Plans for a major bowling center development on Maize Road just north of Kellogg will reemerge at this morning’s city council meeting.
The ambitious plan’s initial phase calls for a huge bowling alley flush with entertainment, a high-tech training center for bowlers worldwide and restaurant sites that would be sold. Later phases of the 32 acre “Bowllagio” development would include a 4-level hotel and more restaurants and retail stores.
But that all hinges on several approvals and studies by the city and state. Jay Maxwell’s development group, Maize 54 LLc, is seeking STAR bonds to help finance the project. City reports don’t list a total cost. But STAR bond projects require at least $50 million development.
Today’s vote would simply set a June 8 public hearing where people could share opinions on the project. If approved at that point, the state would analyze the project and send it back to the city for more in-depth consideration. Then it would go back to the state before construction could begin. The whole process would take several months.
STAR bond financing lets the Kansas Department of Revenue capture incremental increases in sales taxes collected in an approved district and use it to pay the principal and interest on STAR bonds issued to finance some project expenses.
The Bowllagio project seemed to disintegrated last November after questions arose about the involvement of Wichita State University’s bowling coach, Gordon Vadakin. Developers had listed him as a part of the bowling school in city documents. But, without any firm commitments and other unanswered questions about the STAR bonds, council members and developers agreed to table the idea.
Neither Vadakin or WSU are part of this project.