By popular demand, here’s an open thread about blogger Joe Williams’ idea for building a 500-foot tall “Peerless Tower” in downtown Wichita, just north of the Broadview Hotel.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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72 Comments
I’m not sure about the location. With the Arena going in south of Douglas why not look at a site just west or southwest of the Arena. Somewhere between that and WaterWalk.
Of course, I am assuming that these things work out as planned.
So, the thing that Wichita needs most is a 500′, bulbous sky phallus?
I once wrote that Joe Williams was the dumbest guy who regularly posts here, but took it back because I felt bad. Now is the time to retract my retraction.
To house the visitors center – thus to be paid for with public (tax) dollars?
Boondoggle. Just like the downtown arena.
Looks like a dart.
I’d still talk to Park City.Jack and Dee would love this…and they have the perfect spot for it.Add Ben’s idea for turbines, and it’s a dynamite concept for that area.Our beloved Doo Dah will soon be surpassed by Park City, because they have leaner, meaner leadership…without all the dead weight on the 13th floor of the Glass House that’s dragging everything down here.
I like it….something identifiable, a positive focal point for the city.
Beats out being known for tornados, or as part of the state that has Phelps, gay hatred, BoE and other assorted wackos…(like Terry Fox and Southwind..)
Ah!, you rednecks would have your sisters names plastered all over it if they build it.:-)
Does Joe Williams plan to pay for it? If not, who would pay?
Since this tower is about 50 stories tall, I would estimate the cost conservatively at $25 million without knowing if it would contain elevators, observation tower, people space, offices at the base with parking, etc.
Years ago, in Kansas City, Missouri, the old KCMO radio/TV tower (looking somewhat like a modified Eiffel Tower) was built near 31st and Gillham Road. It could be seen for 30 miles in some directions. However, the designers forgot to provide for build up of tons of ice during icing conditions. Result was houses and cars were destroyed for several blocks radius during ice storms. Later the police barricaded the area for some protection.
Also this proposed Wichita tower would be near the flight path to Wichita airport which would be a problem.
Will it join other Wichita white elephants such as the proposed Wichita arena at $1/4 billion, the recent raising of the Keeper of the Plains at $28 million, Exploration Place, the brand new Cowtown Visitor’s Center at $2 million, Ice Sports, etc.
In my opinion, its time to rebuild downtown Wichita’s infrastructure so it will serve people and not statues and icons before its too late.
Joe,
Stay with it! Don’t let naysayers sway your vision.
Maybe Phil could do the dedication and plant a big kiss on it.
steve,
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! When I try to picture that, the result is WAY too R-rated for a family-oriented newspaper.
Joe,I’m with RD on this one, for sure. You need to keep after this.
People, I would hesitate to underestimate the commitment and optimism of Joe Williams. Sure, Joe has annoyed me in the past; but, I feel secure in saying that this was likely reciprocal. Regardless: from Joe’s description on an earlier thread, I would say he is very serious about this project.
Hoping to hear from you Joe – have you anticipated some of the questions raised above?
Where is JR to help lead your cheers? (not being sarcastic, here)
Well if this thread accomplishes nothing else it has already exposed some small minds.Some I already knew and some I used to respect.Why not give the guy a chance to share his vision before tearing it down?
I have had occasion to read on another thread Joe’s words about this. To date those were the most moving and visionary words on the blog. And while I’m not necessarily on board I am at least willing to engage someone who has a vision bigger than his own bottom line or his next political rant.
Congrats, Joe, your idea got it’s own thread.
Small minds and non-thinkers get us nowhere. Follow your dream, Joe.
I agree JR. Hopefully my comments were taken as constructive. I don’t know if this thing would fly or not but it is at least worth discussion.
By the way, I don’t think ice or wind should be problems.
By the wayTHANK YOU EDITORSFor giving Joe this thread.
Now so Joe doesn’t have to type EVERYTHING all over again, his words which some of us have already read are on the “Those aren’t statues Dorothy, they’re buskers” thread. They are a good read.Crtiicism is good. Suggestions and questions are good. But there are too many easier things to bash than an idea you aren’t informed on.
If not being on board with this Edifice Complex love-fest means that I have a ’small mind’ and am a ‘non-thinker,’ so be it. I’ve been called a lot worse.
If anyone thinks that a vanity project will add or subtract anything from Wichita, they’re entitled to their delusion. But having seen the ‘rah-rah’ groupthink that prevails in Wichita, and having seen the pileup of publicly-subsidized projects that amount to a bunch of ‘magic bullets’ that missed their targets, I think LOTS of skepticism is in order.
Freud called it “compensation.”
Like all those balding guys driving Hummers.
Enough said . . .
I’d much rather get a hummer than drive a hummer!
CF, it was by no means a shot at you.
Bill,
Amen! Pass that cigar, willya?
XXX,
Fair enough. I was actually responding more to J R’s comment.
For the record, I do agree with the sentiment; if you’re gonna dream, dream big. But a pointy 500′ tower?
