General News in the 316

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Cargill donates $500K for new Kansas African American Museum location

Cargill's North American protein business, headquartered in Wichita, has donated $500,000 to support the relocation of the Kansas African American Museum.

The museum, currently located at 601 N. Water, is fundraising for a $6-million renovation of a former bank branch at 201 N. Main, at the northwest corner of 1st and Main in downtown Wichita.

“The Kansas African American Museum has been a cornerstone of our community for more than 20 years — helping to keep alive the legacy and history of our state’s Black communities,” said Rob Stewart, president of growth ventures and emerging markets for Cargill’s North American protein business and executive sponsor of the regional Cargill Ebony Council. “Cargill is proud to support this next chapter in the museum’s history, and we look forward to partnering together to foster a more inclusive and equitable community.”

Pretty sure this fundraising has been going on for quite some time. A couple of years maybe? Hopefully this donation helps get things done and allows them to relocate relatively soon.

[SubGod22]

KWCH - Boyd Gaming has company as two others apply for HHR facilities

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - Three applications for organization license consideration were approved Wednesday by the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission. One was expected, as Boyd Gaming Commission announced Tuesday that it planned a historical horse racing facility (HHR) near Hartman Arena, adjacent to I-135, in Park City.

Wednesday, the Gaming Commission also approved applications from Phil Ruffin and Flint Hills Entertainment, LLC.

Ruffin’s proposed facility would be located as what was formerly Wichita Greyhound Park, at E. 77th Street and Hydraulic in Sedgwick County. Flint Hills Entertainment applied for two facilities - an HHR location at Towne West on W. Kellogg, and a live racing park at 210 N. Jefferson Street in Eureka.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Did Wichita settle with its newest $400M riverfront plan for Century II?

Wichitans got their first look Tuesday at a new plan to reimagine Wichita's downtown riverfront, including what to do with Century II, Bob Brown Expo Hall and the former central library.

The new plan, though, has begged the age-old question in this city: Did Wichita settle?

The preliminary concept, presented to Wichita's City Council by international design firm Populous, comes with a $400 million price tag — a far cry from the $1.2 billion Riverfront Legacy Master Plan, which had momentum in early 2020 until it was derailed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

An early breakdown of the project costs:

• $30 million to renovate a portion of Century II into a 30,000 square-foot ballroom and full-sized commercial kitchen to serve the convention center.
• $25 million to modify the north side of Century II with an undetermined new use.
• $170 million to expand Bob Brown Expo Hall.
• $15 million to repurpose the former central library into an event space.
• $160 million for additional site development, parking, landscaping and riverfront access.

City manager Robert Layton described the plan presented Tuesday as a "bold vision."

I have no confidence in this Robert Layton guy. And why this was released with no plan for Performing Arts is baffling. They can't do anything until that's addressed.

And 40% of this budget is for a bridge.

[SHOCKvalue]

Yet still absolutely zero plans for performing arts, which is the main reason Century II is a problem.

They have zero plans on what to actually do with Century II.

No mention of what the plan is with the library.

I still don't understand the love of the blue roof.

Is this really a plan? Or is just a way to shut up the save Century II people for a while?

The only real specifics is a $160M pedestrian bridge and expanded convention space.

The rest of it sounds like putting money into something with no idea as to what the purpose will be.

Did I miss something? Or misunderstand something?

Seriously! 100%! Everything you said!

This is such a dumb town. Leadership can't take a step without either tripping on their own deek or funneling money to their friends and family.

Pedestrian bridge was included for the funding for the ballpark. Did that money just disappear? Where's the fricking accountability? What is the planned use of the blue hamburger, after renos? Where the hell is the one thing this town really needs - a performing arts center?

Don't ever get your hopes up with Wichita and think... gee, Tulsa or OKA or Des Moines or Omaha (or whoever) did this or that right, why don't we follow. Nope, not going to happen. Ever. The town is permanently and irrevocably broken. Bad decisions must be made, because the inertia of past bad decisions can't be stopped or so much as slowed.

[ShockTalk]

SubGod22

Just in case one doesn't understand my "Like" of your post, I'm agreeing with you, NOT the proposed plan.

[SubGod22]

For what it's worth, the last WBJ article on this topic had a Business Pulse poll for readers. Over half hate the proposal while 27% apparently love it. The others are essentially it's better than nothing but disappointing.

So nearly three-fourths of readers find it uninspiring.

