It’s good that planners are finally coming up with a strategy for downtown arena parking. Last week they recommended that Sedgwick County gain control of 2,400 parking spaces within four blocks of Intrust Bank Arena. County Commissioner Tim Norton also thinks that the city and county should build a parking deck off Waterman on the other side of the railroad overpass from the arena. Some other county commissioners aren’t convinced about a deck. But given the public’s perception, real or imagined, that arena parking is a problem, the parking deck could be a wise investment — and a good use of tax-increment financing money, which the city and county also need to approve.
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29 Comments
Parking is a real issue, and it shouldn’t be so far away that the disabled can’t find a parking place close enough. BLOCKS away is downright unacceptable. Century 2 needs some better parking as well.
On the one hand, I have a hard time imagining there ever will be a parking problem because I have a hard time imagining there will ever be an attraction that attracts enough people to want to park there.
On the other hand, shouldn’t parking have been one of the considerations before you started building the place?
Either the people who pushed through the BankWhatever Arena were utter fools or they’re counting on the people of Wichita being bigger fools.
I think I know which way I’d bet.
It’s flat out amazing the Wichita downtown arena cheerleaders were so busy spending sales tax money for parties and trips to other arenas around the country that it didn’t occur to them the arena might need parking lots for 7,000 cars.
All the county commissioners, the county manager Buchanen and their out of town hired gun lackeys had to do was drive to the Kansas Coliseum and notice it’s 4,000 surface level parking spaces arranged neatly around the 10,000 seat coliseum building and the horse show pavilions for maximum usage. Also notice the easy ingress/egress from I-135.
Apparently the current thinking from the smoke filled rooms after all these years is to offer parking in the dark downtown alleys (”don’t park there and block my trash container”), under freeways (don’t run over that homeless person) and in private residential yards (sorry, I had your car towed away so I could get out).
Do we have any city or county administrators and planners in Wichita who could have foreseen this gigantic problem developing? Or did anybody care in the rush to separate the taxes from the taxpayers? (”From the many, to the few.”)
This 1/2 billion dollar albatross white elephant arena should have been named “Winters, Norton, Unruh Folly” for the current holdover county commissioners. Of course, Winters will soon be history having been voted out in the August primary. Norton will soon be voted out in November general election. Then hopefully Unruh will see the handwriting on the wall and resign.
This arena is truly the Kansas version of Alaska’s “BRIDGE TO NO WHERE” and, incredibly wastes more taxes.
Sarah Palin, where were you when Sedgwick County needed you?
In my view, construction of the white elephant downtown arena needs to be halted and wrapped in concertina wire to keep out varmits. Then appoint a large group of taxpaying citizens to decide what to do with it. That site is needed back for a large parking lot for a renovated Union Railroad station.
Wichita needed a new convention center near the Arkansas River, not another larger ice hockey arena. I don’t think the taxpayers are interested in buying a dozen new Zambonies to scoot around on the arena ice slab at $100,000 each.
Perhaps they the Zambonies can be sold at Wichita’s used car lots.
Ben and others only brought up arena parking about a zillion times on this blog.
(shakes head in disbelief)
Build it and they will . . ummm . . park . . . ummm . . . over there . . . and . . . maybe over here . . .oh, hell, just build it.
Our planners seem to be under the spell of franklinites; they’re using the same logic. Their next venture is to make it PAID parking for all three attendees to the BankRupt Arena. Way to go, master leaders, we so stupid we vote you in agin!
“On the other hand, shouldn’t parking have been one of the considerations before you started building the place?
Either the people who pushed through the BankWhatever Arena were utter fools or they’re counting on the people of Wichita being bigger fools.
I think I know which way I’d bet.”
MH – I have it IN WRITING directly from the ‘vote yea’ crowd that parking is inclued in the $184.5 million budget for their arena. THEY SHOULD BE HELD TO THEIR PROMISES!
The problem is that the 45% cost overruns in core costs have frittered away funds that were supposed to be their for parking, infrastructure, and operating loss reserve.
They built this thing with the people’s money, as a play thing, for rich people.
Ya got your VIP on site parking for the folks with the only good seats in the house.
I hope the folks who sit in the good seats and get to park close can keep their toy afloat. Myself I have no intention of ever going there.
Mom,
Why spread that fear? Disabled won’t find a parking space close to the Arena? Disabled with the placard or physically diminished they can’t walk very far?