Still, if it takes the skyline back from Terry Fox’s big insecure cross (talk about overcompensation!), that may already justify the $25 million in public funds.
I think it’s a great idea. It’ll bring in tourists, at least for awhile, and then if it goes stale, you can bring them back for grand finale by launching it into space on the Fourth of July.
I think it’s cool!
A giant dildo?Too plain looking.Too “plane” looking.Will terrorists be tempted to fly it into the side of the new arena?If we don’t like it, can we get a refund?If we get a refund, will we have to pay shipping?It would look really cool if we built a giant dart board beside it.It looks like the space ship on “Amazon Moon Women”.Just goofing. Go for it.
looks like a pair of pants.
Ok! I’m here. I was in Nebraska today and just came back to see this thread started. Many thanks to the WE editors for allowing discussion on this project.
I’ll answer any questions you guys have about it. One of the most common would probably be the funding source to construct it. I’ll address that later, but rest asure that public funds is not being seeked for the construction of this project.
I’ll let you know how this whole idea started and to make a case for why I believe it is important that Wichita have such a significant landmark.
In 2004, the City of Wichita and other community partners came together to plan the future of the area and to set out ambitious goals to achieve in the next 20 years. This assignment is known as Visioneering Wichita.
Visioneering Wichita brought together the minds of more than 15,000 individuals to study the current and past economic and social trends of our community and to mark all the key indicators that were suffering decline. With the problems of our community now clearly known, Visioneering Wichita took the next step and initiated a task force to develop a strategic plan to bring the area out of decline and to thrust it forward as the regional leader in economic and social growth.
As the Visioneering Wichita final plan was unveiled, it brings about the question of the implementation process. They ask for Vision Partners to adopt one or more of the implementation strategies in the final plan and take the responsibility of accomplishing the goal. This is when the Peerless Tower, Inc stepped in.
The Peerless Tower, Inc became a Vision Partner and decided to take on an ambitious task of transforming Wichita’s austere attitude and image and propel it forward for a future full of hope, prosperity, and pride. The Peerless Tower, Inc recognized that what the community needed was a symbol, a beacon, an inspiration of some kind that can flip pessimism to optimism and significantly change the attitude and image of the city to one that is much more than another plain city, but one that is the preeminent City of the Plains.
When one speaks about their community, they speak about the culture. When one speaks about their lives, they speak about their experiences. When one speaks about where they live, they speak about its history. Bringing it all together to share it with one another requires that we have something in common; a place we call home.
Home can be many things, but when somebody asks you where home is, you usually describe a geographical place. When the person hears your answer, they try to visualize the place of where your home is. But in order for your home to be universally recognized and have significant appeal, you must be able to describe your home using one word, such as the name of a country, a state, or a city. This is a very powerful form of communication that has developed in our society. But for our home to have this capability to be identified by using its name, with no conjunction with another, it has to have distinct characteristics and traits that set it apart from other places. If it does not possess any unique qualities, nobody can visual the place and it has no appeal.
Most cities across the United States and even around the world struggle with identity. Metropolises, community centers, suburbs, and even rural towns all struggle to find a place where they can fit as an attraction and appeal to home. They brand themselves the best way they can. They try to copy each others successes. They claim to be the first in something or the capital of something. They even boast demographic, economic and social statistics if their place shows itself better than average. With its best intentions, most places that people call home is relatively insignificant to the rest of the population, because the majority of places have no reputation or appeal that give it a recognizable identity and character.
A place with no identifiable characteristics doesn’t necessarily mean that it is not a great place to call home, on contrary, a place could have a negative reputation and be uniquely identify as such, and therefore has even a much tougher battle to turn it around and be appealing and attractive. The question to ask, then will be, why is it important for a place to have an identity?
In the competitive global environment that we are presently experiencing, for which will even become increasingly competitive as time progresses, identity will become an important mechanism of survival. Survival will bring about economic stability and growth, positive political environment, and a social climate of culture, entertainment, and public safety. There are many factors that contribute to, or are up for debate on, ways for a place to be a successful survivalist, and identity is one of the most important. And the key to a reputable identity is to portray a recognizable image and attitude.
Wichita, in its right place, is a survivalist. The city has endured through several drastic economic downturns throughout its history and always rebounded through the entrepreneurial spirit, the hard work, and resiliency of its citizens. It also has pride itself as a cultural and commercial center and the largest city in the State of Kansas. However, the report done by Visioneering Wichita, shows that Wichita is having some trouble in economic stability, and compared to other large cities in the region, is sliding down to the bottom in other key indicators. Wichita will need to reverse this trend and reverse it quickly if it expects to survive this time around.
What has made Wichita survive in the past, is its ability to transform itself and its identity. From its roots as a trading post, to cattle town, agriculture mercantile, aircraft manufacturing, and restaurant franchising, Wichita picked it up and ran with it. It wasn’t afraid to move forward, to be in the forefront of new industries, and it learned to let go, although never forgetting, the past.