[Kung Wu]

Seriously! 100%! Everything you said!

This is such a dumb town. Leadership can't take a step without either tripping on their own deek or funneling money to their friends and family.

Pedestrian bridge was included for the funding for the ballpark. Did that money just disappear? Where's the fricking accountability? What is the planned use of the blue hamburger, after renos? Where the hell is the one thing this town really needs - a performing arts center?

Don't ever get your hopes up with Wichita and think... gee, Tulsa or OKA or Des Moines or Omaha (or whoever) did this or that right, why don't we follow. Nope, not going to happen. Ever. The town is permanently and irrevocably broken. Bad decisions must be made, because the inertia of past bad decisions can't be stopped or so much as slowed.

Dude! I just figured out the killer use for Century II !!!

Let's install massive banks of free to use fax machines, typewriters, calculators and beta max viewing booths -- complete with corn dog stands and neon lighting!!! Wichita will go gaga over it! I have this uncle that could rock that renovation out for $125.5M -- half of what the next guy will charge!

[WuDrWu]

I believe this might be of interest to some, as I think it was talked about at least briefly in this or another thread.

WBJ - Kansas Star Casino owners vie for video horse racing with $160M Park City development plan



Park City continues to make moves.

Ruffin has also submitted a proposal to put these machines at Wichita Greyhound Park.

I don't know what the Ruffin proposal looks like, but I have to admit that the Boyd plan looks good from what we know.

I don't personally understand HHR and don't really pay attention to horse racing in general so I can't really speak to that. But surrounding it with other options that can help draw people in is smart. The location works great being right off 135 and essentially next door to Hartman Arena and Crosswinds Casino.

I like horse racing...I would never step foot in this place. It has zero interest for me but if it does for others, have at it. WGP should be the focus for one of those Discovery shows about when humans disappear....that place looks to be well past usability to me. I think I posted something about dog racing vanishing in this country (Memphis area closed at the end of 2022 leaving only 2 active tracks in West Virginia and the sport itself outlawed in something like 45 states) so I can't imagine the track would be utilized. Maybe he just rebuilds on that piece of land idk.

[SubGod22]

This is pretty cool, and something I'd kind of thought about at different times in my life. There have been some decent artists in the area and some have moved away and others have stayed local, but I wondered if there was any kind of support system in Wichita that could help a potential up and coming artist. I know nothing about the music industry so it's not like I was ever going to figure something out, but now there may be an avenue to help some bands/artists get out there more and make more money doing what they love.

Eagle - So you wanna be a rock 'n' roll star - or at least make music for a living? Here's help

Wichita has, at best, what could be called an imperfect music economy, a couple of local promoters say, and they want to change that.

Jessie and Adam Hartke, who are owners in Wave, the Cotillion, D Tour and Hartke Presents, wanted to create an ecosystem in which musicians can not only thrive but use their art to make a living instead of having to have side jobs.

“We’ve mainly been importing music, right?” Jessie Hartke said.

She said a lot of touring acts come through the area and make money, and then “a lot of it leaves when the artists leave town.”

“So what can we do to create a more export-based music economy within Wichita?” Hartke said.

That’s how Midtopia was born. The new nonprofit is a type of development program for musicians.

Hartke said there is a wealth of local bands, but few have sustainable business models to where they can do it full time for careers.

The program is kicking off with four local artists — Rudy Love & The Encore, Social Cinema, the Cavves and Keo & Them — but the goal is to help elevate musicians around the country and put them on sustainable career paths.

Midtopia, which is working with grants that Hartke said she’ll share more about later, has a studio for artists to record in and will book tours for the artists as well. For the out-of-town artists, eventually there will be temporary housing as well.

Who knows what this will or will not lead to, but it can't hurt.

[Kung Wu]

I like horse racing...I would never step foot in this place. It has zero interest for me but if it does for others, have at it. WGP should be the focus for one of those Discovery shows about when humans disappear....that place looks to be well past usability to me. I think I posted something about dog racing vanishing in this country (Memphis area closed at the end of 2022 leaving only 2 active tracks in West Virginia and the sport itself outlawed in something like 45 states) so I can't imagine the track would be utilized. Maybe he just rebuilds on that piece of land idk.

We should event bot-racing. Or at least robo-dog or robo-horse racing. Has to be 100% battery powered, and no wheels allowed. If your bot leaves its lane, it's perma-banned. Other than that, have it!

[SubGod22]

The car wash craze expands to Andover.

