General News in the 316

[SubGod22]

KFDI - Swiss company chooses Winfield for U.S. headquarters

A Switzerland-based company that builds railroad rail fasteners and solution designs has chosen Winfield as the location for its U.S. headquarters.

Schwihag has purchased a 30,000 square-foot property at the Winfield Industrial Park. The company plans to hire 15 employees in the short term, with additional employment opportunities expected as the company grows. Positions will include line workers, machine operators and supervisors.

Schwihag General Manager Americas, Marc Raymond, said in a press release that the factory will be a significant step in the firm’s commitment to innovation, job creation and contributing to the local economy in Cowley County.

The grand opening of the Winfield facility is expected within the next couple of months.

I have no clue how big this type of business is, but having a foreign entity select Winfield as their US base of operations is a pretty big deal for Winfield and Cowley County. Hopefully they grow and have a great deal of success.

[ShockBand]

KFDI - Swiss company chooses Winfield for U.S. headquarters



I have no clue how big this type of business is, but having a foreign entity select Winfield as their US base of operations is a pretty big deal for Winfield and Cowley County. Hopefully they grow and have a great deal of success.

Having a 30,000 sf facility that I'm guessing was empty and ready to use must have been a big sweetener for the deal. Newton and Wellington have a greater railroad yard presence than Winfield. I love it when our smaller towns can snag things like this, even if the presence is small at first.

[SubGod22]

A little more info on the luxury apartments set to be downtown from I think it was yesterday.

WBJ - Wichita developer's big downtown luxury apartment building plans are still a go

Nearly a year after developer Paul Jackson unveiled plans for a large luxury apartment project in downtown Wichita, there are signs of progress toward the vision becoming reality.

The Vantage Point Properties development — with the potential to bring more than 200 residential units to the northwest corner of Washington Avenue and Waterman — is working through the demolition phase this month. Recently, a 4,000 square-foot Quonset hut, a type of prefabricated steel building, was torn down at the location.

A 39,000 square-foot, four-story vacant warehouse on the site is up next for demolition in the coming days, Jackson said.

The Vantage Point CEO said he does not have a firm date set for groundbreaking on the project, but his goal is to start construction in the spring.

No start date on construction as they're waiting for better weather to do dirt work.

No announcement of how many units will be included, but he did say that there is no parking agreement with the city and one won't be needed. So I'm guessing it'll be in the 250-260 range instead of the 370 that was first announced last year.

I would assume we'll hear more about how many units to expect in the near future once they finalize the plans.

[Veritas]

A little more info on the luxury apartments set to be downtown from I think it was yesterday.

WBJ - Wichita developer's big downtown luxury apartment building plans are still a go



No start date on construction as they're waiting for better weather to do dirt work.

No announcement of how many units will be included, but he did say that there is no parking agreement with the city and one won't be needed. So I'm guessing it'll be in the 250-260 range instead of the 370 that was first announced last year.

I would assume we'll hear more about how many units to expect in the near future once they finalize the plans.

Washington and Waterman?
Isn’t it a bit of a rundown area more suited to warehouse type of apartments rather than luxury? Hopefully the walkability(?) factor will be cleaned up to allow students or teachers a nice strolling environment between the apartments and the Biomed campus.

[SubGod22]

Washington and Waterman?
Isn’t it a bit of a rundown area more suited to warehouse type of apartments rather than luxury? Hopefully the walkability(?) factor will be cleaned up to allow students or teachers a nice strolling environment between the apartments and the Biomed campus.

I'm going to assume you'll see a lot of changes over the next handful of years in this area because of the Biomed Campus.

I don't spend much time downtown so it's hard for me to know what's where and whatnot. But this is just about a block or so from IBA and there are a few other projects going on nearby that's new construction.

[Ta Town Shocker]

Washington and Waterman?
Isn’t it a bit of a rundown area more suited to warehouse type of apartments rather than luxury.

I'd argue it's a prime location for luxury apartments . As Sub noted, 1 block to the West is the IBA. That area has been improving over the years. Directly to the North is the Cargill building which is less than 10 years old. It's a block from Old Town. Due Northwest is the renovated Union Station area and the recently redone Naftzeger park. You're less than a minute from Kellogg and it's easy access. Lots of potential here.

[SubGod22]

Another road closure associated with the north junction project.

KSN - 29th Street North and Hydraulic to close for 2 months

29th Street North and Hydraulic will close on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

Drivers will also not be able to get onto southbound I-135. The road will close while crews install girders over 29th Street North/Hydraulic Avenue at I-135.

Traffic needing to access I-135 will need to detour north on Ohio to 37th Street and either use Hydraulic to access northbound I-135 or continue west on 37th to K-96 to access southbound I-135, as illustrated in the map below:

[SubGod22]

KSN - Wichita's airport set new record in 2024

Wichita’s Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport achieved a milestone in 2024, with a record-breaking 1,809,142 passengers departing and arriving at the airport.

The airport says it has passed a previous record set in 2019, when there were 1,749,906 total passengers. The 2024 figures reflect a 3% increase over 2019 and a 5% rise compared to 2023.

December 2024 also marked a historic achievement, setting a new monthly record with 154,367 passengers, up from the previous high of 149,934 in December 2019. Additionally, six monthly passenger records were broken throughout the year.

Good signs for Ike. I'd expect 2025 to have a good shot at breaking this record too. A few added flights starting this year as well as a couple of national events like the national figure skating championships and the NCAA tournament in March will allow for it to happen.

[Veritas]

I'd argue it's a prime location for luxury apartments . As Sub noted, 1 block to the West is the IBA. That area has been improving over the years. Directly to the North is the Cargill building which is less than 10 years old. It's a block from Old Town. Due Northwest is the renovated Union Station area and the recently redone Naftzeger park. You're less than a minute from Kellogg and it's easy access. Lots of potential here.

Good stuff. Except for Douglas and Old Town, I remember the nice area being divided by the RR tracks/bridge.
Agree there’s a lot of potential. Nice to see the area changing for the better.

[C0|dB|00ded]

Washington and Waterman?
Isn’t it a bit of a rundown area more suited to warehouse type of apartments rather than luxury? Hopefully the walkability(?) factor will be cleaned up to allow students or teachers a nice strolling environment between the apartments and the Biomed campus.

Yeah, that area is very commercial, or worse. Definitely not "prime" real estate. And absolutely bizarre to think someone would put luxury residential units there. It's gonna take a helluva lot of landscaping and fencing. If the design creates an interior outdoor area for lounging, dog-walking, and pool, like this place did, it might be okay:








But right next to the highway? Yuck!