But Wichita in the past twenty years has lost some of its appeal and identity. In the Visioneering Wichita report, more than 20% of young adults are leaving the Wichita area causing a human capital investment loss of more than a half a billion dollars annually. The main reason for the high out-migration of young adults is that high paying non-manufacturing jobs are scarce, opportunities in recreation, culture & art, and entertainment is perceived to be lacking, and downtown Wichita is not considered a vibrant destination. While other cities pick up these young adults by providing the amenities and job opportunities that young adults’ desire, Wichita is left struggling to remain afloat. Including the foreseeable problem of replacement workers that do not currently exist for the aviation industry as the baby boomer demographic retires, which can prompt this industry to move elsewhere.
Wichita does have its challenges that it must face up with, and to the credit of the inspired individuals, community leaders, and the citizens at large, Wichita is transforming itself for the better. It has and is going through some significant changes that can renovate the city for the future. Not only with business recruitment and retention initiatives, but infrastructure as well. Downtown Wichita most of all is benefiting by this transformation, with projects such as Old Town and Old Town Square, Wichita WaterWalk, Delano District, the new Downtown Arena, the Arkansas River Corridor Improvement Project, new investment in downtown buildings to transform them into condos, and the art district of Commerce Street are examples of the exciting new development incorporated into the downtown area. It is a great start for Wichita.
The Peerless Tower, Inc will go a step further and really put a solid footprint in the transformation of downtown Wichita, and at the same time, significantly generate an identity for Wichita of recognizable prominence and attitude. This is the Peerless Tower, a proposed identifiable landmark that will encompass the new spirit of downtown by ultra modernizing the skyline and thrust Wichita with a glare of attention that can raise the standing of Wichita to the one-word status.
The goal of the Peerless Tower is to provide a guiding light of inspiration and pride for a whole new attitude and change for the city. It will promote an entirely new direction and an entirely new title for Wichita. We will shake off the “Air Capital of the World” and will be known as the “Peerless City”. It will be a significant conversion for the purpose of greater marketability and promotion. We will tell the world that Wichita is an incomparable city with vision, splendor, a boundless entrepreneurial soul, and the greatest place to call home. This new identity will help Wichita take its place among the other great cities and will forever be known by its name.
Well written, Joe.
But when you look at the other thriving communities in Kansas–Manhattan, Lawrence, Johnson County and Kansas City–they have one thing in common and it isn’t a tower.
They have major universities either in town or nearby. Wichita has been content to have this neither fish nor fowl college–neither a cheap and friendly commuter college, nor a big PhD granting major state college.
If WSU were KState, North East Wichita would have been torn down and be chock-a-block with new expensive housing.
That isn’t happening because WSU is not a desirable destination campus either statewide or nationwide.
Hence, we remain a sprawling “small town” instead of a leader in the area.
It’s not going to be paid for out of taxes? Hell, I like the idea a LOT better now. Joe, I’m interested to hear where the funding is coming from.
Still, you make some pretty good points. Wichita isn’t a bad place, but it’s about as generic as oatmeal and only half as interesting.
If you’re going to advocate a project like this, you better grow some thick skin. Even if it’s not built with public funds, there will be a lot of people who’ll dis it just because it’s different and looks “modern”. And we have a large entrenched segment of Wichita that’s against anything that’s built for the sake of appearance. You know the group I’m talking about, those who say the money should go to the homeless or the Lord’s dinner, who, if the facts were known, wouldn’t cross the street to piss on a poor person on fire.
Are there enough moderate forward-thinking people in Wichita to get a thing like this done? I truly hope so.
Joe, best of luck with your project. You’re going to need it.
Left, spot on.What the folks at WSU don’t seem to understand is that you can’t spite the rest of the state and then expect them to respect you the same way the other Regents institutions are respected.Until WSU reaches out to the rest of the state like the other schools, it’s just a bump on a log.
I’m glad you got your thread Joe. I have been just one of many advocates to better get your vision known.
You owe me, them,the community and yourself your best honesty and explanation of you and your interest in this. Your previous post is a good start. But it generates questions. I won’t be alone in asking and I don’t want to overwhelm you so I will start with just a few. The thread will continue to generate questions and allow you to answer them indefinitely as long as you keep it interesting so I feel I have time.
“Peerless Tower inc.” What is that? Is that just you? It came across that this was your project. Are you working for some other interest?
I feel this is fair to ask.
What is it that you do Joe? Be specific. I myself am a displaced aircraft worker in a city that USED to be rightfully called the “air capital of the world” Now that was a title that big business destroyed and continues to destroy. I told my story. YOu tell yours.
Those are my first questions.
I was born and have lived all my life in Wichita Joe. But unlike you, I’ve no love for the place. That is precisley because big ideas like yours have little chance in this stodgy backward town. You have already seen this upthread from both liberals and conservatives.
I am rooting for you. It’s your turn to show me why.
I briefly mentioned a bit of history about myself in the “buskers” thread.
The Peerless Tower, Inc is a non-for-profit corporation. It will be filed under a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt status. Under the IRS code, its purpose to be a tax-exempt organization is to erect and or maintain a public building.
