This ceremony marks the beginning of a 14-month renovation project that will transform this historic treasure into a quality commercial and residential addition to the Old Town area. When this project is completed, this community will have yet another successful public-private partnership to boast about.

In addition to kicking-off construction, this event also marks the celebration of a very complicated endeavor. The City formed the Eaton Block Task Force in the Summer of 1997. This group was charged with finding a developer willing to partner with the City on the Eaton project. In March, 1998, MetroPlains Development, LLC, St. Paul, Minnesota, was chosen as the preferred developer. Other project partners include Key Construction and Wilson Darnell Mann Architects.

This project has been the most financially complex partnership that the City and the private partners have ever undertaken. It was only recently that the financing for the project has fallen into place. The $15 million project will be financed by private funding, federal grants and tax credits for historic structures.

The Eaton Hotel is on the local, state and national registers of historic places. Renovation of this grand hotel is a significant addition to downtown, as it provides a vital link between Old Town and Wichita’s financial and business districts. This project also supports the White House initiative to save America’s treasures as we enter a new century.