WBJ - National car wash brand expanding into growing Andover area

A part of Andover that has seen significant recent development — with more expected — is adding a national car wash brand that continues to expand its local footprint.

Tommy's Express Car Wash plans to open its fourth Wichita-area location later this year on the south side of U.S. 54 at the northwest corner of Cloud Avenue and Plaza. That's just east of the Dillons Marketplace at U.S. 54 and Andover Road in the Andover MarketPlace development.

It's also near Butler Community College's new Redler Institute of Culinary Arts and across the highway from the under-construction Heritage Square, a part of the $200-million The Heritage development effort.

"Andover is a great community and the Kellogg corridor can't be beat," said Milton Wolf, owner of all metro area Tommy's Express locations, in an email to the WBJ. "This location will balance our presence on both sides of the Wichita metro and put us in a better position to serve our guests who enjoy getting to wash at any Tommy's Express in Wichita or across America."

There's already a car wash just across Andover Rd. (west) of Dillons. This one will be just across the parking lot (north).

Sounds like Tommy's has more planned for the metro area as well.

[SubGod22]

This probably isn't something I would normally share, but it got me wondering. I may be stretching the reality, but it gives me some hope that there's maybe a bit of a shift on the way.

WBJ - Greater Wichita Partnership hires former KSN anchor Emily Younger

"Storytelling and navigating the ever-changing news cycle is a passion of mine," Younger said in an emailed statement. "I am honored to couple my professional background as a journalist with the Greater Wichita Partnership’s rich knowledge of economic development and community relations to highlight the hard work being done to grow and improve the Greater Wichita region."
.....

At the Greater Wichita Partnership, Younger says she will manage and coordinate local, regional and national media, as well as tell stories to support the Partnership and its affiliate, Downtown Wichita.

"Stories are magic," she said. "They can evoke emotions and ideas that make everyday life seem superb. They also build trust. This position gives me the opportunity to use my unique storytelling and relationship-building skills to highlight the Partnership’s fast-forward thinking and great efforts to create jobs, attract and retain talent and improve the area's quality of life."

Is this the organizations way of escalating their potential impact and not only further spreading the positives going on in and around Wichita, but to potentially try and shift the narrative from both within and beyond in regards to Wichita?

I may be reading too much into this and we'll have to see how this plays out, but bringing in someone with her credentials and experience in telling stories and selling an idea could have a potential positive impact moving forward if used correctly.

Or, this may be a ho-hum move in regards to anything and is really just another job.

[SubGod22]

KSN - St. Patrick's Day parade to take place Saturday in Wichita's Delano District

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – The Paddy Day Parade will take place Saturday, March 11, in Wichita’s Delano District. The parade will start at noon.

The parade was last held in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic. The parade is already maxed out on participants.

“We bring in some new zones this year. We partnered with Rainbows United. They are going to be doing a fantastic kids’ zone this year. That opens at 10 a.m., because you know people come down early and start lining up the streets,” Ron Knackstedt, Xclusive Events, said. “We are doing a teen zone in front of All Things Barbecue. All kinds of things for teens to do, including the hamburger eating contest and a cornhole tournament.”

There will be a new street party/food truck zone from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in front of Slape & Howard at Douglas at Handley Street. The party will have several food trucks and music.

Hope this goes well. Love seeing the Irish celebrated.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Eisenhower Airport ridership jumps to start 2023

Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport is off to a strong start in 2023.

New data from the Wichita Airport Authority shows total ridership in January of 115,439 passengers, besting the performance of January 2022 by nearly 24%.

That comes on the heels of a rebound last year from the travel impact of Covid-19 that saw Eisenhower National’s annual passenger count rise by nearly 20% over 2021 and 94% over 2020.

The airport still lags behind the pre-pandemic levels, however, as January 2023 remained around 12% lower than the passenger count in January 2020.

Things are going pretty well over at Ike. If they can open up a few more routes like they're trying to, it could make a big difference in the numbers.

[SubGod22]

KSN - Tickets for Wichita's performance of 'Hamilton' go on sale Monday

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Tickets to the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton” are about to go on sale.

The American Theatre Guild is bringing the Broadway touring company of the musical to Century II Concert Hall in Wichita on June 6-18.

Tickets go on sale on March 13, starting at 10 a.m. at BroadwayWichita.com or by calling 316-755-7328.

The scaled back version will run from June 6 to June 18. Times and prices are in the link.