The new Wichita City Council ordinance allowing buskers, or street performers, to entertain pedestrians for tips in Old Town, Delano and along Douglas Avenue looks like a big hit, judging by the delighted reaction of people at the March 31 downtown gallery crawl.
The sidewalks showcased local talent such as “Magic Melton,” one-man band Jord “Jayrodin” Peck and some 18 other performers who kept the crowds entertained with music, magic and comic patter.
What fun. As one patron noted, “It makes things come alive.” And that’s precisely the point.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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63 Comments
It is nice to see this. The city of Lawrence has them and it is a delight to stop and listen on a nice evening as you are walking downtown.
Wichita needs to have some places open along the downtown stretch. It would be nice to have restaurants for people to stop to have a bite to eat or a cup of coffee. It is also nice to have businesses with nice window dressing to look at. Something that Lawrence has a lot of. You can see some really interesting artwork etc. as you walk along the street. It is a nice evening to stroll down the street and hear some lovely music.
This is a good thing and long overdue.
Downtown Wichita is a tremendously underused resource. The proximity of Old town to the river and the museum district has great potential. Anything that gets us away from rolling the sidewalks up at 5 is a beginning in making Wichita a world class city. (Don’t laugh)
How about outdoor concerts at the Exploration place venue and the outdoor stage?
JR, Be careful what you wish for. When I came to Dallas in 1952 it was a great place to live. Today, living is only possible in towns surrounding it { they all run together }.
Dallas crime is through the roof and spills over. There are places in Dallas you can go and never be seen or heard of again.
Progress sounds like a good idea, until it happens.
Ed
Wow you are older and farther away then I figured.
What you are talking about in Dallas is also in KC and Denver and Wichita
Urban sprawl.
When people can run away from the things that cause crime, those things tend to not get changed.
Bringing life back to downtown encourages people of all kinds to live there and not run for the suburbs.
I’m helping to bring a project to Wichita.
Check it out.
http://www.PeerlessTower.com
I would love input.
Oops. I guess I should make it a clickable link.
http://www.peerlesstower.com
Very interesting, Joe. Thanks for posting the link. But it looks like giant hypodermic needle. Other than breaking the skyline, which isn’t such a bad idea, and housing the information center, what’s the purpose? I’d hate to see yet another building becoming vacant in years to come that can’t (or won’t) be used because it doesn’t have anything to offer except the original concept for which is was built.
BTW, there’s a fantastic view of Wichita looking northeast and beyond from an 8th floor restroom in the Courthouse. I was wishing I’d brought my camera.
Joe, good for you for working on a project for Wichita.
Have you all heard Shawn Colvin sing “Wichita Skyline”? I heard her in Austin saying that whenever she plays ks or nebraska, they request that song and cheer for it.
The joke is, according to Shawn, she wrote the song because Wichita HAS NO SKYLINE!!
Also, when Mark White was gov of Texas and was recruiting Boeing to move, he said the company deserved to be located in a town where the tallest building was NOT a Holiday Inn.
Heheh. Not bashing Wichita, just thinking Joe’s project would disarm Shawn and the former governor of Texas. heheh.
Every time I drive through downtown Wichita, I’m sad. I remember the downtown area as THE place to go. These days I enjoy the sculptures, and that’s about it. Other than office buildings, there’s nothing much to see until you get to Old Town. Tying the two together in some way would go a long way in making Wichita more marketable to visitors.
I’d still like to see something like Denver’s 16th Street Pedestrian Mall done here. (Joe, the Peerless Tower would fit in well, too.) Here’s a description from Denver’s Convention & Visitors Bureau:
Built in 1982, the mall is a tree-lined, pedestrian promenade of red-and-gray granite that runs through the center of downtown. Lined with outdoor cafes, renovated historic office buildings, sparkling glass-walled skyscrapers, shops, restaurants and department stores. Numerous fountains and plazas offer a variety of daily special events and entertainers. Free shuttle buses cruise the mile-long Mall every 90 seconds.
