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Businessman Mike Brand is trying to rezone some property he has near 21st and Maize Road, but residents in the area are fighting him.
Brand has 6 acres behind the McDonald's on the southeast corner of 21st and Maize.
"We're going to build some executive apartments," Brand says of himself and partner Steve Clark .
They plan Bennington Place , an approximately 130-unit complex.
"They're going to be an upper end," Brand says of their style.
Some will have enclosed garages, he says.
"We'd like to get the zoning to multifamily."
Currently, the property is zoned light commercial.
Brand thought he could attract possibly a high-end restaurant that didn't need frontage along the street.
"Over the years, I just haven't gotten the right person in there," he says. "There's not a lot of commercial going on right now."
That's why he thought of apartments.
"It's a great location for apartments."
That's not what some residents of the nearby Timber Ridge development think, though.
"They don't want . . . apartments in their backyard," Brand says. "That's their biggest complaint."
He says what the neighbors may not realize is he could build a three-story office complex there.
"I wouldn't have to get permission."
That's not what Brand wants to do, though.
"I'm just trying to do something that's more feasible," he says. "Something needs to be built on it."
The issue comes before the planning commission Thursday. Brand is prepared for opposition from neighbors.
"Hey, everybody has an opportunity to put their complaint in about it," he says.
Brand thinks he'll win approval for the zoning change.
"It's a business thing," he says. "I'm not asking for a nickel from the city."
Tasty deal
Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits franchisee Willie Kendrick has acquired a visible, high-traffic spot for what will be his fifth Wichita-area Popeyes.
He purchased the 2,005-square-foot former Taco Tico space at 3131 N. Rock Road.
"It made sense because it was a rare opportunity to acquire a freestanding, drive-through restaurant on North Rock Road, especially south of K-96 where the traffic is so much more substantial," says Troy Farha of Grubb & Ellis/Martens Commercial Group , who handled the deal.
Farha says those kinds of sites don't come along every day.
The new Popeyes will open late this year.
The Bait and switch
The ever-colorful Paul White is trying to sell his P&P Seed & Bait Co. after 25 years in business because he wants to focus on television.
White's namesake TV show airs several times a weekend on KGPT , Channel 49 .
"I just want to focus on that," White says. "I figure it will be a better avenue for me, too, to help the African-American community."
White views his business at 1900 E. 21st St. as community oriented as well.
"It's the community store. I just run it for them."
He started by selling seeds out of the back door of his house in 1986.
"I invented this monster myself," White says of the 3,000-square-foot store.
As customers asked for items, he would add them to his store, which is a nursery and a rental outlet for lawn and garden supplies in addition to a bait shop.
Customers also can get licenses and permits there along with a slice of pizza, among other things.
The store is for sale for $200,000 on Craigslist .
"Whoever gets it is going to have a monopoly on bait," White says. "All the bait shops are closing because they can't make it."
White doesn't think a future owner will have trouble making it at P&P.
"It's been a vital, stable (store) for the community."
White expects this will be his final career change. He'd like to remain in television.
"I think that I will because I can call my own shots."
You don't see
"I get to see who's coming to my funeral. You don't get to do that often."
—WSU journalism professor Les Anderson on a Thursday roast in his honor to endow the Les Anderson Fund for Students (http://bit.ly/rrxuHQ)
