Category Archives: Apartments

Vantage Point Properties to build SunStone Apartment Homes at Andover MarketPlace

March 12, 20135:08 p.m.

WICHITA — Developer Paul Jackson is preparing to build the next phase of Andover MarketPlace, and it’s a sizable one.

It’s the SunStone Apartment Homes at 711 E. Cloud, which is south of Kellogg a half mile east of Andover Road.

“We’re building a 208-unit complex that’s market rate,” says Jackson, who is president of Vantage Point Properties.

That means there won’t be an affordable-housing component to the apartments.

Jackson initially purchased 80 acres east of Kellogg and Andover Road and then bought another 70.

“We’ve owned that land since around 2007 and have slowly developed it … in the most quality fashion that fits the community,” he says. “You know, that’s a big project for Andover.”

The MarketPlace is where there’s a Dillons Marketplace, the Andover YMCA and an elementary school, all of which have since purchased their land from him.

There’s also a strip center with several retail businesses in it along with an Arby’s restaurant.

Jackson says the highway exposure and convenience will be great for the apartments.

“Most importantly, we think it’s a very good use for the site that supports the other things around it.”

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By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , , , Filed under Andover, Apartments, Real estate | Comments Off

Renfro apartments ready to debut

Oct. 18, 201211:08 a.m.

UPDATED — There will be more than art on display downtown for the Oct. 26 Final Friday.

Developers Robert Eyster and Michael Ramsey, in collaboration with Farha Construction, also are introducing their new Renfro apartments, including some gallery space in the first floor hallway of the historic building.

The property was built at 612 E. Douglas in 1908 and once was home to the Renfro hotel. Most recently, it was Victoria Park Apartments.

“It’s a building that needed a lot of love,” Ramsey says.

He applied for the building to be on the National Register of Historic Places and was able to use historic tax credits in renovating it.

“We love being part of giving a building another 100 years of life,” says contractor Ted Farha. “There’s something pretty special about that.

“When it comes to sustainability or green building, really, I don’t think there’s anything greener than taking an existing building and bringing it up to date.”

There are 20 units, including a few live-work units with metal spiral staircases between the work and living spaces. There also are two commercial spaces in the front of the building. Those spaces are still available. Four of the apartments, including one live-work space, are leased.

There are unique touches throughout the building, such as original ceiling tins in some apartments, a garage door in one back unit and glass brick where another garage door once was.

Ramsey says he, Eyster and Farha Construction incorporated a lot of what they learned from renovating the Zelman Lofts building just down the street.

“The things that worked we tried to keep,” he says.

That includes open areas and ambient light.

“People will put up with smaller living space if we give them lots of storage, lots of shared light, lots of open area … and we give them nice kitchens and nice bathrooms.”

They found substantial savings by having Farha build cabinets in each of the units instead of buying them.

There are further savings for renters with high efficiency heating and air and LED lighting.

“We employed all the current technology that’s available to make this building as green as possible without going through . . . all the LEED Certification stuff,” Farha says. “It’s really satisfying to be able to do that. To create great living spaces for people.”

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By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , , , , Filed under Apartments, Downtown, Real estate | Comments Off

Garvey Center to build 36-unit apartment complex downtown at First and Waco

Sept. 4, 20125:00 a.m.

WICHITA — In another sign of recovery – both for Wichita and downtown in particular – the Garvey Center is going to build new apartments.

“We’re going to be constructing 36 new apartment units at the corner of First and Waco,” says Garvey Center manager Larry Weber.

The city owns half the parking lot that’s at the southeast corner, and the Garvey Center owns the other half.

Weber expects the project will take about a year to build after the city approves selling its land.

“The thing that’s significant about it is it’s adding new residential into our downtown,” says Jeff Fluhr, president of the Wichita Downtown Development Corp.