Denver is my home away from home, RD. The 16th Street Mall is fantastic. Hell, all of downtown Denver is fantastic and a model Wichita could use to redevelop its downtown. English could be a great pedestrian mall and a way to tie the arena to Century II.
Interesting concept, Joe. Seattle has the Space Needle, St. Louis the Arch, its about time Wichita gets in the game.
Can you clue us in on possible locations? Suggestion–the empty lot north of the Broadview.
The river walk in San Antonio is the gold standard for downtown re-development. Denver does a great job. Wichita can do well too, if it remembers that people these days want to “do” things, not necessarily see things for passive entertainment. “Do” includes live music, eating, theater, etc. Buskers are VERY good as are street musicians.
It takes a while to build critical mass of traffic to support these activities. If and when they open, go early and go often, even if you dont spend much or any money. Warm bodies draw more warm bodies, so attendance is critical.
Joe,I read about your proposed project some time back and assumed that it was a dead deal. It’s good to see that it is still alive. It will be a great place for a visitor’s center.
Any plans for a restaurant near the top?
Good for you Joe.
I’d check this spelling, however -… will soar above the skyline to become a primer symbol of aspiration…
I think you want “premier” – no dissing ya here. The other day Outlander was correctly correcting my spelling. :-)
Thanks DD for that. I actually re-wrote some of the content this morning. I should have double-checked everything.
Typing on Dreamweaver isn’t safe. No spell checker. ;)
I added a little more information and I re-wrote the index page content just now.
Steve! You actually nailed it. The proposed site is the empty parking lot north of the Broadview hotel. It is city owned property and nobody uses it. It is actually badly deteriated and looks ugly with the fence around it.
There is a question about purpose that somebody brought up. The tower isn’t going to be as big as you think. The observation deck up top is only going to have a diameter of 30′. So it’s not an occupant building nor have a restaurant.
It will have a pavilion that will house the Visitors Infomation Center, which used to be at the Wichita Boathouse, but of course we all know that is closed.
I’m hoping that it will increase development around it or even attach itself to it. If catering companies want to build a banquet hall to it or restaurant or a shopping strip, that would be great too.
I want it to incorporate it into the Arkansas River Corridor Project and fill in the gap between the Douglas street bridge and the Keeper of the Plains. That way there is a continous flow of amenities along the river from WaterWalk to Cowtown.
The design of the tower is preliminary and would love additional input or even the Design Council to bring about the final design.
I’ve had people suggested that it go green with solar panels and an axial wind turbine. Others have suggested that it also be a meteorological/ecological data gathering station or have a space trained telescope. All excellent ideas.
:) Thanks for responding guys. You don’t know how happy this makes me. :)
Joe,I wanted to say I liked the name – peerless tower. I am assuming that came from Wichita’s old (maybe 19th century old) nickname: the Peerless Princess of Prairie?
Wish you the best of luck with this.
You are right DD. I mentioned it on the website. Here is a cut and paste of it.
The name ‘Peerless’ that will name the tower, takes its roots from one of the greatest historical figures in Wichita’s history. An artistic journalist named Marshall Murdock came to Wichita in the late 1800’s to spearhead a newspaper to compliment the booming growth of the city during that time. His editorial style was timeless and he celebrated and promoted Wichita in such creative ways. He became one of the great believers in this city, and promoted it as one that will rival others in importance, grace, and mind-set. One of Murdock’s most memorable catchphrases “Peerless Princess of the Plains” was a way to describe Wichita in its extraordinary way. The Peerless Tower looks back at Murdock and will take his statement to heart and deliver to the world that Wichita is truly the Peerless Princess of the Plains.
Joe,You may actually rival Murdock when it comes to town boosterism. Our sometimes less than beautiful princess can use all the help she can get. I thank you for your efforts.
Color me Flabbergasted.
I don’t know what color that is. Maybe Tara can draw ME a picture.
I had heard of this Peerless tower.
That is YOU Joe Williams????????
I mean clearly it is because I checked out your website.
But honestly I am floored.
I mean this goes way beyond when I found out that Hank and Nathan were not the same person.
I remember agreeing with you once. The old thread got resurrected the other day. It was about NASA.
