An Eagle article about entrepreneur Jack DeBoer’s new leadership role on the WaterWalk development included an interesting suggestion from developer George Laham about a possible Plan B for the project, should WaterWalk fall short of the goal of becoming a successful retail-office-residential district. “I think what you could see work down there is more of a civic district,” Laham said, going on to suggest: “Put the YMCA down there. Give them the river for their programming. Bring the African-American museum in.”
A WaterWalk civic district would build nicely on the proximity to Century II, the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum and the museums farther up the river such as Exploration Place. But the Greater Wichita YMCA has announced plans to expand at its current downtown site. And what about the Kansas African American Museum? “It is nice be thought of as the kind of institution that could help revitalize an area,” executive director Mark McCormick told The Eagle editorial board. “No one would be mentioning us in such discussions if we hadn’t significantly changed our public image. I think Mr. Laham’s idea has merit, but we already have some riverfront property we’re trying really hard to build on. Any move to change sites would have to start with our board, the city, Westar (Energy) and our other stakeholders.”
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5 Comments
Strange that some good possible uses for the water walk downtown site have gone or are going elsewhere.
For example, the WATC, Wichita Area Training College, should have gone downtown rather than half way to Kansas City out at Jabara airport.
Talk about putting a new bowling facility out west on Highway 54 to help a bad idea of a strip shopping center in a flood plain is another.
An African American Museum? Are you kidding me? To revitalize the area? The only way this place will draw a crowd is if they put basketball courts outside. Ten bucks says half of it is dedicated to MLK and the other half is for Wichita State sports.
Who is going to pay for it? Oh, I forgot it’s “free”; “Obama money” will pay for it……Hold onto your wallets.
BOHICA…..bend over here it comes again.
gusdad, the voice of ignorance and clue-less ness you have never been there huh?
“We are all a part of each other’s history, if I slap your face I am a part of your history.
Likewise if I kiss your face then too am I a part of your history“.
Ever heard of the “Tuskegee Airmen”? That is part of the history that is on display at the Black history museum here. How about most influence in music of most any genre. Many being local talent and the art too.
I did find the museum small and lacking in the true extent of the influence and history of the Black community here in Wichita. But it is a part of the history of the city and the country.
Money naturally flows to the edges of cities where it has room to expand. City leaders have been throwing tax money for over half a century to reverse the direction of that river, and it hasn’t worked; in fact the outward flood has increased markedly, and the downtown area’s deterioration continues unabated. It’s long past time to accept the fact that downtown is not where city growth will occur. Make it a park, surrounded by museums, cultural areas, a few good restaurants, play and recreational facilities, with adequate free parking, public transportation and policing. Let commerce go where it will and give us a city center where we can live a little without the pressure to constantly spend. Make downtown useful again!
gusbusted,
Let me guess- you’re one of those guys who never believed that the nation could sink so low as to elect one of “them” as president. Someday you’re just going to have to accept the fact that “they” are us. All of us are us.