It’s great news that College Hill is going to get a major new residential development — one of the largest in the city’s history — near Douglas and Hillside at the old state office building site.
That run-down building was a longtime eyesore and embarrassment. The new plan, which includes some 50 brownstone condos and a 12-story tower, was made possible by tax increment financing approved last week by the City Council.
It’s a wise community investment in a distinctive and historic Wichita neighborhood and a prime redevelopment site.
Combined with the handsome new development at Central and Hillside, this project will give the west side of College Hill an exciting new lease on life.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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46 Comments
Isn’t that the old Wichita Clinic building?
IIRC, it was the Wichita Clinic, then the State either bought it or got it vis-a-vis unpaid taxes, and then moved downtown into the old Innes-Macys-Dillards building on Williams, where it is now. It sounds like a great idea, being “kitty-corner” across the street from that beautiful old high-rise condo on the other side of Douglas. I recall something about really bad mold problems in that structure, so I guess they will just level it and start from bare ground.
Isn’t it already gone? If it is where I am thinking that is now a vacant lot.
Man, you guys need to get out more.They tore that things doen about a year ago. Now there’s just an empty lot there.
Man, you guys need to get out more.They tore that thing down about a year ago. Now there’s just an empty lot there.
This picture looks like Newberry Street in Boston, maybe Beacon Hill and I’m ready to sell the house and put my name on a waiting list for Wichita’s version.
My son lives in a brownstone on Boston’s Beacon Hill and I love visiting him there. His has an outside area with enough space to have wonderful big pots of growing things, sit there for a drink, conversation, a meal and enjoy the air and sunshine — BUT, not so much space that you spend most of one day a week keeping things mowed, edged, raked, shoveled… I’m getting too old for this maintenance stuff.
No kidding — you’re right. They did tear it down years ago. I had forgotten all about that. The old elegant high-rise (Hillcrest Tower, I think?) is still there, isn’t it?
Why does every square foot of ground have to have buildings on it?
A nice park at this site would have been better.
J R, It’s probably because of people like me that are interested and willing to PAY. But your comment made me think of another viewpoint and realize how valid your opinion is (thanks for that!). It’s all about the money I suspect.
JR, College hill park is just right down the street from this spot, I think the brownstones would be a great addition to the neighborhood..I fell in love with them when I spent time in DC.Have you been down Oaklawn street a block away from there? A private investor did some major renovating of those properties and I think it’s one of the coolest looking streets in Wichita. We need need more of this sort of investment in our city..it would be great if they could do in Midtown what they’ve done in College Hill and Riverside. I love it when old neighborhoods are preserved.
The Brownstones are fantastically overpriced for what they are. 300K for the cheapest condos and I assume that doesn’t even include a lawn.
This in a sketchy part of town by a busy city street.
It might be attractive for seniors who expect to die there and have no interest in getting back their investment. Otherwise, it doesn’t look good.
What Wichita SHOULD do with tax money they steal for their pet projects is quit giving it to their rich cronies.
Instead, they should really re-vitalize the city by buying POS blocks of properties in the city core (actually the area just west of these Brownstones down by East High), razing the entire block, sell the building materials to salvagers, and put in well constructed new housing for young marrieds.
Where is Jwink and Ben Huie to tell us it’s going to be a complete failure. *poke* *poke* ;P
I’ve been following this development for quite awhile. I’m glad it’s moving forward. It’s going to be awesome.
Wichita is growing and developing into a world class city. This project is a fine example of that progressive step to get there.
Joe, you slay me.
You’re completely against taxation and “government interference” in people’s lives and the free market.
Unless of course it’s the city of Wichita with one of their “make my rich friend richer” schemes.
You’re constantly whining about “creeping socialism.” Well, this is the worst kind of socialism: socialism for the rich.
But you’ll be able to enjoy looking at them while you’re sitting in traffic at Douglas and Hillside, Joe.
You’re not even close to the income bracket that could afford to buy one of these little beauties, but “hope is the thing with feathers on.”
Don’t let you personal financial difficulties join you to others in your situation or anything, Joe. Then you’d be a “unionist” or a “European.”
No, keep shilling for the rich as if they give a crap about you . . .
Maybe the brownstone concept (NO lawns…) would be in demand by my age person (I’m 60) and our houses are where the young marrieds want to live?? Maybe we’re going to see a turn over in neighborhoods like mine (Westlink) from us older people to younger ones with young children?? This neighborhood is close to public and parochial schools from kindergarten through high school but the houses on my block are full of older people whose grandchildren come to visit. Our grandchildren often take up the shovel or rake and help us with these big yards (thank goodness!).
$300,000? Did I miss something? If that’s what they cost, good luck trying to sell them…Wichita won’t support that market. The Hillcrest condos half a block away go for less than $100,000.I still think they’d add class to the neighborhood.