I have been unkind to you and maybe not unfairly. I found your posts derivative of Rush. You admitted yourself that your war info comes from the Pentagon. I make no apologies for trying to make you a better poster.I’d notice lately that you had separated a bit from the bush apologists. I mentioned this to the folks at the meet up. I think my words were “Joe Williams seems to be ready to turn on bush” or something like that.
Now not only are you not a dittohead you are a damned visionary?
Damn I knew there was hope for you.Now before I go on, scroll up and look at who came to read this thread but linked your website.
5 liberals 1 conservative
Think on that.
First off, what is your interest here? Are you an architect? You express real gratification for interest and input from bloggers in this project. This seems important to you. You did a really good job expressing that in your OWN words. Keep doing that!Tell us about this tower. I got my doubts. But I’ll drag everyone I can here to at least read about it.
I’m gathering ideas as to the next meet up. (that is if the WE will give us a new open thread) I do hope to meet you there.
Thanks for those encouraging words JR.
You asked a question about what my interest was for being a regular poster on the WE blog. My interest is the same as everyone else is; Spirited debate on the current event. Actually I have been one of the first posters on this blog since the first day it started, which was last summer.
I am not an architect. But to be fair about your concerns, the idea for the Peerless Tower for me goes way back. It’s always been in my head and now I’m pursuing it. I always thought if I ever become very wealthy or strike luck in the lottery I would build the Peerless Tower even if it took every single dime I own. Just to let you know the website has been up for quite awhile, since July of last year and this is the first time I really made it public on this blog. The Wichita Eagle did do a story on it early September of last year I believe. I checked the link on my website, but I guess that page is now archived. I have the actual newspaper clip somewhere in my possession. I have to look for it.
So if you have concerns that I’m just self-grandizing or just promoting myself, it’s not that. I’ve had the opportunity to post this project, but I stick to the topic at hand. This is in respect to everybody else, the topic, and the WE administrators/moderators.
I’ll let everybody know how I really feel that way you can get a sense of my intention.
I’m just a regular person like everybody else. I’m a pretty modest guy, live within my means, and I’m a blue collar worker. I’m pretty much anonymous. But what I do posses is a real burning desire for love of Wichita. I have no idea why, it’s just really stuck on me. I wasn’t born here, but I pretty much grew up here.
Ever since I moved here when I was ten years old, there has been a strong bond between myself and the city. I only want what is best for it and I always want to do something about it to help it grow in any way. Just to give you an example: I used to live up where Home Depot and the YMCA are now on North Woodlawn (back then it was Fanta Sea). I remember the signs on Woodlawn (two lane road at the time) between where I lived and Bel Aire had a declaration of a future project called K-96. I was the happiest person I could ever be when I saw it. I knew it was going to be a highway. I was probably 11 or 12 at the time. I remember even talking to my parents about it and how excited I was.
When they started to build the highway, and this is no joke, it was all dirt at the time, but the bridges were pretty much built, I walked all the way to Hydraulic from my house, then back and to Webb Road (at that time it was still preliminary past Webb). All on dirt just to see how it was going to be. There are so many memories I remember about everything that was going on. I remember the downtown flyover being constructed and how happy I was.
When I got older and went to college and even after I graduated practically all my friends left Wichita. They use to tell me how it was so boring and just a little simple town. That used to really upset me. I remember when all the big companies were moving out of town like Pizza Hut and Rent-a-Center and how sad I felt. My friend left and went to places like Kansas City, Dallas, Phoenix, NYC, Atlanta, Chicago, and Denver. I only had one friend that left Wichita to go live in Pratt, but the rest left for bigger cities. I felt sad and alone. I had my opportunities to leave Wichita, to make a new life, and probably more money. I had chances to go to Tampa, Dallas, Atlanta, and even Hong Kong. They were all so tempting that I almost did. I remember being really depressed and deep in thought about it for months. But I stuck it out and stayed home. My love was to strong. Even my siblings moves out of town (but they are all back now) :) , but it was hard times for me.