Fluhr says Builders Inc., which owns the Garvey Center, and its CEO, Mike Garvey, were some of the first to step up to help pay for a $100,000 study of downtown that showed that more residential is needed. Fluhr says more living areas in turn help meet retail and restaurant needs, which also were part of the plan.

City Council member Janet Miller agrees that the new apartments are likely to help with the ripple effect.

“That brings more services, more retail, more entertainment options.” All of that may eventually lead to a full-scale grocery store for the city’s core, she says, “which is what everybody wants.”

The Garvey Center already has 155 apartments at 250 Douglas Place.

“We’re 100 percent (occupied) on those, and the demand is such that more are needed,” Weber says.

Parking will be within the Garvey Center’s garage.

While other apartments and condos have become available downtown in recent years, none has been built from the ground up.

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By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , , Filed under Apartments, Downtown, Real estate | Comments Off

Waterfront to be home to new Class A luxury apartment village

Aug. 10, 20124:14 p.m.

WICHITA — There’s another new phase of development coming to the Waterfront at the northeast corner of 13th and Webb Road.

Steve Clark and Johnny Stevens are planning a Class A apartment complex with up to 300 units.

“It will be unlike anything Wichita has,” says Stephen Clark II, who is handling the development. “It’ll be a big deal.”

The complex will be across the lake from Homewood Suites by Hilton at the Waterfront.

Stephen Clark describes the complex as a gated village with some conventional attached units and some detached units, such as luxury duplexes.

There also will be some furnished corporate units.

“Wichita doesn’t have any Class A apartments,” Clark says.

There will be granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, covered parking and private garages, a pool, a wine cellar, a putting green and a clubhouse with a chef’s kitchen.

“It will match the Waterfront’s design criteria on the exterior,” Clark says.

That includes brick, stone and stucco.

Clark also recently announced the new Waterfront Plaza on the northwest corner, which Whole Foods Market will anchor, and a new 4.3 acre mixed-use development within the Waterfront on the northeast corner.

He says the apartments will be a good addition to the mix.

“They’re just going to be on a whole other level.”

 

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , Filed under Apartments, East side, Real estate, Waterfront | Comments Off

Bennington Place executive apartments one step closer to approval

Oct. 21, 20112:27 p.m.

WICHITA — Developers Mike Brand and Steve Clark are one step closer to being able to build their Bennington Place executive apartments near the southeast corner of 21st and Maize.

The planning commission on Thursday voted 11 to 2 in favor of allowing the 130-unit complex.

There were what one person calls a “boatload” of protesters attending, and there was a petition against the apartments with more than 100 signatures.

Now, a vote goes to a District Advisory Board Nov. 7. The earliest it’s likely to then go to City Council for a final vote would be Dec. 6.

City zoning codes are ranked from least intensive to most intensive.

Commercial uses are ranked at a higher level — meaning they create more traffic, among other things — than residential uses.

Brand’s property is already zoned limited commercial, so planners would view multifamily zoning — which he’s seeking — as less intensive.

As Brand told Have You Heard? earlier this week, he’s already tried to do something commercial there with no success.

“Over the years, I just haven’t gotten the right person in there,” he said. “There’s not a lot of commercial going on right now.”

Which is why he said he thought of apartments.

“It’s a great location for apartments.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , Filed under Apartments, Real estate, West side | Comments Off

Daryl Crotts buys Kingsley Square Apartments

June 16, 20114:31 p.m.

WICHITA — Daryl Crotts, who owns Crotts Commercial Real Estate, has purchased his first multifamily property.

Crotts has other types of commercial property as well but thought Kingsley Square Apartments was a good opportunity.

The 50-unit complex is at First and Joann streets, which is six blocks east of West Street and one block north of Douglas Avenue.

“It’s never been on the market,” Crotts says.

The owner built half the complex in 1978 and the other half in 1980.

“It was in really good condition. Well maintained,” Crotts says. “We were just glad to have the privilege to take over ownership.”

