It’s disappointing that the Wichita WaterWalk riverfront development is making so little use of the Arkansas River.
The WaterWalk development should have engaged and featured the riverfront. But as a reader pointed out in a letter last weekend, the Gander Mountain building has no relation to the river whatsoever — the big box might as well be in Andover. What happened to the promised restaurant overlooking the river, the decks and the dock for boats?
The building doesn’t even have a view of the river — its back is turned to the water. What a missed opportunity, especially for an outdoors retailer.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
Registered?
Commenting on WE Blog now requires you to be a Kansas.com member. Use the links above to register, if you haven't already, or to log in.Contact us
Follow us
Daily Archives
-
Recent Comments
- SolDevVB on Open thread 11/24
- SolDevVB on Open thread 11/24
- Tully on It’s the stupidity about the economy
- Monkeyhawk on Open thread 11/24
- Boxlock20 on Open thread 11/24
- SolDevVB on Open thread 11/24
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/24
- HLP on Open thread 11/24
- Boxlock20 on Open thread 11/24
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/24
11 Comments
That is a good point, but by thinking about the entire WaterWalk area, it actually might not make since to have Gander Mountain front doors turned towards the River. That would mean, that looking at the back of the store would be seen when everybody is walking about the area. That wouldn’t be attrative at all.
I also notice in the WaterWalk plans, that the building on the west bank of the river is facing NE, as to view the river and Downtown, yet not see Gander Mountain.
I read that lady’s aurgument, and how she compared San Antonio’s River Walk had shops facing the river. But that is because, their set-up is much different. The river is man-made, very narrow, and is full of foilage, which makes it much different than the Arkansas and how it is set up through Wichita.
There is a boat dock with Gander Mountain, and the walk way behind it finally connects it to the Lewis Street Bridge. You have to remember that there was nothing there before and no pathway.
Also! Why look at the river through a window, when you can walk right along its edge and enjoy it even better. :)
What started out as a canal has developed into a couple of fountains. How can we still call it “The Waterwalk?”
And why does everything always have to stop at Kellogg? There is life south of the flyover-and a river. There needs to be a dam at the John Mack Bridge to raise the water level to make the river usable for navigation and recreation. The east bank south of Kellogg is suitable for corporate headquarters, apartments, and all the other amenities to make the river the focal point of the city.
The only natural beauty Wichita has going for it is the river and it should be developed, not only downtown, but all the way to the city limits.
Joe,Your argument makes no sense at all. Why wouldn’t making doors open to the river compliment the store? Have the so-called back and front mirror each other. San Diego has used that to great effect in Mission Valley.
That requires designers to step out of the box and look at things with a forward thinking philosophy, though. Something Wichita is not known for. Look at the mess they have made of the gaslamp district. Their constant bickering has limited the options available to them.
You want a great waterwalk? That actually parallels the river? Good luck.
The perfect example why the city should stay out of the real estate development buisness. It’s not Gander’s fault, they are the wal-mart of outdoors equipment. the city knew that before throwing money at them. So the city begged a wherehouse store to come build just that. A whereouse on our river as the cornerstone development….FOOLS
Walker! You have a point, but just as dr said, GM is a box retailer, and having two fronts will take away from storage space. They probably could have made it happen though, but it’s too late. Maybe in the future.
Joe,That is not a boat dock, it’s a ramp and the ‘path’ from Lewis Street ends at a bunch of rocks. There isn’t even a stairway from the river to GM. There is no reason whatsoever that GM couldn’t have SOMETHING that faces or gives access to the river.
City Management, just goes along, with whatever the big money developers tell them. When ever there is a difference in opinion, or controversy, they just hire an outside consultant. They wanted GM, so bad, they didn’t care if the building was built upside down or sideways.
Why not, plan for a development, before you build it
They’ve been trying to reinvent downtown since the first mall starting taking away business. I remember downtown when that’s where everyone shopped. They still haven’t come up with an idea that works, and I’m beginning to doubt they ever will.
I was in Denver a few years ago and stayed at a hotel on the Mile Mall. Fantastic area with something for everyone, and smack in the middle of the downtown area. Too bad Wichita can’t do the same with our downtown and incorporate both Old Town and the Riverwalk (if they ever make anything of it). As it is, Wichita has nothing to offer visitors, much less the regular citizen.
I’ve been to Gander Mountian a couple of times, and both times, it was pretty empty. Anybody want to bet on how long it stays open? I wonder how hard it would be to convert the building to a parking garage.
When we look at the Water Walk, we need to remember that the people who told us how great is would be for the city are now bringing us the downtown arena. How great for whom; the people or the developers?
The original WATERWALK plans were a sham put out to lure the city into thinking that this was a beautification plan. Well done to those on the waterwalk board. You got one by our city commision.. ok, thats not so hard. The real plans came out after the property was purchased. The city went along with the new plans as not to look like idiots. The real developement was a cash cow for the developers. There is now beautification to their bank accounts.