I ran for State Legislature a couple of times but didn’t really get anywhere but I love the experience anyways. But I always brainstorm all the time to see what I can do to help Wichita in any way. Even during my last few years in College I worked for the City of Wichita at the Wichita Boathouse. It was one of the most enjoyable jobs I ever had. Interacting with the visitors and telling them about Wichita, were to find all the attractions, telling them about the History of the area. I was so enthusiastic and proud.
I remember meeting all the movers and shakers in our area. One of the most memorable people I met was the late Tim Gruver. This is before the 1st Tallgrass Film Festival. He shared the same passion and love for Wichita that I did and we talked for hours. When he passed away I was heartbroken. He was an angel, believe me. He was the real deal.
There is so much I can add, but to get a sense of how I feel, I remember the rollercoaster of emotions I felt during the election of 2004 of the Downtown Arena vote. This may be odd but I was more interested in that that the Presidential Election. I remember that the polls before the election showing that it would be overwhelming defeated and on Election Day when for some time it was showing that it would lose, but it eventually pulled away and won. :) I was literally partying like crazy when it won approval. Don’t even get me started when Visoneering Wichita came about. I want nuts.
The Peerless Tower is something I’ve thought about since I was young and now I’m going for it. I’m not a professional promoter nor do I know many people, but I’ll do what I can to make it a reality, even if it means giving up the reigns to somebody else.This has nothing to do with me. I don’t stand nor am I seeking to benefit financially, socially, or any other way. If I could be an anonymous wealthy donor and do it behind the scenes I would. I just started by researching all the towers around the world in many of the great cities and how much it has benefited them and I felt that Wichita could do the same. It is not so much as it being a national landmark or a “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’m asking for help and input because I need it. I’m not as professional or articulate to promote it effectively, but I’m trying my heart out. I’ve spoken to or wrote letters to many of the people I should get in contact with, but I’m largely ignored. That doesn’t get me down. I accept the fact that I’m just a nobody with a silly idea (only using that phrase because somebody wrote to me that exact phrase and I disagree with them), but it’s going to take a large effort on my part and the help of others to make it happen.I’m not doing this for me; I’m doing this for everybody else. It might take years before it can happen, but I believe that it will. :)
Just to let you know the reason why I’m up so late, besides typing this out, but is because I just got done watching “Ice Harvest” on DVD, and the only reason why I watched it is because it reference Wichita.
Joe – a couple of things:
A cellwireless tower at the top – cover the entire city.
Try drawing in an “eggbeater” type wind turbine on the shaft going up. It’s own power supply.
“Don’t even get me started when Visoneering Wichita came about. I went nuts.”
Does anyone know whatever became of Visoneering Wichita. I recall someone sent me an email with a link to a web-based survey. I completed that, but don’t know what became of the project.
Joe, I am forgetting his name, but the guy who wrote the book “Ice Harvest” lived in Wichita. He even took classes at Wichita State. He made his money as a Hollywood screen writer; made a backward move to writing books and now lives in the Kansas City area, I believe. I think the book is supposed to be better than the movie – I have not seen the movie yet.
The book is pretty raw, but you can recognize real parts of our town in it. Remember the massage parlors that lined K-15 between Wichita and Derby? – those are mentioned in the book – as are different oddities about Wichita. I think the book is worth the purchase price. It is genre’ called “noir” – the difference between “hard boiled” and “noir” is that in hard boiled the protanonist wins, in noir, he (almost universally a he)loses.
The _Ice Harvest_ author’s name is Scott Phillips and actually I think he lives in or near St. Louis.
The book’s title was inspired by the verse “you reap what you sow.”
Joe, I have taken you to task many times, and I will likely do so again. :)
Dude, I gotta say though, Wichita is lucky to have you.
Your post nearly moved me to tears. I totally understand your love for your community. I recognize myself and my love for this god forsaken prairie in your glowing posts about your affair with Wichita.
Good for you for not giving up when confronted with the “wall” of the entrenched economic development, community development, and downtown development people.
Why is it that the very people who are supposed to be helping, end up saying “you are nobody with a silly idea”? That makes me see RED.
