Long term, what matters is that south Wichita will get its much-needed new fire station next year, and that City Hall has worked out a deal to buy a house on the preferred site at Denker and Hydraulic. But short term, as they make the purchase final today, City Council members should expect some Wichitans to question whether the site really was worth the $225,000 price — especially because Cornejo & Sons had offered the city free land for the fire station seven blocks away. But as City Council member Jim Skelton told The Eagle: “That station is going to be able to provide the fastest service to the most people.â€
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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11 Comments
Somethings have to be in the right location. Few blocks away takes time.
Let’s hope the fire station saves lives from that location, so its proven long term.
It would stink if some back room deal is the reason City is buying that property.
Cornejo’s free property is worth something, they would have collected twice as much in a City bidding contract giving that land away. What’s under that free land as well! Toxic dirt or rusty trash, who knows.
You don’t get nothin for nothin in this world. The city should put the fire station where it can get to its service area the fastest.
Most houses in that neighborhood sell from $50K to 70K and the city wants to pay 225K for the location? Sounds pretty fishy. Maybe one of our do gooder groups should look into it. Seven blocks is not very far, just look at the firestation locations on Broadway.
So the city is saying that developement has been halted to the south? That there will never be an increase in the population to the south? They are paying 225K in order to service around 700 people as little quicker. How many people will live in the planned senior center at 47th & Hydraulic?J Guy is right -Something is fishy about this. The city gives up FREE land in favor of paying an inflated price for land they could have had by eminent domain at half the price?In addition -did they take into account how close they are to 3 railroad crossings when they determined response times? The free location puts them closer to the highway as an alternate route to a call as well.
So the city is saying that development has been halted to the south? That there will never be an increase in the population to the south? They are paying 225K in order to service around 700 people a little quicker. How many people will live in the planned senior center at 47th & Hydraulic?J Guy is right -Something is fishy about this. The city gives up FREE land in favor of paying an inflated price for land they could have had by eminent domain at half the price.In addition -did they take into account how close they are to 3 railroad crossings when they determined response times? The free location puts them closer to the highway as an alternate route to a call as well.———————————
You can thank the so called conservaties on the council. Paul Gray, Sue Schlapp, Jeff Longwell and Jim Skelton.
What is interesting as well is that this item will be on the consent agenda so that there will not be any discussion on it.
You would be amazed at what these folks hide from the people in the “consent agenda”. This process needs to be more open to the public.
They should also meet at least once a month in the evening so those of us that work during the day could attend a meeting.
I can’t believe that seven blocks under red lights and siren will make $250,000.00 worth of difference. Take the free lot!
It’s evident that those opposed to the city purchasing the site at Denker and Hydraulic don’t live in that area! Try explaining to the people who live in that area that the city is paying too much for that land! It’s a good bet you’d get the coldest shoulder known to man or beast! When it’s your house you want the fastest response time in case of a fire or other emergencies! It doesn’t matter if the south side isn’t developing as fast as other parts of Wichita! Those residents deserve the same type of fire service as the rest of this city! As far as the city paying 225-thousand while single family homes are appriased at 50-to-70K? The price for that land is at commercial rates! Commercial land prices are almost always more than residential prices! I should know! I am an appraiser!
Old Manor Road points out the issue, namely, while the current use of the proposed fire station property is residential, it is most likely to become a commercial use in the near future if it is not used for the fire station. This was, as I recall, the rationale behind the decision, namely paying for the property based upon its value as a commercial, rather than residential, piece of property.
I DO live in that area. Two blocks away on Ellis and 225K is NOT worth the price that the few seconds response time will make in that neighborhood. And since when is the area going commercial in the “near future”? The salon across the street has been dilapidated for years and I don’t see the mobile homes going away any time soon.
Wouldnt the Cornjo site be a better site anyway? being closer to 235, closer to the area south of 235? it doesnt many any since to save a few seconds for 225k.