WaterWalk conceptual rendering
The big news circulating in City Hall today is the change in management at the WaterWalk. The slow-moving project with more than $36 million of you tax dollars invested is now under day-to-day control of Jack DeBoer’s Consolidated Holdings Inc.
The change is intended to speed up development. Whether that will turn the letters of intent project managers continually say they have in hand into reality is a big question. Sorry, no answers or predictions here. It’s too early to tell.
Of course, many things are to blame for the years that have passed without significant movement. The city bungled a deal to get Bass Pro Shops in, the site plan has undergone drastic changes from the days in which developers pitched a navigable waterway though the area, the Boathouse debacle, commercial lending dried up… and the reputation the project has garnered can’t help.
Meanwhile, the $1.5 million Waltzing Waters computerized water fountains that are supposed to give the project a Bellagio feel are gathering dust in a rather run-down building downtown. New plans approved by city council members a few months ago now put the fountains near the center of the site, which is now a parking lot. That was the fifth change in the project since the council approved the shopping, office and condo venture seven years ago.
What do you think should happen next?
3 Comments
Uncle Jack had a great plan 20 years ago. Just think what Wichita could be now, had we listened to him then. But, no. WE have to spend $500K to figure out how to put all these individual plans together to form cohesiveness downtown.
Let’s stop everything that hasn’t broken ground at this point and figure it all out before we do another thing.
“the letters of intent project managers continually say they have in hand”
That line is right up there with “the check is in the mail” and “I’ll respect you in the morning”
Tom Johnson lost any credibility years ago.
I say stop and take a good hard look at where we are whith the project and decide where we want to go with it. The Water Walk area has real promise to become a showplace for Wichita. Let’s do it right but stop throwing away taxpayers money. Remember, the Ciy Council works for the people and is accountable for it’s actions. WE VOTE!!!!