Remember Joe, the person who says it cant be done should not interrupt the person already doing it!!
Dammit Joe, I’ll help you do it just to prove to the vichy bastards that it CAN be done. I love a good windmill tilting event!
Joe,
Not much time to write just now.
I’m off to the dog show.
Wonder if I will run over…….er I mean run into Hank.
I will write more later.
YOu must not think I was being critical of you in my last post. I wasn’t. But if anything I said misinterpreted or otherwise generated your last post. I’m glad I could help! Impressive!
Someone like you with big ideas is just the person we need around here to get things done. Whatever you need help with, Joe, just let me know. I am offering myself as your Tower slave. Do you have any plans for fundraising? What would be the tower’s main source of revenue?
Joe,
Ditto the remarks about your post being a touching one.
I was born here a while ago. I am tied to Wichita, too, but for different reasons. Sometimes I regret that.
There is one thing that I consistently notice when I’m flying home to Wichita. Let’s face it, the majority of people flying to Wichita are doing so, not to visit the attractions, but are returning home. There is always a plane full people who friendly and really glad to be getting back home. When I get that feeling upon returning home, I remember why I want to stay.
And Joe,You might be optimistic and stubborn enough to make this deal work. I don’t know what I could do for you, but would be glad to do anything I could.
I know some state legislators and some Sedgwick County non-elected higher-ups (the ones who get things done so the commissioners can take credit for it)(also used to be a neighbor to Buchanan). Have virtually no connections to the city people, though.
Sheeeesh..leave it to a small minded person like JR to try to turn a beautiful idea that can help our city into a political bash. JR wrote:”5 liberals 1 conservativeThink on that.”
Cheap shot, JR. SOME of us have lives outside this blog and are not here to post in a “timely manner” to avoid your judgmental politicized crap.
This tower is a great idea, one that could help in the revitalization of our downtown. It has NOTHING to do with politics, JR. It is not a polarizing issue between political thought.
*sigh*.
raptor – I think the point JR was trying to make was that support for the idea comes from both sides of the aisle. I don’t think he was trying to polarize.
Wow the posts were so civil here.
Then raptor showed up.
I did not mean to polarize. But I do mean to suggest that big ideas like this one Joe has are more kindly looked upon by liberals than conservatives.
In fact, I have posted above that I was stunned that such a big idea could even come from a conservative.
My bent on this was that maybe deep down Joe isn’t or rather shouldn’t feel he is served well by conservatives.At least the strain of that thought that is currently in power.
I am not the first to say so.
With that cleared up:I was interested in this idea when I heard about it last year. Not often I get to trade words with a guy with a vision.
I like the wind turbine core idea. What would be the potential for energy production? Certainly enough to power the tower and a surplus.
Would it be lit at night?I am virtually certain that this would have to be public works. If not you may find you end up with the Koch/Spirit Peerless tower with logos as ornamentation. And that does not seem your vision.
This is a hard sell even to a public works liberal like me. “Build it just to build it because it is cool” is not gonna be enough to get Wichita behind this.Is there something that could be tied to it? Like a city or state or even national anniversary?Could it be pitched as “making Wichita the high point of Kansas?”Would an environmental theme be helpful. “Lit by the wind” or something like that.
I can tell what it is gonna take for this to fly. This is not cynical, unfortunately.
It is going to take the right people making money off of the government’s nickle. It’s gonna also take letting politicians take credit for it – who contributed nothing, and risked nothing for it to happen.
What I am hearing from Joe is that he doesn’t care about the above details. Therefore, it has a chance.
Joe,There are some awesome ideas here by a wide variety of persuasions. Damned if it don’t make a grumpy old man smile.
Self powered building; self regulated; locking onto todays and tomorrows building technologies and showcasing them in the Peerless Tower. Make it a must see for anybody crusing through Wichita. How could the city council NOT go for it? Well, as long as the building says nothing about Evolving out of past technologies:-)
I think people in Kansas are longing for something they can “get behind”.
People want to support their communities. But support from the masses can not be controlled. (see ports deal). That is why the entrenched “experts” whiz on everything that people might really support.