The Peerless Tower, Inc present activities are fundraising, planning, and oversight for the construction of the Peerless Tower. The Peerless Tower, Inc. is to lessen the burden of government by engaging in these activities for its stated purpose of erecting a public building.
I am by myself on this project. I am the only sole person into it. I would love others to join and even become board members. I do not personally know any movers and shakers in this city. I’m just an average Joe, with no pun intended. But I honestly feel passionate about this project.
This all started when I used to work at the Wichita Boathouse. I was there for several years and absolutely love that position, although it didn’t pay well. The best part was I interacted with area visitors all the time helping them navigate to area attractions, telling them about the history, and etc. It was awesome. I also helped a lot of people who were relocating to Wichita to feel at home and point out all the great places to live and play. These experiences really embolden my love for Wichita, although I had quite a bit of it before.
But I did have a “something missing” from Wichita. I started to think about it and did quite a bit of research of other cities, and I found that ones with Towers were the progressive city with vast amount of opportunity and character. We are talking about Toronto, Seattle, Moscow, Auckland, Macau, Shanghai, Las Vegas, San Antonio, and a whole host of others. Although people will say that we are a far cry from these cities, I disagree; I believe we can be a part of the circle of the greatest cities in America. We do this by changing our attitude and I believe we can jump start this with a new direction and a new image. The Peerless Tower will take us there.
I’ll give you Seattle as an example, but Seattle was considered a boring industrial city with nothing going on and people just worked at Boeing and shipyards. Sound familiar to Wichita? Somebody thought of an idea to build a tower called the Space Needle. A much ridiculed UFO looking blown up kid toy, what many people called it. The people behind the Space Needle thought it would radically change Seattle for the better. They stressed Science and Technology as the key theme and low and behold, it became reality. When it was built, it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. Today there are seven buildings in Seattle taller than it and Seattle is a growing ultra-modern city and home to many of America’s best software and technology companies. It was the attitude change that made the difference.
That is what I’m trying to do with the Peerless Tower. I want it to change the pessimistic attitude of Wichita. I’m just trying to do my part for the community. I am not working for a developer or trying to piece this in to any development, nor am I working for anybody. I am not looking to benefit financially or socially and I will not take a single dollar for compensation either, so it’s not about me. If somebody else could take the reigns and make it happen, then I’ll be glad to hand over that project to that person.
With respects to the “Air Capital of the World”, Wichita is defiantly that. I too used to work in aircraft and even flown airplanes. But Wichita is much more than that. It goes back all the way to the late 1800’s, when Murdock (the founder of the Wichita Eagle) called Wichita the Peerless Princess of the Plains.
That is why the Peerless Tower has its theme of entrepreneurialism. I hope it captivates people in this city to go forward and become great entrepreneurs. I hope it helps retain the young people who think about leaving. I hope it booms our economy. I hope it really changes our attitude into a positive one, because Lord knows we really need something. I’m tired of gloom and failures and companies and people leaving Wichita.
My intentions are completely selfless and honest. It’s not about making my mark, but about being a part of something big.
I have referenced the other “buskers” thread many times in your support Joe. Assuming others do not want to go there, tell us again just what it is you do. Don’t make me or them go look.
Joe,I was watching Nightline’s coverage of the Moussaoui trial on ABC tonight and I wondered if your tower, should not in some way reflect an airport control tower – which would dovetail with the AirCap piece. Just a late night thought.
Keep after it.
Joe Williams,
I don’t question your motivations. You have demonstrated yourself, again and again, to be a man without guile–and that’s a good thing that needs no explanation.
As a native Seattleite, I do think some more of the backstory is necessary to understand the Space Needle in its proper context: namely, the fact that it is part of the Seattle Center, an 74-acre entertainment/cultural complex constructed for the Seattle World’s Fair of 1962.
Part of what makes the Space Needle work are the regional and cultural ties-ins you mentioned. And yes, Seattle is the other Boeing town with a Native American place name. But even more than that, the Space Needle is part of a larger whole that functions as, literally, the exclamation point at the heart of the city. It isn’t a standalone destination. If it were, it wouldn’t be nearly so successful. Also, part of what makes it work is that there is a restaurant at the 605′ peak restaurants that serves as a destination for yearly celebrations (4th of July, New Year’s) and such.
And though I hesitate to bring it up, since I very much like the prairie and find it very beautiful, I just don’t think there’s going to be the same number of people who want to survey South Central Kansas from the air as want to see Puget Sound and Western Washington. There just isn’t as much geography here as there (the Cascades, the Olympics, Puget Sound, the Seattle skyline, the Olympic peninsula, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker). The Arkansas River, the Flint Hills in the distance, and the grain storage warehouses out in Hutchinson just aren’t on the same ‘ooh, ahh’ order of magnitude.
