@Jared Viernes Can't remember how long you've lived in Wichita - but Wichita does have the habit of the OLD GUARD (though I've noticed they're being forced to it seems to give up some of their power to newer folks or those not in power IE Weigand shakeup, the paper taking down Mayor Longwell, Steve Clark not getting the deal for the riverfront apartments that David Burk and George Laham and a few others appeared to have stolen at the last minute, Blowhard Jack Deboer and his failed riverfront development...anyways interesting to see some of these things play out amongst what I call the old guard the past 3-5 years or so)
But to continue - the Old guard seems to always want to keep the status quo and not move forward -- I think there are more of them forced to give up power to different people now so the tides have changed. Wichita as I'd gotten older always seemed to me that you had to be in the GOOD OLE BOY network to get anywhere - you still kind of need that but the players are changing and I believe that the new players will want the change with the riverfront. I dont know if it's a bad thing that I've been taking some solace in the fact the folks used to getting their way on everything are not getting it all the time now. I have a sliver of faith this can be done right.
Hopeful they put something nice there -- Century 2 is cool - but the city has let it go down the toilet - the fountains & pool along Douglas (last I've seen) dont work - the concrete is crumbling on that front courtyard and as many others have pointed out in all the articles on the subject the building is just not a very good setup to attract a lot of conventions/different uses. We now have the extra hotel rooms they were clamoring for due to the NCAA tourney so should have plenty of capacity to house people.... I was against the Arena at first - but have been sold - the one thing I was REALLY skeptical on about the arena is when they funded it with a temporary sales tax -- I NEVER in my wildest dreams believed the extra 1 cent sales tax would sunset like they promised -- I do recall that the county commission if I remember correctly did at the last minute try to keep the sales tax active but it didnt pass and they allowed it to sunset as it should have. I'd be in favor of them doing that again to pay for a new convention center and to build something that will be around as long and and as useful as Century 2 has been so far.
***I really hope they can finish the "Riverwalk" someday -- it's such a waste -- I had a class back in 01 or 02 maybe my last semester of college in 03 that Jack Deboer (RE Development class) was a guest proctor at for one session - I was so enamored by the guy but as time went on saw he is so full of crap -- I think in the 80s he pulled a Donald Trump and got in over his head and declared bankruptcy and owed a ton of contractors money - after seeing how his development at the Riverwalk was so poorly thought out and executed I cant wait until he fades from the limelight -- he should be close - he has one foot in the grave and needs to retire. To this day I can not understand why they put a big box store that has no windows or does not incorporate the River at ALL and placed it on the river and then set back their condo building to a street with a view of a weed infested courtyard and a water fountain that is the size of a kiddie pool and only took 10-15 years or so to finish. Guy is a JOKE in his old age. As you can tell I am not his biggest fan.
