Wichita City Council members on Tuesday approved two mixed-use developments totaling $65 million dollars.
The council unanimously approved developer Uptown Landing’s proposal for a site near Hillside and Douglas. The group will start construction on the commercial and residential space next year, with an expected completion date of March 2020.
“This has been a vacant piece of land in the College Hill community for a number of years," council member Lavonta Williams said. "College Hill residents are very, very anxious to see this new development going to their community."
But the council was divided on a proposal for a $45 million mixed-use building at the Delano Catalyst Site on the west bank of the Arkansas river. The development will include apartments, commercial space and hotel rooms.
The developers, EPC Real Estate Group, are also asking the city to establish a pay-as-you-go Tax Increment Finance district only for the site to pay for a parking lot and the development of greenway space.
Some council members questioned whether it’s the best use of the site. Jeff Blubaugh said the city only just announced the new downtown Hilton Garden Inn less than a mile away.
“I know a lot of the conversations we had is that, you guys, we’re concerned about the over-saturation of hotels downtown," he said.
Council members approved the Delano Catalyst Site project 4-3. Construction will begin in August.
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