The final issue concerns the role of the Space Needle in the regional economy, and in Seattle’s current ethos as ‘hot young city on the rise’. I don’t know what 1970 was like around Wichita, but in Seattle it was the year that Boeing crashed. The Puget Sound region saw a massive outflux of aircraft workers, and a sign was put up along the Southbound lanes of Interstate 5 that read “will the last person to leave Seattle please turn out the lights.” I grew up in Seattle during the 1970’s, and I can say confidently that the Kingdome, where the Hawks and the Mariners played, was a far more essential element of civic pride than was the Space Needle. It is too pat to say that the Needle was built, and everything was hunky dory. Arguably it had an impact, but I think there are too many other factors contributing to Seattle’s rise to think that the Needle is responsible, and that it is a direct fit for jump-starting the Wichita vibe.
That’s not to say that I wish the Space Needle hadn’t been built. Far from it. Two of the great thrills of my life have been the times I have played music at the Mural Amphitheater, which stands at the Needle’s base. But it is to say that cities and civic boosters need to think VERY hard about what it is they’re trying to accomplish, and how to set something in motion that will have a long life, and produce the intended consequences.
I was unfair with you earlier C F. Or maybe not. I just did not like seeing you in the same camp as GMC. I think I helped to get Joe talking. I hope I helped you listen. You did come back and with honest questions and not derision.
You are gonna be a busy guy Joe. You already have more questions to answer.
Yes, Joe there will be problems. If I can help, let me know.Good Luck,DD
CF – remember, you can look to the WNW and see “Mount Pajor”; which might be the highest point in Sedgwick County.
I also salute your zeal Joe, even though I will remain skeptical. IF the Arena works, IF WaterWalk works; THEN I think a location between them would be ideal. “Modern-looking” should fit in well there.
Yes! I agree that Professional or even college sports have a great impact on civic pride. Only if the team is winning of course ;) , but the Kingdome was built in the late 70’s.
A stadium was actually proposed before the Space Needle back 1960 in hopes to attract professional teams; it was sidelined by the City Council of that time. But it was re-introduced back after the Space Needle was built, and civic pride at that time was really high and they finally went for it. Took them awhile but they finally got there.
You are right. The Space Needle is part of a larger complex, especially with the monorail system, you can say it is extended it reach to downtown Seattle.
Is it worth building something that high because there is no scenic allure in Kansas? It is not so much to attract people to the view, but to attract them to the building. At 500′ it puts it just above the other office buildings in the area. Having an observation deck is a way to justify its height. It is just an addition to the skyline to make it more attractive to the people who live here and for people who are visiting rather than to get people to come for the view. You are right CF, it would be nothing like the Space Needle for which the view is spectacular with Puget Sound and the mountains, but people like to view at heights regardless. There are countless high towers or monuments that don’t have much of scenic view like The Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas, the Gateway Arch, Towers of America, even the WWI Monument in KC doesn’t have much of a view, but people like it anyways.
The Peerless Tower is not meant to compete against any other attractions in the area or to make itself a landmark for the USA. It’s going to be much smaller in height than the Space Needle, Gateway Arch, and Tower of America and so on. It is not going to steal any body’s thunder.
The Peerless Tower will be the Visitors Information Center. That is its main purpose. Visitors have no idea what we have to offer or how to get there and a visitors information center is the 1st place they go to get the information they need. It is not so much as “build it and they will come”, but “go there first”.
It is not about public recognition but more of a promotional tool used to help other area venues, attract conventions, help increase downtown residential development, modernize the skyline, and fill in a huge gap that presently exist at the proposed site.
I hope that it helps increase development around it or even attach itself to the tower. Restaurants, banquet hall, even a shopping center is just a start on the possibilities.
You mention that the Space Needle was part of a larger complex, so is the Peerless Tower. At the proposed site along the banks of the Arkansas River north of the Radisson Hotel there is nothing. It is not really fit for walking on the path. But with the Arkansas River Corridor Project underway and WaterWalk, the river will be a part of a welcome amenity that Wichita has to offer, and if the Peerless Tower is constructed, it will provide a continuous flow from WaterWalk to Cowtown. A visitor will come to the Tower, walk along the river to the Keeper of the Plains, go down to WaterWalk and hopefully visit area venues and museums. The Peerless Tower is not planned as a venue where people spend a whole day at or even several hours in. It is a nice and quick attraction to serve as a starting point for an entire day or weekend of tourism for visitors.
JR! Your question about what do. I’m a chemcial technician. I install and chemically check dispensers for the Commerical and Hospitality Industry. I travel all over the state to Assistant Living Centers, Meat Packing Plants, small Hospitals, some restaurants and hotels. I work for a company called Ecolab.
Ecolab is a good company ..
An idea – telescopes on the deck with platforms showing direction toward various ‘targets’ – Zoo, Cowtown, Old Town etc …
J R, no sweat. I was snottier than I needed to be towards Joe Williams on this issue.
I’m still dubious, but I do think that proposals like this have a way of bringing the real civic issues out in the open where they can be debated. And Joe has obviously done a good deal of digging and thinking about what’s at stake and what’s possible.
