The burden of proof is on WaterWalk developers to show why tearing down the Wichita Boathouse is a clear plus for the city — and that burden grew a bit heavier this week with news that Larkspur restaurant wants to operate a catering business out of the riverfront building.
Larkspur’s proposal could earn the city up to $900,000 over 10 years of operation. Moreover, some Wichitans have expressed strong support for keeping the Boathouse, which is undeniably attractive.
Still, if WaterWalk officials can show a significantly greater economic and cultural benefit from putting in the new corporate headquarters (developers cite a potential $300,000-a-year property tax revenue, up to 150 new high-paying jobs and a new riverfront restaurant), then they might have a compelling case.
Some other considerations: Could the Boathouse be moved? Is the open parklike area just north of the Boathouse available for the proposed office building?
Wichita City Council members need to ask a lot of questions and weigh all the options before making what is sure to be a tough decision.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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10 Comments
I was employed by the City of Wichita and stationed at the Wichita Boathouse. I was there helping with the public and lessees of the Banquet Hall for all of the events that took place at the Wichita Boathouse during that time. I was even responsible for tracking its budget.
I’ve personally seen many individuals of the public establish lasting memories and tie sentimental importance to the building with many wedding receptions and marriage ceremonies, including myself wasmarried at the Wichita Boathouse. So I can understand why there willbe a number of individuals that will want the Wichita Boathouse tostay.
But I’m going to make the case for the Wichita Boathouse to bedemolished and replaced with another building on its site. The Wichita Boathouse is a beautiful building, but its purpose has beenunderserved. When it was renovated to be the Boathouse, it was to help spur a resurgence of boating activity on the River as it was in the turn of the 1900’s, but it failed to do this and it eventually was turned over to the City of Wichita and in turn, the city used it for facility rental and to house the Visitors Information Center for tourist.
While the facility rental was successful, the Visitors Information Center could have been a lot better. Since my time there, I talked to hundreds of visitors, and with enthusiasm and pride, portray Wichita in the best light to make it shine. Although it was the duty of theGreater Wichita Convention & Visitors Bureau to staff this position, I took on the duty on the weekends, for which was the greatest number of visitors came. I really enjoyed this most of all.
But I often received some complaints from visitors that the Wichita Boathouse was difficult to find, many stumbled on to it by accident, thinking it was a restaurant, some just wanted to know what the yacht was for, and there was a sizable number that just came over from staying over at the Hyatt or the Radisson and saw it from the hotels.But I felt that we didn’t attract the visitors like it could. Ibelieve that many area visitors just became lost and gave up. Ireceived plenty of phone calls from people asking for directions to the facility or explained that they tried to find it, but couldn’t.
Now that the Wichita Boathouse is closed and the Visitors Information Center is back to the GWCVB Office, for which his even more difficult to find and even to park for visitors. The dual roll that the Wichita Boathouse had with facility rental and VIC has basically ceased. Deposits have been given back to those who have been planning events there, even up to more than a year an advance, and as the buildingremains dormant till 2007, the Wichita Boathouse will have to struggle to get back on track. Since the majority of facility rentals were planned and booked well in advance, the Wichita Boathouse, once reopened, will not have many banquet tenants for the first 6 months.Even another draw back is that the Center for Management Development at WSU used a classroom facility at the Wichita Boathouse on a regular basis that contributed to a great percentage of rental income to the Boathouse; that wing of the building has been demolished, so the Wichita Boathouse will no longer have that space to rent.
Just like many people, we all love the Wichita Boathouse, and I for one have great attachment to it, for I was there practically every day and I’m familiar with every nook and cranny of that place. But I believe the Wichita Boathouse had its run. I believe the spot the Boathouse sits on is one of the premier spots in Wichita and should be utilized for its full potential. A proposed multi-story, multi-usebuilding and a possible headquarters would be satisfactory. The spot needs to capitalized on the WaterWalk development, and not be abuilding that is under utilized.
