First, I want to thank City Council Members for their continued support for improving downtown. Downtown is Everybody’s Neighborhood and the Next Phase of Downtown Revitalization should be a top community priority.

The Council’s actions today – approving street improvements and an expanded development district for the downtown arena - reflect a goal to further transform downtown.

Downtown should be a seamless entertainment, residential and business district.

Downtown should be a pedestrian-friendly area that attracts families, young people, businesses and visitors.

Downtown should connect the Old Town District, the Downtown Arena Area and the Riverfront Improvements including the Wichita WaterWalk and the Museum District.

The Council’s actions today represent a critical first step on that journey to further transform downtown. 

The first action secures street, storm water and sanitary sewer improvements that may not be glamorous but are critical to the efficient movement of traffic in the Arena Area. The second action sets a Dec. 2 public hearing for the establishment of a new Tax Increment Financing District.

It should be noted that today’s actions also reflect the strengthening partnership between the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County.

The Chair and Vice Chair of the County Commission, along with the Vice Mayor and City and County staff, have worked diligently to resolve disagreements and reach common ground in the best interest of our community.

This was accomplished in an earnest, civil and timely manner that reflected a community’s vision for a more vibrant downtown.

Today’s actions are building blocks for that community vision. We still have much work to do and we need to move forward with a shared purpose and a sense of urgency.

We are operating in an increasingly competitive environment in which competing cities in the region – cities such as Oklahoma City, Fort Worth and Kansas City – have embarked on bold plans to improve their downtowns.

City and County governments cannot go it alone on this journey.

Further transforming downtown will require engaging citizens, businesses, private developers and civic organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, GWEDC, the Wichita Downtown Development Association, Visioneering, Young Professionals, District Advisory Boards, the Convention and Visitors Bureau and many more too numerous to name.

Together we will make Downtown Wichita not only Everybody’s Neighborhood but one of the Best Neighborhoods in America.

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