I look at the dustbin of history along the Arkansas, that contains many struggling attactions, and I’m not optomistic. But if you can do the thing with private money, shit, I’LL send you $50.
Ben Huie,
Telescopes are good: the Space Needle has ‘em, as did the Cliff House in San Francisco. But if you install telescopes, you also ought to install the landmark maps to go with them, that show you what you’re looking at.
absolutely CF – I probably wasn’t clear when I said “platforms” for the scopes – they would have the horizon with the targets marked.
I understand that the Arkansas River has been a dust bin for a long time. Actually it was mostly industrial for most of the time. Century II change that a bit during Urban Renewal.
We haven’t utilized the river for much of anything. Exploration Place is a recent arrival, but other than the old amusement park that uses to exist a long time ago, there hasn’t been anything on the River other than the short walk along Century II and the West Bank Stage.
The West side of the River, other than Exploration Place and LD Stadium isn’t really attractive or setup for further development along the river.
Exploration Place and Hyatt came in and did a little bit. The Wichita Boathouse helped, but we don’t even know if that will exist in the future. WaterWalk is progressing painfully slow. An empty dirt field doesn’t do much to attract visitors.
The Arkansas River has been under utilized forever. Things are starting to pop up, so it is finally getting there. It should have been done a long time ago, but things move pretty slowly in this city.
I’ll be realistic and say that the Peerless Tower will not be the savior for the city, and the expectations that it will probably will disappoint people, so I don’t want to over promise what it will bring to the city. Although I do believe it will be very beneficial and bring in more in economic return and civic pride then the cost to construct it.
Having multiple floors and rotating restaurants are great, but it will drastically increase the cost of the tower and it will cease being a public building, but a tenet occupied building and it will struggle for revenue and probably won’t turn a profit.
That is why I proposed it as a simple observation tower with the area’s Visitors Information Center at its base. The observation deck will only have a diameter of 30′ and just a single elevator lift system, so it’s not too wide. It will probably have telescopes and site maps to see the area attractions, as you guys suggested. I would like this to be a public building just as the Boathouse was, but if developers want to add on to it, even if the Radisson wants to extend itself to it, I think that would be great. I’m sure the Radisson would benefit greatly from this.
I think to keep it simple would do a great service in keeping the cost of maintaining it down. The Convention and Visitors Bureau would staff the VIC and the city would maintain and insure it. No $100,000 year director salary or a bunch of paid staff like the other area attractions that make it unprofitable. The Convention and Visitors Bureau has its own staff and often times use retiree volunteers. Only one or two people are really needed to run the day to day operation. That is all that was required for the Wichita Boathouse to staff its VIC. A fee of $1 or $2 to go up to the observation deck will be charge and that will help to defray a bit of the operation cost. Maybe some lease space fees for antennas up top and some lease fees for buildings attaching themselves to the tower. But it is not going to be a for-profit endeavor or a competing attraction that would steal visitors from others. It is actually setup to help the other attractions.
I’m hoping that it will attract enough private funding and donations to fund the construction of the project. Exploration Place was an example of much of its funding came from private donations. It cost more than $60 million to build it. The Peerless Tower will be much less. I’m still working on the figures, but it will be less than $20 million for sure, it might be even less than $10 million, although the cost of steal and concrete are pretty high. I’m still trying to get area architects to do a preliminary cost estimate on this project. Most architects say they don’t have the experience or know-how to build something like this, and the ones that do, don’t pay much attention unless $ is involved. I don’t blame them; they need to get paid for their professional service and time.
Joe,
A lot to digest there!
I like the proximity to Exploration Place, which is a beautiful building.
I know that studies and consultants and architects cost money just to start and of course you don’t have any.Have you considered looking into such folk with an eye to ego and vanity? Your better architects and builders are at their heart, artists who have to make a living. You might find an individual or a few looking to put their mark on the map.On another thread, I have been reading of the desire to make a mark for WSU other than in basketball. WSU is already a fine engineering school. Any chance their getting on board with this? Talk about “visibility”!
Good ideas JR. I would add that some of the local companies that have benefitted so much from public contracts just might want to “give back” a bit to the community.
Hi Y’all! I’m on vacation with my sweetie this week, but I couldnt resist checking the blog.
JOE, good on you and everyone here, including the WE editors, for getting this thread.
Random observations from an old community developer…
1. Every successful project needs a “maniac with a mission”. You qualify Joe, with maniac being a compliment here
2. I am not sure Wichita is currrently known for entrepreneurism. But it could be…
3. The stuff about univerities being the center of success for communities and creating “gravity” that will draw people and talent is true. Many companies will not even consider a town unless it has the university it needs and wants.
I have no experience with WSU, so no comment there, but that intellectual capital and transference to the community is NECESSARY for the future.
4. Joe, the quality and feasability of any idea is proportional to the number and quality of people pissing on it. I dont think you have enough dissenters here…yet!
5. One of the draw factors for communities these days is participatory government and responsive government.
I like this idea because it is a little guy (so to speak :) behind it, and it could be an example of grass roots creating and implementing something.