Does Wal-Mart have this issue thrust in their face or the malls?
Enough parking slots for disabled with placards should be available.
People have to make a decision to get at events earlier if they want closer parking space and can’t walk very far.
Disabled could be let out at the Arena door and someone in better shape could park the car.
To you continually No bodies won’t be visiting the Arena, that’s spoiled. What will change by that continuing that poor discussion. Your not attending, fine.
Your not correct in that thinking anyway. The Coliseum had to be replaced and its in a better location.
You didn’t want the Casino in Sedgwick County, private business ready to spend hundreds of Millions, so support your community with the Arena we all paid for with tax dollars.
Stay home from both if you like. New people do come to live in Wichita, Sedgwick County and they will replace you No bodies unwilling to attend.
Its a SUCKY location. The traffic there is miserable as it is. The parking IS an issue.
And the arena should had never been considered for being built there.
Downtown is the place where Arena’s are placed in other communities. People with Master’s degrees in Arena design, place them around the country kind of know what their doing. In this four state regional area, arena’s downtown.
The people who should walk, County and City officials and workers in those buildings They have parking garages near offices and could keep their cars out of the zone. They could ride trolleys.
Traffic flow will be figured out. Parking is an issue, but it has solutions eventually.
Some business might create a parking garage if there is a real need. The County and City don’t know yet if it’s a necessity.
Let calculated Arena business dictate need for parking the way it should be. What events could sell most seats, SMG has to figure those out.
Useless empty parking would be wasteful.
People are wondering what events would attract them and cost of tickets.
I hope Wichita can attract events that people want to see. Events come back if there is good attendance.
Why can’t we have pride in what happens here?
It’s created, now to make it work is our collective goal.
That close to the train tracks, I hope they soundproofed it well.
Mrage
Posted September 7, 2008 at 4:47 pm | Permalink
Downtown is the place where Arena’s are placed in other communities. People with Master’s degrees in Arena design…
———————–
No doubt the City of Wichita didn’t hire anyone with this specialization when they drew up the plans. Or, they hired someone who finished last in their class – re:parking.
“Disabled could be let out at the Arena door and someone in better shape could park the car.”
Are you volunteering to do it?
“Downtown is the place where Arena’s are placed in other communities.”
Not really. They are usually at the fringe of downtown. A similar location here would have been 21st at the Canal Route.
“I hope Wichita can attract events that people want to see.”
So do I. But jut what will they be? Semi-pro basketball? That sure as heck won’t get me down there.
“so support your community with the Arena we all paid for with tax dollars.”
I AM supporting it – with my tax dollars. It is YOUR job to get events there that people will attend – not my job.
Mrage – a question: If your Arena does not need parking then why did you promise – IN WRITING – that parking was includd in the deal? I have the documents in which those representations were made.
And Phillip – TIF financing is NOT the way to do it. ALL costs should come from the money raised by the sales tax – AS PROMISED!
The one subject that unites us all. Poorly thought out. A giant waste of taxpayers money at this point. We need to know who proffited from this location. We need to replace any county commissioner or city council person who pushed this through. Also those in the city council who were part of the mess in hiring our new city manager.
Looks as if we voters have a lot on our plate through the next few elections.
Those are things that should have been considered long before they voted on the arena MRage! If space is such premium that you can’t put in parking- then you put it in the wrong damn spot!
I no longer live in Wichita, but have been following the arena situation there with some interest since it was voted down multiple times when we lived there.
I honestly don’t have a position one way or the other, but want to know … those of you who are complaining about the parking, what do you want to see? Other than tearing down the arena and pretending it never happened, that is :-)
From my former days attending Riverfest, we used to park around Old Town/Cox Cable and walk in from there (several blocks) along with many others. Never seemed to bother anyone too much that I can remember. Just an observation.
okob – It was Roger Grund who introduced me to ocal politics. It would really drive people crazy when he and I would show up at a City Council meetig together.
I was never political in Oklahoma but have gotten very involved in Kansas. I learned that we owed it to our kids and grandkids to stay informed especially in local issues. This arena deal has alway been a sore point with me. We are involved in some ways with the promoters of the arena in business ventures. I watched as they manuvered their way into this colossal debacle. The public needs to stay informed and we that are active need to make sure to inform those who won’t inform themselves.
My city council person has blocked by emails I am sure. I do hear on a regular basis from her aide. The infrastructure in this city is awful. Streets falling apart. Kellogg is always being repaved. Why can’t we find a more permanent solution to potholes.