Linda. I live in a house that’s the opposite. I have a huge front lawn, but no back lawn.
I don’t have a green thumb, so I’m not into lawns at all. So elimating at least half the work is cool. :)
These Brownstones are going to be nice. I believe that they are going to market them to the retiring baby boomers.
This development is not a surprise. Cities in the East, Southeast and Midwest have been developing their older historic districts for decades. Most of those development have been for the middle class on the upper scale.
After a few years past their development when local economies catch up salary wise, the Brownstones will appeal to more to the middle salaried people and they will try to get housing there. This has happened in other cities as well.
I look at this development as an attractive way for the future of Wichita rather than one catering to a specific class.
They will have a lot more customers than they will have brownstones.
Yeah, sure . . . the fact that it is for wealthy people and enriches wealthy people–it’s just a coincidence!
Meanwhile, JM can’t even afford a haircut, but he’s defending to the death the “right” of rich people to screw him and people like him.
Don’t worry, Mary. If they can’t sell them for that, the city will just raise the taxes on the working poor and the middle class . . . you know, the people struggling to save up for a down payment on a manufactured home?
It’s the old “socialize the costs, privatize the profits.”
So is this private develpment if so really dont care. However if its more city sponsered communsim then its just a another wasteful money pit, gander mountain, waterwalk, arena, ect. I thought the mayor left Cuba to escape Commusion?
Gander Mountain – does anyone know anyone that has actually gone there?
And the City of Wichita spent how much to attract Gander? Eight million dollars?
We should use the Reverse Midas Touch Rule with the leadership of Wichita. Everything that they do turns to shit, so we should do EXACTLY the opposite of what they propose.
Dingus–you got it half right.
CONs hate communism . . . for the poor.
But for the rich, they can’t get enough of it.
Just look at the war profiteering going on Iraq.
40 percent of the money the Pentagon spends goes to private contractors.
The second biggest “army” is the private militias of contractors, you know the militias Bush wants to get rid off, as long as they’re not ours?
Leave it to CapnAmerica to bring up the Iraq war in a thread entitled “Bring the brownstones to College Hill.” No doubt Capn sees a direct link.
You might be surprised Capn how many people in Wichita can move right into one of those Brownstones and not even blink an eye.
Just because you have frittered away your chance at economic opportunity doesn’t mean everyone else has to follow your path to mediocrity and economic failure.
Anyone who wants more information on the project should contact Mike Loveland at 262-6400. Alternatively, you can look at staff’s report to last week’s city council meeting.
At the moment, the lowest priced condos are in the $200,000 range. There is also a park component that is currently planned. In addition to the brownstones, a high-rise structure similar to the Hillcrest is also planned.
WS, I shop at Gander Mountain and find it to be a much better sporting good store that either Dick’s or Gart’s.
It wasn’t meant to be a zap at those who DO shop at Gander, Ralph – it was a commentary on the limited benefit the investment has produced for Wichita. The City spent eight million to “entice” Gander to establish a store here.
What has ICT received for our investment?
Hey WSClark –I go to Gander Mountain all the time; they really have surprisingly a big market of people willing to shop there.On any given day you will see people from out of states and from different counties shopping there for supplies to hunt game here in Kansas.Gander Mountain is slowly starting pick up.
No problem WS. Guess I missed the rhetorical aspect of the question. Truth be known, the City has spent much more that 8 million to attract Gander Mountain if you look at all of the hidden costs relative to the east bank development including the Hyatt.
WSClark,If we didn’t have Gander Mountain my husband would be very sad. He goes there just about every week!
“Just because you have frittered away your chance at economic opportunity doesn’t mean everyone else has to follow your path to mediocrity and economic failure.”
He jests at scars that never felt a wound.
Actually, had you been paying attention, you would know from my previous posts that I am about as financially successful as I want to be.
I had a plan, I stuck to it, and with some lucky turns of events, things worked out even better than I thought they would.
You losers always want to ascribe to people who want to improve the general good that we’re “only doing it for ourselves” because we need gov’t help or something.
What you’re doing is projecting your own selfishness on to us.
And speaking of getting lots of government help, how’s that government PENSION working out for you, JM?
Are you enjoying spending MY MONEY?
Oh, but you ‘earned it’ because you were in the military, as if everybody else’s job is nothing . . .
And notice how JM goes right for the personal cheap-shot while ignoring the real issue which is “privatizing the profits, socializing the costs.”
The condominiums would start at $200,000 and most would be 1,500 square feet and up.
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/kansas/business/16630545.htm
Okay, I stand corrected.
130 dollars a square foot and that’s with gov’t subsidies.
But it’s not true that our gov’t doesn’t give poor people help buying houses.
We give them the finger . . .