I doubt that Larkspur can produce the numbers as they say, because they were given the chance to do the same thing to the Eaton Ball Room at partical city expense, yet they didn’t pull it off. They have a case for why it didn’t turn out well, but I don’t think they can achieve the $100,000 a year to give to the city.
$900,000 over 10 years at the Boathouse? Reminds me of the old line…”You want a projection? Give me your assumptions, I’ll make you a projection.” Clearly these assumptions are wildly optimistic.
Joe, thanks for all the great inside information.
Joe Williams,
Hear, hear. I’m with NoJoCo; great post.
The boathouse will be torn down simply because city staff has sided with the WaterWalk folks because, as always, staff sides with whoever has the most money, the Council and the people be damned.This is how it’s always going to be, I guess, until we storm the 13th floor and start throwing people out the windows.
Well after seeing the visually stunning and attractive riverfront development known as Gander Mtn the city has really gained credibility in knowing how to make the riverfront attractive and inviting
phht….morons!
Considering the Boathouse isn’t used as a boathouse, and is basically just a revamped oil company office building and warehouse, what’s the fuss? Unlike its predecessor, which was a real, functional facility, the “new” boathouse is just another nice place to rent for a reception or lunch. It’s pretty, but just another building.
I’m a past board member of the Arkansas River Foundation which is the organization that was responsible in raising the Wichita Boathouse.
Joe simply doesn’t have his facts right. The city forced the user groups out by tearing down the annex where the rowing shells were stored, moving the River Kids to Watson park where the city ended their budget, and chased off the Wichita Sailing Club by preventing them access to the boathouse.
The original intention of the Boathouse was to promote boating activities on the river reminiscent of the old Riverside Boathouse on the Little Arkansas river. Not a museum.
It was funded almost entirely with private fund raising of course with matching contributions from Bill Koch. It is something that the people of Wichita were and still are proud of.
Although the operating costs were too high for the daily operations to continue, the city stepped in to keep the doors open. However, even after the user groups were forced out, the boathouse maintains rental of the banquet hall and staffs the visitor center. There is a continued demand for a banquet hall with a serene water backdrop for receptions, weddings, and even political parties. There is an 18 month backlog of weekends booked for use of the banquet hall.
The boathouse along with the Jayhawk continue to entice people to enjoy the area near the river.
From the City Web site: “The Wichita Boathouse is one of the area’s premier attractions, featuring the permanent display of the Jayhawk, an International America’s Cup Class yacht, and other exciting exhibits. Reminiscent of the old Riverside Boathouse, its predecessor of a century ago, today’s Boathouse not only serves as an information center for visitors to Wichita but also literally the hub of river-related activity in Wichita.”
The City is investing a great amount in the development of the WaterWalk which makes it hard to understand why the City would even consider demolishing the central element for river front activity. There are a lot of other locations for an office building to be built which would offer the same tax base and job opportunities as offered for this site. Wichita does not need a monstrous office building to block any remaining views and access to the river.
Although the Boathouse operations nearly break even, a visitor center cannot be expected to generate a profit. However, there is value in the beauty and functionality of the Boathouse.
You have seen the editorial responses in the Eagle and several groups are getting petitions for saving the boathouse. The groups in favor of demolishing the Boathouse are only interested in the capital gains the prime location will bring them. If the city is interested in revenue, then they should consider the proposals submitted for converting it to a restaurant. These would keep the aesthetic ambiance and maintain public access.
With the many other controversial issues the City Commission is facing surrounding the downtown area, they are making a big mistake if they tear down the one shining star in downtown Wichita.
James Rix
Your comment makes more sense, than any I’ve read on this board, this year. It all come down to money tho. “The big bucks talk, while the little bucks walk.”
What about the “Winged Thing,” down next to the flyover, that you can’t find or see, even on purpose. Place just sits there, rusting away. Hasn’t been tourist #1, ever come to Wichita to see that.
First thing I’d do is, smelt that sucker down and make figurines. Sell the property and establish some gigantic office complex and save the boathouse. Give the figurines away.