The next phase of WaterWalk construction will be underway by the end of July. In the plan, Lewis Street is removed between Main Street and the Lewis Street Bridge. A new curved street will be constructed to connect Waterman, near the Hyatt parking garage, with the existing Lewis Street Bridge. This realignment of Waterman will be constructed as part of the WaterWalk project.
The moving of streets and utilities is the first step because land must be cleared and infrastructure developed before buildings can be built. Once the Arena site was selected, City of Wichita and Sedgwick County engineers developed the path for a new 9-foot by 5-foot storm drainage pipe from the Arena to the river under the new Waterman Street. The Wichita Water & Sewer Department also elected to locate their new cross-town 48-inch diameter water main under Waterman, adjacent to the storm drainage pipe. By combining Arena storm drainage, the new water line, and reconstruction of Waterman into one project with costs shared by the various parties, total costs will be reduced and efficiency gained.
Relocation of streets and utilities within the WaterWalk project was combined with the Waterman work between Main Street and the Arkansas River and was bid as one package. The successful contractor was W B Carter Construction Co. with Cornejo & Sons as their paving subcontractor. The schedule calls for the Waterman construction to begin at the end of July at the Arkansas River with the installation of the storm drainage and water pipe and then work will proceed to the east, ending just east of Main Street. The new Waterman Street will be constructed from east to west, with completion scheduled for mid-December 2006. Street and utility work within the WaterWalk site will begin in spring of 2007 and be completed later that year.
WaterWalk Construction
While the work along Waterman is underway, WaterWalk will begin constructing their next major structure in the fall of 2006. This building, on the west side of Main Street at Lewis Street, will include a 465 car parking garage, 48 luxury condominiums and retail space on the first floor. On the west side of the building will be a public amphitheater with seating for about 1500 people. This will be completed in spring of 2008. The Wichita Area Association of Realtors building will also start in the fall of 2006 and to be completed in summer of 2007. Other buildings are expected to begin construction in 2007.
Beginning July 17, Find A New Place to Park
With all of this construction over the next year and a half, there will be some changes in the downtown area. Parking will be eliminated at the site area between Dewey Street, north of the Gander Mountain parking garage and Waterman Street south of the Hyatt Parking Garage. There will also be some street closings and traffic interruptions necessary. Detours have been planned to minimize the impact on businesses and the public. Signs will direct traffic around the construction.
The biggest change will be for Century II patrons attending events and activities at this facility. Parking will no longer be available in the surface lot south of the Hyatt Parking Garage. The Hyatt Parking Garage will still be available to patrons of the Hyatt hotel and its restaurants and events. This is a loss of approximately 600 parking spaces in the area. To make up the difference, the following has been opened for new parking for Century II patrons:
- The City of Wichita striped and lighted a city-owned lot on the southwest corner of Waco and 1st Street for free public parking. This lot has nearly 200 free parking stalls.
- The Garvey Center has graciously allowed for free parking in their lots and garage after 5 PM on weekdays and any time on the weekends, including:
- The surface lot behind 250 Douglas Place (the building with the purple lights) on the southwest corner of Water and 1st Streets. There are 163 spaces.
- The surface lot on Wichita Street between 1st and 2nd Streets. There are 500 spaces.
- Inside the parking garage located north of the RH Garvey Building, 300 West Douglas.
- Also, the Broadview Parking garage is available for free public parking, located across the street from the City-owned lot at Waco and 1st Street. This lot is shared with hotel guests and has about 500 parking spots.
There will be enough parking in the downtown area to meet the needs of Century II patrons. However, there will have to be a different way of thinking: go north of Century II, rather than south, as in the parking options offered above. However, if patrons continue to go south, the Gander Mountain Parking garage and surface lot is also public parking and will continue to be available. It holds 512 parking spots. However, people parking at this area will have to use the sidewalk on Main Street to get to Century II as the sidewalks will be closed within the construction site.
Download the map to see where public parking is located during WaterWalk construction!
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