City Manager George Kolb is expected to recommend today that the Wichita City Council put off until fall a decision about the future of the Wichita Boathouse — but the need for such a delay isn’t clear. The council earlier delayed a decision on what to do with the Boathouse in large part because of a proposal to build a new arena over the river by the Boathouse. But the Sedgwick County Commission rejected that proposal last week. So why not go ahead and make a decision? And if it does decide, the council should pick one of the Boathouse proposals that preserves the building, rather than Jack DeBoer’s plan to tear it down and build an office building.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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15 Comments
There is something else in the works.
Who cares….
Everything about WaterWalk has been half-baked – AT BEST. DeBoer’s idea of tearing down the BoatHouse and leasing the land for a dollar a year is typical.
I have an idea! Let’s build a new boathouse over the river…
The City Council isn’t going to sell the Boathouse. When and where was it ever said that they had any intention of seriously considering to do so? Same thing with selling Century II. Ain’t gonna happen. They may hire someone to manage it, but that’s different. All of the time, money and effort that has gone into to lobbying the Council to keep these forums would have been better spent on a charity.
NoJo, How about we build the boathouse IN the river? That way, you wouldn’t even have to get the boats out. That should appeal to a city where people won’t walk a few blocks to an arena.
In the late 1920’s, before the depression got started, Wichita was on its way towards being the “oil capital of Kansas” as well as the “air capital.” Interesting that in 1928-29, the “lions” of both industries officed within a few blocks of each other in and near downtown Wichita.
The current Wichita Boathouse building built by the then fabulous E.W. Marland (Oil) Company of Ponca City, Oklahoma, was the original oil capital building of Wichita as home after 1930 for Continental Oil Company (Conoco) and Fred C. Koch’s fledgling petrochemical empire.
The 74 year old Wichita Boathouse deserves to be preserved as a historical icon of Wichita business.
It was built in 1994. It has zero historical value.
The City will let it sit empty and derelict for a year and then tear it down in the name of urban renewall.
Let’s just say I know why they left the Boathouse alone for a year, because there is something planned that the public will feel is much better than the Boathouse that will replace it.
It’s in the works. :)
Sure it is. I’ll believe it when I see it!
If these guys have such great ideas that we will all love then why all the skulking around in the dark?
Let’s get the power back on “NOW” and light up the Jayhawk! Also start taking bookings right now for weddings and special events in 2007! The Boathouse “IS” the Cornnerstone of the Waterwalk!!! DUH! Then put the New Spectacular Watershow back where it was susposed to be on the original Waterwalk plans! On the east bank of the river by the Boathouse, with the Ampitheater facing the Northwest backed up to Gander Mountain on the southside of the boathouse! Now you can watch the Riverwalk, Fireworks, Keeper of the Plains, Activities on the river, and the Beautiful new Watershow!Also lets move the Greater Wichita Convention & Visitors Bureau on the first floor of the Boathouse where it should be in the first place! Downtown on the river with a Riverwalk view!
The original grand opening of the Marland/Continental Oil building, now the Wichita Boathouse building, was in May 1927. So the building will be 79 years old in May of this year, 2006. Sorry for the typographical error in my earlier blog above in which I inadvertently said the building was 74 years old.
What Todd is speaking about in his blog above is the Wichita Boathouse was remodeled in the mid-1990’s to add “gingerbread” to give the grand old building the appearance of the revered old turn-of-the-century boathouse that had been located on Murdoch, just west of Waco. The “gingerbread” additions included the wide wrap-around porches, exterior columns, a hipped metal roof, and landscaping for Bill Koch’s winning sail boat.
In the mid-1990’s, funds were raised from Bill Koch and many other contributors including myself to fund the remodeled Boathouse operations. At one time, names of contributors were displayed in the Boathouse but it seems after the City took over, the contribution display somehow disappeared.
JWink, I’m confused. The current Boathouse looks nothing like the old Boathouse.
http://www.wichitaphotos.org/graphics/wschm_M1-2.3.4.jpg (Circa: 1928
“Description: Looking east across the Little Arkansas River at the Riverside Boathouse (known earlier as Israel’s Boathouse and Murdock Avenue Boathouse). Founded near the intersection of Murdock and Waco, in the late 1890s, the boat rental business and its original small structure, grew in size and commercial enterprise for more than 50 years. It was demolished during the “urban renewal” efforts of the 1960s.”
The current Boathouse and the one described above are the only two that I’m aware of. Where was the boathouse you’re referring to located?
Jwink – you are mistaken.