Hmmmm. The city will assess $4.5 million in tax increment financing. The city would use future property tax generated by the project to repay bonds used to buy land and renovate the streets and lighting. Once they reach the $4.5 million mark, then it’s all gravy. The State, School District and the City will all recieve their cut.
Once the Brownstone project is complete, that development will probably pay for the TIF within 2 years. After that, it’s all paid for and the governments get their money, for which they aren’t getting any now, because it’s practially empty lot and empty/ low vacany low property value as we speak.
Yeah! This is an awesome investment for the government. They will get back in return, much more than the suppose greedy wealthy people that CapnA is attributed to.
You need to look forward towards the future bro. You’re pretty short-sided and closed mined.
I think that you could actually jump from the flyover , Onto the top of Gander Mountain.. Then steal all the copper from the unsitely air conditioners
Right, Joe.
I gotta deal.
Give me 4.5 million in tax revenue.
I’ll pay it all back at some point in the future.
If I don’t the city will take the loss.
And if I do, the city gets the interest.
It’s win-win for me.
Damn short-sighted b*st*rds won’t do it.
inda – you are right, it DOES look like Boston. I would probably say back Bay more than Beacon Hill but pretty much same difference. I lived there for three years and loved it.
I think such ‘medium-high’ density development will bring a lot to the ‘near-town’ areas; I do wonder, however about the prices. 300K seems steep for the Wichita market.
TIF financing makes a lot of sense as long as the term isn’t too long. There will be a fair amount of infrastructure work to do.
Now, lets go a step further. Lets improve transit to serve such areas. They are close enough to downtown that transit should be doable. Think of being able to get by with one car – like my family did when we lived in LA. The big Blue bus for routine commuting.
“Where is Jwink and Ben Huie to tell us it’s going to be a complete failure” Sorry to disappoint you Joe!
*sigh*
I only asked the location via the old Wichita Clinic to get my bearings. I haven’t been down that way for several years, but I worked at the Clinic when it was there back in the early ’70’s. My apology for not keeping up. ;)
As for College Hill, I’m wondering if that improvement has been in the past 3 or so years, because the last person I talked to who had bought a house and was living there said the area was far from what it had been years ago.
It’s a beautiful part of town, as is Riverside, and it would be great if it has seen some major improvements.
The point that is being missed is that while the city is contributing $4.5 M in tax money that it would never get otherwise, the developer is risking almost $50 M.
The high-rise across the street will have company, and the park across north , hope there is qute a bit of doing of the little things nearby, ought be marvelous-Good luck gang!
Great, Ralph.
How about the city loans me 10 percent of the cost of building my next house?
Then it will get all that tax money back eventually . . .
See what I mean? You slice and dice this any way you want to and it still comes out to “welfare for the rich.”
Ralph – this makes it a good investment on the part of the City. I think we have a great potential in what I nall the ‘near-town’ areas – generally between I-235 and the river on the west and between I-135 and Woodlawn on the east.
Also the area south of Kellogg ‘more or less’ between the river and the tracks. South-central ahs some wonderful Victorian homes that have great re-hab potential. The ’seed’ we hope to gat there is streetscaping along Broadway, sidewalk improvements, help with cleanups, and riverfront improvements between Kellogg and Pawnee. A lot of excitement is developing ‘down south’; I hope it reaches fruition.
RD–
I live in College Hill so I have some knowledge of the area. The true “college hill” is the blocks bounded by Central-Pershing-Hillside-Kellogg.
This area has retained its property values because of a number of high dollar show place homes–the Frank Lloyd Wright house is on 2nd Street as is the Italian Palace built by Archie Butts, a successful car dealer.
Belmont is perhaps the most impressive street of historic grand homes in the city.
(Also, the many good schools including Blessed Sacrament help a lot.)
Unfortunately, areas along Hillside are getting sketchy as the crime and poverty that is Grove creeps east.
The city’s lax enforcement of blight and rental properties is part of the problem.
But hey, why do your boring old job when you can funnel big money to your closest friends?
Capn – that enforcement issue is one of the big irritants ‘down south’ too.
RD,
You worked at the Wichita Clinic in the early 70’s? Might have seen me running around the halls as a child, I was 5, 6 or 7 those years.
My mother worked in the surgical area, anaesthetia/RN from the late 60’s to the mid 70’s I use to win grade school spelling bees, knowing how to spell that.
That building looked terrible “melted” into the angled sidewalk along Douglas. Glad to see it gone.
Brownstones will face what direction, east? What’s that street, Rutan?
That intersection of Hillside and Douglas was traveled many times by my family growing up and I see that area through those memories.
A different item but still among the “good news for Wichita” type:
http://www.visioneeringwichita.com/arkriveraccess/
Arkansas River Corridor Access Plan