I dont know if the tower is a good idea or the right idea. I dont think a silver bullet exists.
I only know that the difference between “good” communities and “bad communities” is participation and how the entrenched leadership reacts to that participation.
See you all later.
And of course, KFG, the biggest problem we have in Wichita is the “entrenched leadership” on the 13th floor.I still say, take the idea to Park City.
Time for another superfluous comment. We already have the dart board, just paint century 2’s roof like one, and while you’re at it put G.W.’s picture on in, and I’ll donate!
Damn Steve, how could I have missed that?
You’re sharp today!
Hey, who let KFG go on vacation??!! I hope for your quick return so someone can defend reason and good sense around here! :)
Too many Steve’s on this thread/blog. Lest I risk being confused for someone poking fun at Joe’s awesome concept (steve with the little “s”), I’m now shocker’07 (for anyone who cares).
There, that’s better.
Joe, I didn’t think your posts could be anymore inspiring than what you put on the buskers thread, but I stand corrected. You’re just the kind of guy needed to make this project happen. If there is anything I can do to help please don’t hesitate to let me know.
Joe,
I never understood the appeal of “towers” but I wish you the best in your endeavor. I do like the idea of having a “wall of quotes” and I would be more than happy to supply some of my own! :)
V.L.R.B!!!
You’d have better luck promoting a “Messiah of the Plains” structure.
Thanks for the encouraging comments. Does anybody have any questions?
I guess there is a question about government and how responsive they will be. I have sent a preliminary proposal to the Development Assistance Center of the City Manager’s office. This is the office that deals with Private/Public partnership.
I wanted them to become aware of this project and the proposed site, since the land is city property. No formal proposal has been made yet I still need to have additional information to write it up.
In the preliminary proposal, I did not ask the city for any funds, but just a possible letter of intent to build the tower on their property for which they would own. But until I submit the actual proposal that would detail the budget for construction and operation cost along with funding source for financial capital, I won’t know the fate of the existing site.
But in their response to me from just the preliminary proposal, is that they remain a bit skeptical. Unless there is some momentum behind it they will take a “wait and see” attitude. I don’t blame them. They are in a position to make that determination and I’m sure people submit them ideas all the time…well, maybe not.
mrcontroversy’s funny comment about Park City makes me laugh. I understand what you mean. The county’s inaction from the Dee Stuart bomb throwing mayor of Park City who has a precieved progressivenss about her because she has been vocally demanding a destination casino in a recent annex addition of Park City. It’s funny.
But government is never proactive in anything. They are actually reactive and only support projects, they never really initate them. So it is still up to the citizens to come up with ideas and if government is there to help, then it would be great.
I personally talked to Dave Bayouth, the guy who suggested building the DT Arena across the river. He actually recieved notice and the commission gave some time on his idea, not much, but did exercise some time into its feasibility. He thinks you need to be a part of some establish political circle to get notice, but I doubt that.
If something is feasible, the community is behind it and if the funding is there, then there is no way that city government will reject it. They will embrace it, but I’m not going to look to them for help, because it isn’t going to happen.
Joe:”I personally talked to Dave Bayouth, the guy who suggested building the DT Arena across the river. He actually recieved notice and the commission gave some time on his idea, not much, but did exercise some time into its feasibility. He thinks you need to be a part of some established political circle to get notice, but I doubt that.”
Sorry, Joe. I am pretty sure that Dave Bayouth is right on this one. Dave did not get along with, nor play well with other politicians, but that came about from the fact, I think any way, that he is smarter than most of them. He looks like a knuckle dragger, but he is actually pretty smart.
Bayouth dreams big dreams. He could be a good ally – keep after him.
DD. I will. He is a busy person, but I do call him from time to time. I have his personal cell number.
Joe,
Of COURSE you don’t HAVE to be part of an established political circle to get noticed. But I imagine short of setting yourself on fire in front of City Hall ( I an NOT advicating that!!) it is just about the only way to get attention.
Joe, two options probably. Find a backer who is very credible to City Hall–prominent local businessman, philanthropist, former politician, etc. Or build grassroots support to the point City Hall can no longer ignore at least your idea. If your idea captures the imaginations of the citizens and takes on a life of its own, it won’t matter that you’re just a “regular guy.”
Joe,
On your website there should be some sense of the vista a visitor to the tower would see. Pictures, or artist renderings of the perspective view. Some ideas: North along the river, south along the river, the new Keeper of the Plains venue, W S U!! Get the idea?Also, your picture of the tower is as one would see it from an airplane, helicopter, balloon or top of the old, Holiday Inn. How about a silouette skyline with the tower in it? How about a view of the tower from the base? There are some pretty tech savvy people on this blog. I bet they could photo shop some awesome depictions.
Shocker07, I might gravitate towards the later of your suggestion.
A grassroots is probably the best way to get it going. I’ll make plans about how I can best do that. Maybe you guys can provide some suggestions.