I dont know if the tower is a good idea or not. I just think if joe is willing to put himself out there with a credible idea, it is predictable that the establishment will dismiss the idea.
JR, you are oh so correct that big and innovative ideas are better supported by the humorless, depressed and depraved left. They see possibility. The right is too busy condeming progress.
Guess that is why we are also called progressives. Like CF once said, if it pisses off the vichy leaders, I am all for it!
” But I do mean to suggest that big ideas like this one Joe has are more kindly looked upon by liberals than conservatives.”
And how is that not polarizing?
Is the truth polarizing?
I guess that aversion to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth is why bush said he is a uniter not a divider.
Oh brother. This idea of a tower for Wichita is a great idea, and one that has incredible potential.
I simply do not understand why it is necessary to belittle people of different political ideals over something that has absolutely nothing to do with politics.
It has nothing to do with truth or anything else. Not everything in this world has to do with politics.
Sheeesh..some people just love the chip on their shoulder, don’t they?
At 8:44 KFG called Raptors shot. At 9:22 Raptor took it.
Raptor?My comments that you quote were directed to Joe Williams. They were not directed at you raptor or anyone else.
And Raptor? You are embracing Joe’s idea but asking no questions. You spend most of your time fighting me.
I disagree that this idea is not about politics. Any big idea necessarily involves politics. (Darwin said it as ever better than I can upthread) I do agree that a general descent into patisan bickering is not of value here.
But we do our friend Joe no service here if we just say he has a good idea. He has a damn tough sell. A handful of people on a blog is a small start. He is doing well! Here.But tilting windmills and building towers and willing a vision to life is serious buisiness.
This thread is getting no attention.
Joe? Are you ready for a thread devoted just to your tower? You know going in what that will be. I would not like to see your vision squashed before it ever gets off the ground. But your words are passionate and moving. More people should read them.
If you are ready, here is what I suggest. YOU write the header for that thread…..not one of the editors they would water it down or spin it.
I think it is way past time us bloggers got to do that once in awhile.
YOU write the header. Everyone so far posting this thread will I am sure advocate you and that thread and we will unanimously ask for it here. Is this ok with everyone?
100% behind the idea, JR. Get er done, Joe.
Well, I may have to taylor my opinion of Joe Williams!
Joe, Hats off for your project. Sounds like quite a challenge. This town could use a push into the 20th century. Your tower would be a nice starting point.
Way to go!!!!
Oops, make that the 21st century! I’ve been in Wichita too long, lol!
Oops, make that the 21st century! I’ve been in Wichita too long, lol!
I appreciate all the words of support from each of you guys.
I’ll have to mention one thing about the comments made about the political polorization. I’m not a conservative, just to set the record straight. I identify with Libertarianism than anything else. That makes me a social liberal, fiscally conservative, and pro-capitalist and entreprenuerism.
I would say I have an element of both conservativism and liberalism, but not full tilt one way or other. I also change my mind on where I stand on issues quite a bit once I learn more about the facts behind it.
JR! Sounds good about starting a thread devoted for the discussion of the Peerless Tower. I would love that.
“The Peerless Tower and the future of Wichita’s urban identity.”
A header like that would be great. That way we can all discuss the Peerless Tower, the relationship to other downtown projects, such as WaterWalk, DT Arena, Keeper of the Plains, the conversion of office buildings into residential condos and etc.
Wichita will look different ten years from now, and so, will the Peerless Tower (if built) be a focal point of Wichita’s urban identity and community pride? Can the tower positively impact our city, and if so, what kind of positive impact can it bring? Beyond just tourism. Could the Peerless Tower even have a substantial impact of helping to retain young adults from leaving Wichita? Can it inspire entrepreneurialism, jump start a re-growth downtown, attract business to relocate, attract more and larger conventions?
These are just some of the questions I believe we should discuss. Most people are just going to look at the Peerless Tower as maybe another attraction doom to debt like the Ice Rink, Cowtown, and Exploration Place. But I believe that the Peerless Tower is more than just an attraction. It is a powerful beacon of hope.
