Mixed-Use

Like many U.S. cities, Wichita’s downtown has experienced an unprecedented revitalization in recent years, with new development and the reimagining of older structures. Growth in the core is not slowing anytime soon if current projects under construction or on the drawing board are any indication. A number of projects, revolving around a new baseball stadium, are poised to inject new life into the historic Delano District. Plans for a new performing arts center are under discussion, and major mixed-use developments and public improvement projects along East Douglas Avenue are positioned to enhance the link between Delano and the city’s Old Town district. According to the organization Downtown Wichita, more than $1 billion has been invested in the urban core in the last 10 years, $631 million of which was private investment. The city center has retained a number of high-profile businesses after a decade of notable companies relocating to northeast suburban office locations. Project pipeline Following the recent addition of more than 800 apartment units in and around the central business district, commercial activity is on the upswing. The Spaghetti Works District, expected to be completed this fall, is a $23 million mixed-use development led by TGC Development Group and …

A renaissance is underway in Topeka, Kansas, with undeniable momentum as new commercial, industrial and residential developments emerge citywide. The year 2015 was pivotal with a $9.4 million public-private investment in infrastructure and amenities along Kansas Avenue downtown. Local investors have purchased more than 25 buildings on the avenue for gradual restoration into thriving businesses like Iron Rail Brewing, The Pennant, Cyrus Hotel and Kansas Avenue Lofts. The 45,000-square-foot Evergy Plaza is slated to open in March 2020 in the shadow of the Kansas Statehouse. A crowning jewel of downtown development, the plaza will feature a 50-foot performance stage, digital screen, programmable fountains, fireplaces and an ice skating rink during the winter. According to a recent market study, growth in the Capital City shows no signs of slowing down. St. Louis-based Development Strategies says downtown could support expansion over the next decade to include 900 new or rehabilitated housing units, 300,000 square feet of new or rehabilitated office space, 690,000 square feet of retail space and at least 200 more hotel rooms. “Investments downtown enhance quality of life and quality of place to help attract and retain a workforce that will take us into the next 15 to 20 years,” …

Many of us remember a time when a great new job was measured primarily by the paycheck and the size of the office. How times have changed. And nothing illustrates that better than the favor of mixed-use developments. As the workforce demographic has evolved, so have the amenities that attract top talent. Smart companies know that creating an appealing environment for the best candidates means access to food options, walking distance to shopping and retail choices, and close proximity to housing. Millennials are a big part (but not the only part) of this changing trend, especially as older millennials assume decision-making roles. But employers in general are learning that it makes sense to cater to their workforce by creating a more attractive work environment. From malls to millennials The landscape of American living and working has transformed over the decades. Up until the mid-20th century, mixed-use was everywhere, as many shop owners and employees lived in homes behind their businesses or apartments above their shops.  With the rapid growth of the federal interstate system and growing popularity of single-use zoning regulations, however, commercial and residential spaces were largely separated. Not surprisingly, this combination gave rise to the golden age of …