JR. I’ve been wishing for that for quite awhile. I’ve talked to several people and for the last couple of days I’ve been corresponding with a person who would do a conceptual drawing of the tower in its relationship with downtown.
I know that would help quite a bit. Hopefully I can do this pretty soon and get it up on the website.
Joe, I’m pretty handy with graphics and do website design. If you ever need an extra hand, give me a shout.
RD do you have a portfolio of web designs that you can show me? I can do websites, but I suck as a graphic artist.
Okay, just got back in town today and found this blog. THanks, WE for making it happen.
Now to the real problem: Mount Sunflower, four thousand thirty nine feet, the highest point in Kansas (Wallace County, western Kansas near the Colorado line, 14.4 miles north-northwest of Weskin, Latitude 39 degrees 01 minutes North, Longitude 102 degrees, 02 minutes West), gets all the glory. kfg knows this place like the back of her hand. She has been known to throw rocks off of it at passing politicians. Thankfully, at almost a mile distance, she hasn’t hit any yet.
Why should Western Kansas get that kind of glory? There ain’t no trees out there even.
Now take Wichita: It has . . . ummm . . .I’m thinking. I know, a really weird stainless steel sculpture. The peerless tower, standing 500 proud feet and looking beautiful, would make people forget about the evil mount Sunflower. People would flock to Wichita to see the giant tower, with its spire reaching for the stars and pointing the way to the future.
O, wait, I forgot: this is Kansas. Click your heels together three times and get intelligent design and the banning of all FSM posters. Never mind.
Folks,If you’re gonna spend a heap on a structure, you should at least build something that’s gonna generate income and create more jobs for this state. Don’t just build a humongous building for no apparent reason, that is simply irrational, inefficient, and well… kinda dumb =)
CrusaderX. I guess you can make the same remarks to every church and park in town.
CrusaderX, I’m not going to promise that this thing will pull in lots of jobs, but it certainly would help Wichita image, which can translate to economic growth. This building does have reason.
Wichita’s been pretty flat for quite a long time. Everybody has been screaming “we need jobs, jobs, jobs”, but how do we do that? Wichita doesn’t need more sheetmetal or call center jobs, it needs innovation and pride.
A spark needs to light a torch so that the nations can see Wichita in the dark. We need to let people know that “Come to Wichita”, “Stay in Wichita”, its the Magic City where entreprenueralism is part of tradition, greatly encourage and where it florishes.
Many of the larger cities are building great amenities to attract businesses and people. Wichita is not. That is why businesses and people are not flocking here.
And the reason Wichita is slow to do anything is because our attitude has been complacent and frankly you even show it yourself CrusaderX. I’m not trying to attack you, so don’t get me wrong. It is just you are one of many people here that have the same attitude, and that attitude alone is why Wichita is flat.
Because you are saying “don’t do it” “dumb” and etc. People like you are just waiting around for something or begging the aircraft manufactures to hire more people. If you feel that you want to build something that would generate jobs and income, do it yourself.
I’ll take your critism and the bashing. That’s fine. I know it’s not going to go well for everybody, but I’ll welcome you once it’s built. :)
Walker, you SOB, busting me for the rock throwing.
And who says I havent hit anyone… heheh. I just cant quite throw far enough to hit St. Francis. But I can see it from Mt. Sunflower.
On the subject of grassroots, I think you could subtitle this the “we’re mad as hell and we’re not gonna take it anymore” tower or the “we are taking back our city” tower. Wichita belongs to all of you, not just a wealthy few.
I think the cool part of this project is not the object, but of people seeing the possibility of it, of themselves, of what your city could be.
Are there better ways of spending the money and effort? Maybe, but it is kinda cool to think people might get behind something like this just for the sake of doing it. Just because they can.
Joe, you are well on your way to “enrolling” other people in your project. The definition of enrollment in this context?
Enrollment is creating a possiblity for someone such that they step into that possibility and take action.
You will know you have people enrolled when they take action. Give us an action to take here. Give us something to do, no matter how small. Give us a possibility to step into.
I second the motion KFG.
Joe, I’m sure you’ve thought of this, but the tower needs to be lit up at night. I’m not talking a few lights or something, I’m talking “can see it from space” lit up at night. At 50 stories, this thing will tower above the Epic Center, currently Wichita’s tallest building at only 30 stories. We should be able to see this thing from miles outside of Wichita, especially at night.
Shocker’07. Yes! I have plans on the top of it to be lit up like a christmas tree at night.
Also, there would be flood lights at the base to light up the sides of it, much like the Garvey Building is now.
I’m working on completing all of the paperwork to be able to do fundraising for this project.
:) Thanks for all the support. Keep it coming and any question also. :)
JOEThere are talks of another meet up.
You lamented that you misssed the last one and felt not invited.
Weigh in on the matter over on the last Open thread.I am sure we are all eager to meet the blogs resident visionary.
OK Joe,
Lets put this thing on TOP of the arena, and then make the first 10 or 15 floors a cylindrical robotic PARKING GARAGE!
http://www.robopark.com/
I would even drive downtown to see that!