I remember reading an article years ago about Seattle. It said that the Space Needle was one of the most important factors in growing Seattle to what it is today when it transformed it from an industrial outpost to an ultra-modern city on the cutting edge with cutting edge companies calling it home.
The Peerless Tower is not about coping or replicate the Space Needle. But it is what the Needle did to change the attitude of the City. I believe the Peerless Tower can change the attitude (for the better) of Wichita.
Seattle was about science and technology, Wichita is about entrepreneurship. We need to bring that attitude and edge back to Wichita, because we lost it in the past decade or so.
All the cities in the USA are about recruiting companies and it has become very competitive with tax abatments, IRB’s, and even free land and buildings. But what ever happen to fostering it at home?
If you look at the largest companies in Wichita and these are the ones that employee the most people, like Cessna, Raytheon, LearJet, Spirit, Boeing, Coleman, and those with big impacts like Pizza Hut, Rent-a-Center, and etc. These are all home grown companies starting with home grown people.
I see Wichita as an entrepreneurial powerhouse. Just as Technology and software is to Silicon Valley, just as New York is known for banking and the financial capital, Chicago in business commodities, Wichita is known for its entrepreneurial strengths and mindset.
I honestly believe we breed it. Everybody I know that has grown up here that are either still here or move away are always entrepreneurial minded. Always braning storming business ideas, taking chances, and thinking like an entrepreneur. People I know that grew up elsewhere that came here to work don’t think that way. They are content in staying on a job being an employee, while those who grow up in Wichita always wants to be on their own and be their own boss.
:)
I kind of rambled on a bit. I guess I should have saved it when a dedicated thread about the Peerless Tower is made.
Many thanks everybody. I can’t wait for productive discussion about the Tower and the future of Wichita.
I know some of you that posted here have questions about it. I’ll be glad to answer them, but I’ll see if it gets its own thread and if not, I’ll come back to this one and answer them.
I’d say that settles if Joe is ready!
Ok guys, you know how we do this.
HEY EAGLE EDITORIAL BOARD????
We want a thread about the PEERLESS TOWER PROJECT.
Now EAGLE EDITORIAL BOARD this is a chance to DO SOMETHING NEW.
The idea man behind the PEERLESS TOWER is JOE WILLIAMS.
We want JOE WILLIAMS to WRITE THE HEADER FOR THE THREAD
THANK YOU FOR the open thread. But it is too chaotic to give this idea a fair hearing.
Tell ‘em guys!!
Hey WE editors!
PEERLESS TOWER THREAD!
HEADER BY JOE WILLIAMS!
MAKE IT HAPPEN!
NOW!!!!!!
Joe, in spite of my comment about the hypodermic needle (hey, Wichita COULD use a shot in the arm!) your idea has value and your vision is astounding. I do want to hear more, so…
(are you listening, Eagle Editors?)
GIVE US A PEERLESS TOWER THREAD WITH JOE’S HEADER!!
(and, Joe, Dreamweaver does have a spellcheck. ;) –from one webwitch to another)
JoeGood showI was brought up in Wichita and I remember how sad it was years after I left they tore down the Allis Hotel. That was a sight that could be seen for miles.
Yo, WE editors: Do it, DO it NOW. A Peerless Tower thread is a must. DO IT NOW, or maybe tomorrow.
Walker, have you talked to Park City about this?I think they have some land that might be a natural for this.Wichita will NEVER do anything great until the Gang of Four is purged from the 13th floor of the Glass House.
I wonder about adjacent to the Arena for a location? While I have not been a proponent of the Arena I think that might be the best location. Another possibility that might make sense would be WaterWalk. Or, maybe half-way between them – sort of a connection.
Joe,I think it’s a great idea!!!My only concern is how will it cope in the potentially high winds?
Hey WE, where’s the thread?
Joe, have you thought of redesigning the top of the tower in the shape of an arrowhead? Dual purpose, celebrate indian heritage and would be a metaphor for the future of the city (always pointing up). Just a thought for what it’s worth.
That is an interesting idea Steve.
