General News in the 316

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Wichita airport sees increase in customers, sales and parking

Although the amount of passenger traffic continues to rise at Wichita's Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, the airport has not yet reached pre-pandemic numbers, according to its June report.

In June, the Wichita airport served slightly more than 79,000 passengers, up 7% over the same period last year, but down 7% compared to 2019.

The busiest June at Eisenhower, according to the airport, was in 2019, with almost 85,000 passengers leaving Wichita. The combined total of customers leaving and entering the airport was around 160,000 in June. The total passenger activity for June showed a 6.5% increase compared to the previous year’s June.

Things continue to trend in the right direction for Ike.

15% increase in food and gift sales within the airport.

24% increase in parking revenue.

Those account for a net positive of approximately $250,000.

[SubGod22]

Audacy - New development agreement for land near Wichita's Riverfront Stadium

The Wichita City Council has approved a new development agreement for properties near Riverfront Stadium.

After the city buys back the property from Wichita Riverfront LP, they will resell it for the same amount - $1/acre - to EPC Real Estate Group. EPC plans to construct a 155-key hotel, 150-unit apartment complex, 10,000 square feet of retail space and a 260-stall parking garage, all essential to generating significant tax revenue to pay off the debt of building the stadium. Without it, taxpayers would be on the hook for the bill.
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The new agreement has additional safeguards in place to assure that development benchmarks are met as the project moves forward. They are:

Within 9 months of Effective Date: submit an application and associated construction drawings sufficient to obtain a footing & foundation permit from the joint City of Wichita and Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Building & Construction Department (“MABCD”).

Within 12 months of Effective Date: submit an application and associated construction drawings sufficient to obtain a building permit from MABCD.

Within 13 months of Effective Date: commence construction as defined herein.

Within 15 months of Effective Date: commence vertical construction of hotel, multifamily residential apartments, and parking garage.

Within 30 months of Effective Date: obtain temporary certificate of cccupancy for all buildings comprising the project.

Developer further agrees to make diligent progress throughout the development timeline and to make every commercially reasonable effort to complete the project sooner than 30 months.

I'm not sure when this clock starts, but I would guess it should all be finished before the end of 2026.

I would also hope that the partnership either starts building something by the time this is completed on the rest of the land that they own or will have sold that land and left town by then.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Wichita TIF district that funded Old Town plaza closes after 19 years

A tax increment finance district initially established in 1999 and activated five years later in 2004 to support the development in one of downtown Wichita's most vibrant areas has been closed.

On Tuesday, Wichita's City Council voted unanimously to close the Old Town Cinema TIF District now that it has fully reimbursed the debt issued over the last 19 years to build the Old Town plaza and parking garage, as well as fund nearby street improvements. That means means the additional property taxes generated within the district will now start going back to city, county and Wichita Public School coffers.

Established in 1999, the Old Town Cinema TIF District stretched between 3rd and 2nd streets, and from Washington west to the rail road tracks. That encompassed the now-closed Warren Old Town theater and several surrounding retail shops, restaurants and other businesses.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Now for sale, former Old Town Warren theater grabbing diverse interest, agent says

After the theater closed on July 20 amid its parent company's bankruptcy filing, speculation quickly grew as to whether another movie theater operator would move in — or if a new owner would convert it into other uses.

So far, Stafford said he's received inquiries from those across the spectrum.

"There's been a lot of interest from theater groups for sure, because it is an existing theater and does have digital media in it," he said. "There's also been some interest from folks that just like the location and like the Old Town vibe. And that building set-up is such that, if someone wanted to, you could go in and renovate it into a different use completely."

Those alternative options could include a multi-use entertainment facility with bowling and other games, an event venue paired with a restaurant or a bar, or it could be an even larger overhaul, Stafford said.

"It has steel structure and concrete in it, so it could become someone's office, if they wanted to do that," he said.

I've never been to it, but I would hope that it lands in the hands of another theater group. Especially with the continued growth of downtown, I would think having a theater located down there could be quite good.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - City Council vote begins new chapter in much-anticipated ballpark project

"We have lessons that we've learned from the past," said Council member Becky Tuttle, who voted in favor of the agreement. "But I think, moving forward, this is what's absolutely best for our community, as we're thinking of quality of life and attracting and retaining not only talent but businesses."

Council member Jeff Blubaugh was the one vote in opposition.

The approval means the original 2019 agreement between WRLP and the city is now terminated, and WRLP is released from all obligations and relinquishes all rights under a previously updated 2022 agreement.

The new agreement for mixed-use commercial development with EPC still includes plans for an eight-story, 155-room hotel from the New York City-based Dream Hotel Group. But instead of Class A office space, there will be a 150-unit luxury apartment complex to go along with 10,000 square feet of retail space and a 260-stall parking garage.

"The only thing that has primarily changed obviously is we know and understand that the office market is not what it used to be," assistant city manager Troy Anderson told the council. "There is a high demand for multifamily residential."

They state that the biomedical facility alone will demand at least 1300 additional residential units downtown and that's one reason for the pivot from office to apartments for the development.

[SubGod22]

Eagle - 'Wichita has never seen anything like this,' Urban Air 2.0 owner says

The business has been closed the past couple of months as they upgraded the park.

“Now, we are considered an Urban Air 2.0 park,” Jon Becker said.

In addition to the Sky Rider attraction that shoots guests across the length of the building, there are new rock climbing walls with places to jump off.

“The beautiful thing about those is you can actually adjust the distance you have to jump,” Becker said.