Well enough. The blood pressure is up enough.
was – what I want to see are the promises kept. The pushers of the Arena made a lot of promises that included infrastructure, parking, and an operating loss reserve. Those have been frittered away on cost overruns.
As for walking at Riverfest – I do as well. However, I would note that Riverfest is in the spring – not winter or summer. It is one thing to walk several blocks in nice weather – quite something different in an ice storm.
I want to see the Arena boosters do for their Arena what I did last night for my zoo – volunteer to help raise money. I don’t know how much Zoobilee raised but I’m sure it makes a difference. Add to that the money the zoo raises from membership sales and we supporters of the zoo support it with our money.
Perhaps the contractors who pushed this thing and who are raking in the cash can give some back. Let the pushers put some of their own money on the table.
What I do NOT want to see is yet more of my tax money used on that thing. It is THEIR job to make it work. Of course, when it doesn’t I’m sure they will find a way to blame us for not supporting their project. Note Mrage’s claim “It’s created, now to make it work is our collective goal.” NO – it is HIS and THEIR goal and responsibility; not mine.
I have ideas on how to handle the parking situation; my professional services are available and the County knows how to contact me. Beyond that my only involvement is to pay their bills.
Remember that old episode of “The Simpsons” when Springfield built a monorail? Downtown arenas are the new monorail; a way to compete with Shelbyville.
I dunno if it really makes a difference to host the World Series of Needlepoint (or whatever) every six or eight years, but as long as Fargo has a downtown arena the rich and politically-connected will want one, too. Just to keep in the running.
Tax abatements, TIFs, all the largesse governments bestow on business — all the while, parroting platitudes of “free enterprise” — corrupt government and business and we get stuck with the tab.
Mrage kept insisting that his 18,000 seat Arena would attract Big 12, MVC, and NCAA tournament games. OOPS! It’s 15,000 seats. No tourneys. So now he says his heroes at SMG will come up with something. Well, in about 16 months we just might find out. My prediction: they will have that Ford advertiser singer as the opening act. Any other guesses asn to opening? Mrage?
“bth” –
“There Will Be Blood — On Ice!”
“Dawn in Concert!” (no Tony Orlando, just Dawn)
“The World Series of Needlepoint” (every 4 or 5 years)
“The Unicycle Olympics”
“The Shriners’ Miniature Combine Demolition Derby”
“Ultimate Ball-Kicking”
“World Championship Yahtzee” (Texas Death-Match rules)
“The American Overhand Bowling Tour”
– The Arena will pack ‘em in!
was- because the people it did bother never went there!
NO! NO ARENA PARKING! LRT! LRT! WE WANT LRT!
As much as I would love to see LRT it ain’t gonna happen. However, if the powers that be are interested in my ideas on dealing with access they might just learn a bit about alternatives to driving/parking.
Monkeyhawk
Posted September 7, 2008 at 8:48 pm | Permalink
Remember that old episode of “The Simpsons” when Springfield built a monorail? Downtown arenas are the new monorail; a way to compete with Shelbyville.
——
I stated that same thing, way back.
Using a TIF or tax incremental financing to support the area around the White Elephant Downtown Arena is wrong for a number of reasons.
For one, the TIF takes money out of the tax base and this needs to be added to the total overall cost of the arena.
Two, the $215,000,000 or so collected by the sales tax was supposed to cover everything including parking, fund for operational costs, etc. BTH has kept track of this.
Since then, a lot of additional costs have arisen such as building the giant storm sewer from the arena to the Arkansas River.
They now say we need some 90 additional police officers to patrol that seedy area around the arena that we were assured would be renovated by private business wanting to locate near the arena. Of course, private business has been moving out to get away from the traffic problems soon to be caused by the arena.
And still no workable plan for parking. I have heard the most feasible plan would be to direct arena attendees to the Kansas Coliseum parking lot with 4,000 spaces and then bus them downtown on school buses … kind of a new forced busing plan!
And what about storm shelters for the potential 14,000 people that might be in attendance at the arena. Have the county commissioners, Winters, Norton and Unruh thought about that?
And we might as well forget about using the Union Railway Station for a renewed Amtrak station in Wichita. The arena used the potential parking lot for that.
Where were these high paid county commissioners’ ears back down the line when the public including me was trying to tell them about these potential problems? They were busy throwing my flyers on the floor for one thing.