Maybe Joe is in talks with the WE.
But just in case they have not seen us yet.
PEERLESS TOWER THREAD!!!
Julie – wind shouldn’t be a problem. They have skyscrapers that are bigger in windy places.
WE – how about it? Maybe expand to include other “far-out” ideas for Wichita.
YES!!! The future of Wichita, and what it needs to do to bring it about. Are there any visionaries out there, besides Joe? Can any on the city council think outside the box? Is anyone willing to do what has to be done to make the center of the United States a place of action, instead of the laughing stock and butt for late-night shows it is now?
I tried to e-mail the WE Editors about starting a dedicated thread using the address they give weblog@wichitaeagle.com , but it seems to be a dead address.
I guess I can e-mail them individually.
Not for sure if any of you guys have already e-mailed them or not.
:)
I emailed Randy Schofield. Let’s see what happens!! Perhaps someone could second the motion:
rscholfield@wichitaeagle.com
I hadn’t heard about a “Peerless Tower” proposal before now. With the current sentiment after the downtown arena passed, it has no chance. Bad timing.
Update:Randy Schofield emailed back: “Steve, I’ll pass this along to Phil Brownlee, who makes those decisions.Peerless Tower? I’ll have to go back and see what this is all about. . .–R”
Outlander, see KFG’s post above regarding the establishment dismissing the idea. I’d have to disagree about the timing. The arena’s passing sure did stir up the cavers, sending them into some sort of frenzied panic at the thought that Wichita might do something progressive. However, it seems to me that most people, the moderates who had no strong feelings either way, are beginning to believe that Wichita can be a great place to live. There is an energy here that I have never felt before. Ideas are taking shape, deals are being made, downtown buildings are being renovated. Huge projects that will have a major impact on our quality of life, such as WaterWalk and Wild West World, are very close to reality. There is a momentum right now that creative and motivated people like Joe can capitalize on.
It’s going to get its share of critisim and backlash. Every project does, so I welcome any feedback, negative or positive.
The one thing I can say that I am striving for this project to be constructed using private funds as much as possible. I don’t want to tap the public coffers. Not to say that I might ask for city-owned property that is presently vacant, but that is a long ways off from the city or county issueing bonds or other fiancing vechiles. They have too much on their plate to worry about right now than another project.
What I hoping Outlander is exactly what Steve is saying, that is to capitalize on the re-development of Downtown, which is going through a great transition stage. We have a real chance to maximize its potential with all the projects going on, why not add a significant landmark presence to Wichita? Everything begins with a dream. Somebody had a dream to build a Keeper of the Plains statue, WaterWalk, a downtown Areana, Old Town, Century II, Epic Center and so on. Somebody thought about it and with community support, it became reality.
I’m going to tell you the truth. I’m tired of Wichita falling behind the rest of the cities in our area. Omaha, Tulsa, KC, and OKC. They are doing so much. Everybody has built their downtown arena, even Little Rock and Des Moines. We are the last to do so (hasn’t even started yet really).
I was in OKC last month for a business meeting, for which I spend the night at a downtown hotel. I walked around Brick Town in OKC and was highly impressed. What a great place with two levels of restaurants and shops, I was envyous. Old Town is nothing in comparison (although getting better).
We really need to change all of this or we will miss out on so much. I just watch a CNBC special about Omaha with their new Peformance Art center and revitalization. They have spent more than $2 billion into their downtown and it is paying off. They have recurited quite a few companies to headquarter there and seen over 20,000 jobs come into the area. That is whopping our butts.
We can be content and except our begging for scraps fate or we can do something about it. I for one want to do something about it.
:)
I e-mailed WE about started a dedicated thread and I guess I have to cross my fingers to see if they will create one.
I think that a bold idea like this is worth discussing Joe, especially if you have an idea of how to fund it privately. I hope they provide the thread.
Thanks WE for the new thread.
I would love to see the tower built. with the addition of the waterwalk, and the arena, wichita will finally have big attractions that it should have had years ago. I think that wichita is starting to move in the right direction, which is improving wichita into the city it can be.