He said there are a lot of new features throughout the park that can be adjusted to skill sets or set to timers to compete with others or try to improve times.

[AndShock]

WBJ - City Council vote begins new chapter in much-anticipated ballpark project



They state that the biomedical facility alone will demand at least 1300 additional residential units downtown and that's one reason for the pivot from office to apartments for the development.

How many residents does an area need before it gets a grocery store?

[SubGod22]

How many residents does an area need before it gets a grocery store?

Can't tell you, but there is belief that the biomedical facility will be the catalyst to one finally being downtown. I know I read that I believe in one of the WBJ articles in the past few weeks.

[SubGod22]

I'm sure this will interest a few of you.

Eagle - It's become one of Wichita's biggest beer festivals, and it's returning for its 10th year

It has grown to become one of Wichita’s biggest beer festivals over the last decade, and on Saturday, Johnson Garden Centers’ annual Iron Chilehead event will return for its 10th year — with a record number of breweries in attendance.

The event, which happens from noon to 4 p.m. in the parking lot of the Johnson’s Garden Centers at 2707 W. 13th St., always marks the arrival of Hatch green chile season, and its centerpiece is a beer festival that this year will include 24 local and regional craft breweries offering samples. One of the beers each brewery serves will be infused with the Hatch green chilis that garden center owner Marty Johnson always travels to New Mexico to retrieve. A panel of judges will choose the best one.

Another panel of judges, which I will be a part of, will choose the best green chili-focused dish prepared by food trucks and vendors at the festival feeding the crowds. Among the vendors this year will be Argentina’s Empanadas, Face Stuffers, Funky Monkey Munchies, Cheezepanzee, Southeast Carryout and Tommy’s Apizza.

I have a couple of co-workers that rave about the Hatch green chili's from Johnson.

[shocktown]

How many residents does an area need before it gets a grocery store?

I guess it depends how many of the ‘residents’ will actually be paying customers and how many will be looking for a updated 4-wheel mobile possession unit.

[SubGod22]

Wichita by EB - Kansas Aviation Museum's Play on a Plane is the event for all ages

An event taking place this Saturday, August 19 that is perfect for all ages is Play On A Plane at the Kansas Aviation Museum.

Come out for a day of interactive and exciting fun at the Kansas Aviation Museum located at 3350 George Washington Boulevard ! Walk through some of the planes on the ramp including: KC-135, Boeing 727 (FedEx) or Boeing 737. Peek into the cockpit of our B-52 D! Activities for families to enjoy include WSU Mobile Lab and Ortega Aviation Hands-on Learning.

Get Tickets

KAM Members get early access at 9 a.m., and general admission starts at 10 a.m. Single person is $5, or a carload (up to 12 people) is just $10 making it a very affordable option for families.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Wichita startup wants to construct a hybrid-electric plane that is handicapped accessible

The AirCraft Company, a Wichita-based startup launched by a local husband and wife team, is working to develop a new 30-seat hybrid-electric plane with the goal to launch by 2029.

The aircraft, which was announced earlier this year, will eventually be part of a family of three hybrid aircrafts to be designed and manufactured in the Air Capital.

The founders are Mario Asselin, an aviation engineer, and Sylvie St-Georges, a former flight test pilot — and both have years of experience in aircraft services and flight testing. Though they're from Canada, the couple says they have made Wichita home and could think of no other place than the Air Capital to start their business and tap into a high-growth industry.

"We need to grow quickly," St-Georges said. "The market, the need is going to be so big so quickly. We need to actually look for more companies in the U.S. to start doing what we're doing just so that we can fulfill the demand because I do believe that demand is going to be tremendous."

Outside of The AirCraft Company, the couple also runs the Wichita-based Asselin Inc., an aviation company that services small and transit airplanes.

Along with going green, the new electric airplane family, known as Pangea, will have larger seats, more legroom, bigger windows and wider aisles — simply, it will be more comfortable for the passenger.

They have some good ideas and could, if it works as planned, find a nice niche in the market and have a lot of growth potential. It says they would also have future plans for a 50 and 125 seat plane. I hope they hit this one out of the park as it would be huge for Wichita to be a player in this area as well.

[ky-mike]

How many residents does an area need before it gets a grocery store?

Ask Hesston ;)

[Shockm]

Ask Hesston ;)

Maybe too many Hesstonians drive the short 7-10 miles to Newton to get to a Dillons or a Walmart. Probably a little lower prices, and more choices for groceries from what a local grocer can provide. That can cause a problem in a small community if they want a grocery store.

[SubGod22]

KWCH - Home game attendance surges for Wichita Wind Surge

Despite the hot weather, Wind Surge fans still came out to support the team Friday night.

“We like it as a family on Friday nights,” Larry Kloefkorn said. “We think it’s a great way to cap off the week.”

Growing crowds have helped the Wind Surge in the stadium’s ticket sales, leading to the biggest increase in attendance across minor league baseball. The organization has seen an increase of 1,600 more fans per game this year in comparison to last season.

“The jump from ‘22 to ‘23 is 1,600 people a game,” said Jay Miller, President of the Wind Surge. “Someone was calling me up and congratulating me so I was really pleasantly surprised.”

Miller said it’s not only an opportunity to watch future major leaguers play here in Wichita that is bringing fans to the ballpark, but cheaper prices for tickets and concessions.

“I thought the pricing, concessions pricings and even the ticket pricing was a little aggressive, so we cut the prices there down so that families could afford it,” Miller said.