黑洞社区

The university committee and the development team is open to feedback from community members with regards to entrepreneurs looking to open their small business. At this point, all are relying on connections with Create Campaign, the Richard Robinson CBA group and Wichita State's Small Business Development Center.  There are opportunities to share potential tenants directly with the developer. 

It is important to break the reliance on transportation by car only. People will spend more time in areas that are walkable, well connected by pedestrian and bicycle paths, supply bike racks, and connect to public transportation. Cars should be admitted grudgingly, if at all.  

Work with the city to be exempt from parking minimums, like Revolutsia did, so you don鈥檛 waste space. Any parking should be at the back to not interfere with walking and attractiveness. Don鈥檛 make the design mistakes that were made at Braeburn Square, rendering it another setback strip mall with too much parking.

I read with great interest the proposal for University Village across 17th Street. I think it is a wonderful idea that will help the neighborhood and the university. But what will happen to Kirby's? Some of my fondest college memories are from Kirby's Beer Store. 35 years later Kirby's continues to be a cultural gem for Wichita. Sure it's a small hole-in-the-wall and a little worse for the wear but it is special. It's one of those places that helps make 黑洞社区 unique and provides a certain continuity for - amazingly without losing it's "hip" factor over time. Kirby's helped make my 黑洞社区 experience unique and fun. Please try to incorporate Kirby's into University Village.

I thought the illustrations looked rather ordinary and not warm and inviting (again, I realize that they don鈥檛 want to put funding into plans if they aren鈥檛 to be selected).

The building they are proposing looks uninviting to students, the community, and visitors.  I would suggest development that has more ambiance created by greenspaces, outdoor seating, shade on the sidewalk for walkers, and trees.  Think:  Revolutsia's outdoor firepit with tables and chairs in an open courtyard with a small stage for outdoor concerts.  Another important factor is affordability-- it should be a place where local businesses and shocker entrepreneurs can get started; any student housing should be affordable and include a grocery store with staples and international options.  The architecture of the building should be creative and inviting--  rooftop dining, glass garage doors opening onto a patio--places where events are held and people want to linger.  A variety of modes of transportation should be built into the plan--bicycle racks, bike share bicycles, a bus stop with a bench,  protective cover, and map.

We need places that are inviting. Green, outdoor space AND served by local businesses.

Providing some green space is worth strongly considering. Please share information about the ways the new buildings will be environmentally sound (green). 

The University Village is an emergent project that will be an tremendous asset to the university and the community.  Will  the developers work with contractors who live and/or work in the community? 

The RFP included a requirement that historically underutilized businesses (Minority-owned Business Enterprises and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises) be included in the overall scope of work for the project. Lane4 has a history of supporting minority vendors. Sub-contractors, labors and others should be included. There is no language that specifically addresses contractors who work/live in the community. 

I haven't had a chance to attend the community meetings for University Village development, but as a new member of the Kansas Animator for the shocker area, I'd like to propose an idea for development that further contribute to the university strengthening its relationship not just it's students but the surrounding community as well. I've heard feedback from residents concerning the need for activities or a resource center for youth, a stationary(permanent structure not mobile) food pantry or small grocer, and a community space that's accessible to anyone in the area for meetings, cohorts, a recreation center for children 8 to 16 years of age. I would love to provide more input on these ideas whether it be a response via email or at the next community meeting. Thank you!

Without question, it is within Wichita State's best interest to help create and oversee an ecosystem that is healthy and inviting for students, innovation campus partners, and various other stakeholders.  For a growing university, what it offers, as well as its overall attractiveness to students and stakeholders will likely require a certain degree of gentrification and youthification.  As the late Dr. Bardo was very transparent in sharing, it is unfortunately a part of the growth process.  In a townhall type of meeting, I used the example of homes being replaced by multiunit apartment complexes as an example, to which I was informed that I would need to address the developers of these units, and that these efforts were not university initiatives.  That said, even things that 黑洞社区 is not directly apart of are driven by the presence of the university, so most of the activity in the area shares either a direct or indirect relationship with the university.  Case-in-point, the university is fully aware of how many beds will become available because of these efforts, and I could be wrong, but I believe that this data was used in same presentation where my initial inquiry took place.       

