Planning Process
On
December 2-4, 2009, a series of community "walk-shops" were hosted at Eaton Place. Over 100 community members participated in the hands-on exercise that involved walking around downtown and photographing and providing a critical view of the "walkability" of downtown. Participants documented their feedback by submitting almost 800 photographs with comments regarding downtown's walkability.
Based on these photographs, participants identified focus areas for improving the "walkability" of downtown, and then using real-time electronic polling, voted on those focus areas that should receive the most attention in the downtown master plan.
On
January 13, 2010, over 350 community members attended the Discoveries Workshop at the Scottish Rite Center. At the workshop, economic experts on the Goody Clancy team in the field of housing, office, hospitality, and retail presented their preliminary market research findings.
On
February 27, 2010, over 100 community members participated in the day-long Downtown Wichita Charrette at the Wichita Art Museum. The Goody Clancy team presented the document entitled Progressive: Downtown Wichita Charrette that covered the latest market research findings as well as the team's initial observations regarding downtown transportation. Focus groups discussed transportation, economic development, urban design, downtown management, and retail and identified assets, opportunities, challenges, and potential vision strategies for each topic area. Participants voted on vision principles for downtown using real-time electronic polling, and eight breakout groups developed their own vision for downtown by applying notes, precedent photos, model blocks and related media to a large downtown map.
On
April 28, 2010, almost 300 community members participated in a Focusing Workshop at the Scottish Rite Center. The Goody Clancy Team presented Draft Vision Concepts that gave a draft vision statement for downtown, laid out draft principles for achieving the vision, and provided a framework for implementing the principles. Participants provided feedback by placing a "dot" by the six vision principles that most resonated with them and by writing five proposed implementation strategies on "post-it" notes and placing them on a blog board.
On
June 14, 2010, over 350 community members attended the Transform Workshop at the Scottish Rite Center at which the Downtown Wichita Draft Master Plan was presented. The Goody Clancy Team presented detailed recommendations for downtown in a presentation entitled "Transform: Draft Master Plan." Community members asked numerous questions and provided significant feedback regarding the draft plan. Community members also were invited to three topic area workshops that were held on
June 16, 2010, at the Bank of America Theater. Over 150 community members attended these workshops and provided more in-depth feedback on the topics of "Enabling Development," "Creating Transportation Choices," and "Creating Unique Places."
On
September 28, 2010, the final draft of Project Downtown was unveiled at a public open house in the atrium of Bank of America building. Almost 500 people attended the open house, at which the Goody Clancy Team made a presentaton entitled "Project Downtown - the Master Plan for Wichita." The public celebrated this milestone with a sampling of food from around Downtown and visual Downtown art by local artists. Information booths with information on three specific areas of Project Downtown: Creating Unique Downtown Places, Expanding Transportation Choices, and Enabling Development also were provided.
On
November 18, 2010, the Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider adoption of Project Downtown - the Master Plan for Wichita. The Planning Commission unanimously voted to adopt the Plan as an amendment of The Wichita-Sedgwick County Comprehensive Plan.
On
December 14, 2010, the Wichita City Council unanimously voted to adopt Project Downtown - The Master Plan for Wichita.
On
February 23, 2011, the Board of County Commissioners for Sedgwick County voted to adopt Project Downtown - The Master Plan for Wichita.
