and expansion.

WBJ - Textron Aviation seeks new IRB deal to help fuel growth

The locally based Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) division of Textron Aviation is requesting a new IRB letter of intent of up to $527.3 million for the next five years.

The Cessna- and Beechcraft-maker’s existing IRB deal expires at the end of the year. That was a $434.8 million agreement struck in 2018.

According to city documents, the company — which employs nearly 10,000 people in Wichita — has tied the addition of up to 500 more jobs to the new IRB batch.

Bond proceeds will go to financing or refinancing new equipment and related upgrades to the manufacturer’s production facilities.

[MikeKennedyRulZ]

Freddy's is going international

WBJ - International flavor: Freddy's moves toward Canadian debut



The agreement is for at least 20 Canadian locations.

No Quebec locations?? Sacre bleu!!

[SubGod22]

Les Canadiens francais peuvent en sucer un gros!

[SubGod22]

WBJ - New owners of 37th and Rock land aren't new to NE Wichita

V3 said its experience with the Thorn Buildings at 8200 and 8300 E. Thorn Drive — which it bought with local partners in 2019 — tied into its decision to acquire more property just to the south of the buildings.

"As we spent more time in Wichita, our experience has convinced us of the long-term potential for the area," the company said in an email to the WBJ. "We purchased the undeveloped property adjoining these office buildings to masterplan a development that includes a combination of complementary commercial, office and multifamily uses."

A new flyer from Landmark Commercial Real Estate shows an approximately 275-unit luxury apartment complex is planned between Thorn Drive and 37th.

V3 also has three parcels now available for re-sale: one to the northwest of the potential apartments (and just north of the QuikTrip at Rock and 37th) and two more to the east of the Thorn buildings.

V3 did not share specifics on a timeline for development, but said it is "pursuing opportunities to do this ourselves and with local partners." V3 added conversations "with users and local partners with interest in being part of this project" have already begun.

[MikeKennedyRulZ]

Les Canadiens francais peuvent en sucer un gros!

La plupart des Canadiens français aiment probablement en sucer un gros.

[SubGod22]

La plupart des Canadiens français aiment probablement en sucer un gros.

Assez juste

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Indianapolis developer plans $49M affordable housing in east Wichita

Called Union at Purple Heart Trail, the complex will have two, four-story buildings near the southeast corner of Douglas Avenue and 127th Street, near the interchange for the Kansas Turnpike, K-96 and Kellogg.
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The complex will have a combination of one- and two-bedroom units, targeted for residents who earn an average of 60% of the median income, according to the agenda report.

The complex is expected to have a fitness center, a business center, outdoor gazebo, playground and dog play area, walking paths, picnic area and open space. The site will include 360 parking spaces, 72 of which will be covered carports.

Construction is expected to begin in November 2023, with a completion in late 2025, the report says.

I didn't know Douglas intersected with 127th, but ever since 127th stopped going through to Kellogg I haven't gone south of the turnpike/96 interchange there. Though there has been some development around Central and 127th recently.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Wichita City Council to vote on riverfront land sale to Ruffin

Ruffin has agreed to pay $217,440, or $15 per square foot, for the undeveloped land.

On Monday, the hotel and casino magnate told the WBJ that, because of the small size of the parcel, it's not likely it'll be used to add rooms to the hotel — but it does fit another need.

"We thought we should own it, because we need more banquet space," Ruffin said. "It works perfect for convention space."

If the City Council approves the sale, Ruffin said work on the expansion could begin quickly.

[ShockTalk]

WBJ - Indianapolis developer plans $49M affordable housing in east Wichita



I didn't know Douglas intersected with 127th, but ever since 127th stopped going through to Kellogg I haven't gone south of the turnpike/96 interchange there. Though there has been some development around Central and 127th recently.

Douglas is residential street that goes from Greenwich (east of Beech) to 127th.

[SubGod22]

A huge win for Wichita here.

WBJ - Textron Inc.'s Bell unit wins massive Army helicopter contest

According to a report from Defense News, among those briefed at roundtable Monday by defense officials, the initial $1.3 billion contract is part of a program that could eventually be worth up to $70 billion.

"I am excited to be part of this momentous day for our Army,” Doug Bush, assistant secretary of the army for acquisition, logistics, and technology," says in a press release from the service. “The thoughtful and disciplined execution of the FLRAA program strategy will deliver the transformational capabilities we need to support the Joint force, strengthen deterrence and win in multi-domain operations.”

While there would likely be supply opportunities for Wichita regardless of which competitor won, a contract award for Bell and the V-280 will almost certainly have a bigger economic impact locally.

Wichita-based Spirit AeroSystems Inc. (NYSE: SPR) has built the fuselage for the V-280 during the program’s development, putting Wichita’s largest employer at the head of the line for full production work once industrial partners are publicly specified following the award.

Wichita is also home to a Bell office specifically setup for this program.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Wind Surge owners sell baseball club - but keep land deal around stadium

Wichita Wind Surge owners announced Monday the sale of the 3-year-old minor-league baseball franchise to a national company that operates 10 other franchises.

What didn't sell, though, was the private development agreement around Riverfront Stadium that enabled team owners to develop the land after purchasing 4 acres for $4. Wichita Riverfront Limited Partnership and EPC Real Estate Group announced in June a 155-room hotel to be built between the stadium and Arkansas River on McLean Boulevard, but construction has not started.

Diamond Baseball Holdings, which was created a year ago to initially operate 10 minor-league franchises at all levels, including clubs in Oklahoma City, Des Moines and Memphis. Wichita will be its 11th franchise after the sale was approved Monday by Major League Baseball.

The new owner will assume the franchise's stadium use and management agreement with the city of Wichita, which owns the 3-year-old stadium but outsources management of operations.