The items mentioned in the present memo are not bad things, but delicate things in terms of how Wichita State envisions itself as a responsible steward for the community surrounding the university, most notably the Black community that makes up 44% of the Fairmount population but will rapidly decline as apartments are being built and commercialization takes place.   It is refreshing that ownership of this responsibility appears to be spelled out in the vision which references 鈥渢he communities we serve鈥� and a mission that speaks to driving 鈥渢he greater public good鈥� within these communities.  While I embrace the idea of more diverse communities, my hope is that these communities won鈥檛 be completely replaced by new communities altogether.  The same Black residents who remained loyal to these communities through a complete lack of attentiveness, deserve to be a part of new prosperity initiatives that are taking place.       

As a property owner in Fairmount, an employee of the university, and a proud Black man who is very sensitive to racial oppression, I'm curious as to the measures being taken to (a) empower and provide resources to residents who are not displaced, and (b) minimize displacement as much as possible? Also, what measures are being considered for keeping property taxes reasonable as new developments may incur specials taxation? Other items of concern include the lack of fresh produce and healthy eating options? Some of my friends who are developers and even landowners in the area want to know why Black developers and entrepreneurs feel "iced-out" of opportunities to participate in these business endeavors that will most likely produce lucrative yields?  Some even feel they are snubbed from the opportunity of even having real conversations pertaining to this (Lonnie Barnes, Christopher Lee, Bernard Knowles, and others).  What efforts are being taken to bring qualified black professionals to the table and have access to some of these opportunities?

From an academic standpoint, how will the University Village collaborate with the colleges to produce research opportunities that will (a) help address these and other community concerns, and (b) provide research opportunities for students that enable a real-world collision between scholastic rigor and community engagement? How are the perspectives of real community stakeholders being assessed? Beyond Mr. Carrington, or developers like Mark and Brock, or the developers and contractors slated to build this village concept, what are the stories and perspectives of the Fairmount residents who have lived there for decades, raised children there, and call neighborhoods like Fairmount and Kenmar home? 

University Village would build the community of Wichita and the University. It鈥檚 a win-win and past due. Bravo 黑洞社区! Keep moving forward.

The University Village Steering Committee consists of folks in higher administrative positions. It is my hope that ODI and TRIO staff and students are involved with the planning process. And maybe they are. The 黑洞社区 community needs to see their involvement or at least see their input during this process.

To promote the entrepreneurial spirit, it would be ideal to have at least one building dedicated to a student-run small business that is utilized by a new student business each year. There is an application process and interview process to award the space. See Wash U. in St. Louis for an example of this initiative.

We should see a seamless connection between the campus and the neighborhood in which the University Village is being developed.

This is an opportunity to create more place-making spaces such as green space, a playground, benches, walking paths, etc.

Most importantly, it is my hope that the needs of the community and the needs of the students are being documented and then are met as a result of this plan.

Is anyone on the board of regents bound to make a profit off this proposal?

Please get a salon on campus.  I'd love to be able to get my hair and nails done in a more convenient way.

Make a grocery store or Walmart of some sort on campus.

Fresh and healthy food options are a major pressing need in this area.  I love the idea of a co-op style grocery store.  

Would like to see a park with gardens including a butterfly garden. Maybe a 2nd story indoor garden that could be enjoyed all year, with shops at the edges. In Calgary, Alberta's city center there's an extensive network of skybridges and covered tunnels connecting buildings so that you don't have to walk outside in the cold. Considering our extreme weather, this would be an interesting solution to beat the heat and cold. If not covered tunnels, pedestrian bridges over major roads would aid foot travel. No one likes walking across 21st and Oliver.

An easier way help prevent people who speed from causing accidents on the east-bound 17th 2 lane to 1 lane merge immediately at the Hillside and 17th traffic. Currently, after turning onto 17th, multiple drivers have used the merge lane to speed up and cut people off or almost cause accidents instead of yielding and merging in a good way.

As it is currently, I'm concerned about the on-street parking on 17th with cars, people, and bikers. I think adding people backing out into traffic creates more accidents and slows traffic down.

While not part of this phase, a crosswalk with a light would be beneficial at the current crosswalk near Brennan Hall. If not a full light, then at least flashing lights would be beneficial such as those at the Red Bud Path crossing Woodlawn.