He’s open to buying other apartments as well.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , Filed under Apartments, Real estate, West side | Comments Off

Zelman building developers to also transform nearby Victoria Park Apartments

April 21, 20113:19 p.m.

WICHITA — It looks like developers Robert Eyster and Michael Ramsey are working on another project just down from where they’re transforming the Zelman building at Douglas and St. Francis.

They’re not talking just yet, but the two are planning to remodel the Victoria Park Apartments, which are now low-income housing, at 612 E. Douglas.

Eyster and Ramsey plan studio and one-bedroom apartments for the 18,000-square-foot building’s second and third floors.

They’re apparently contemplating event space for the first floor.

Eyster and Ramsey have already begun work on the former Zelman building, where they plan apartments, offices and a restaurant.

Look for more information on the Victoria Park Apartments soon.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , Filed under Apartments, Downtown, Real estate | Comments Off

Linkhaus developers to transform Zelman building into apartments, restaurant and office space

Jan. 18, 20118:56 p.m.

WICHITA — Linkhaus developers Robert Eyster and Michael Ramsey were looking for a second site to put their hot dog restaurant last year when they toured the Zelman building downtown.

They immediately realized two things: A Linkhaus isn’t quite right for that spot, but they wanted the 15,000-square-foot building anyway.

“It was a hidden gem,” says Ramsey, who is managing partner for the restaurant and Zelman project.

“Everybody knows about the Zelman building,” he says. “It’s certainly a hometown type of story that we thought was cool.”

Last month, Have You Heard? reported that lawyer David Moses had a contract to sell the building at Douglas and St. Francis where his grandfather Sam Zelman’s namesake men’s clothing store was from the 1920s to 2006.

Eyster and Ramsey didn’t want to say much about their plans for a restaurant, apartments and office space at the property until the deal closed, which it now has.

Eyster, an orthopedic surgeon, is interested in the project for several reasons.

“It’s an opportunity,” Ramsey says. “The city and the people of Wichita have been very good to him, and he feels like it’s his responsibility to try to give back.”

Eyster likes the timing with the city’s plan for redeveloping downtown.

“It’s a great idea. I’m all for it,” he says. “If I can be part of that development, I think it will be good for me, and I think it will be hopefully good for Wichita.”

Eyster says he started Linkhaus in part to give the people who work for him something else to do, and that’s part of his thinking behind the Zelman building, too.

Also, Eyster has investments here and outside of Wichita, but he says, “I’m really interested in getting more of my investment portfolio here. I’m able to keep a close eye and be more involved.”

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By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , Filed under Apartments, Downtown, Real estate, Restaurants | Comments Off

Delano renovation adds to number of apartments in the area

Dec. 16, 20096:02 a.m.

WICHITA — For years, Ileana and James Monarez have been renovating houses, duplexes and apartments, but their latest remodel now has them looking for a break.

“This one has been a big project,” Ileana Monarez says of Harrison Apartments, the 18-unit apartments they renovated at 125 S. Seneca in Delano.

“But it is something that maybe in the future is going to pay off.”

The Monarezes are partners in J and J Associates with James’ brother, John.

Ileana Monarez also sells real estate for J.P. Weigand & Sons.

She says no one has been in the 1925 apartments for a couple of years.

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By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , , Filed under Apartments, Delano, Real estate | Comments

Wichita has at least three smoke-free apartment buildings

Sept. 18, 20093:17 p.m.

WICHITA — It turns out 250 Douglas Place isn’t the first Wichita apartment to go smoke free, including tenants’ rooms.

At least two more are already entirely smoke free.

Last year, the Quarters at Cambridge announced it was the first to become smoke free.

The Quarters’ Charlotte Hanley-Jacobson says she did research and couldn’t find another Wichita complex that had a similar policy.

But Highland House Apartments, a 12-story apartment at 13th and Woodlawn, has been smoke free for more than two decades.

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By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , Filed under Apartments, Leases | Comments