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  Carrie Rengers  

Paperwork holding up Parkstone

Just about the only dirt that's been turned at Parkstone at College Hill so far is the ceremonial kind that various civic leaders shoveled at the development's April 3 groundbreaking.

"Groundbreakings don't mean the very next day you're breaking ground," says developer Mike Loveland.

He adds, though, "Yes, we wish we would have been going a few weeks ago."

He says financing of the $80 million project near Douglas and Hillside hasn't been the issue.

"Actually, getting the appraisal done has been the holdup," Loveland says.

It should be completed late this week or early next week, and Loveland says expect to see construction begin almost immediately after.

"There's about 12 different things you have to pull together before you can break ground on a project," Loveland says. "We've accomplished and done a lot in the interim."

So far, he has purchased 12 properties for the almost 8-acre development, torn down seven of them, gotten new zoning and replatted the area, built a sales office, added staff, compiled a list of 250 potential residents, gotten a loan approved and started marketing Parkstone.

"You've got to have all the documents in the file before you pull the trigger," Loveland says.

Once construction starts, it will be about 10 to 12 months before the first 16 brownstones are built and ready for occupancy. They'll sell for the high $400,000s to the low $600,000s.

Next, Loveland will begin working on the commercial end of the project. Look for streets and artwork to start going in, too.

The entire project, which will be built in four stages, should take three to four years.

"It'll be exciting to see the equipment out there and really getting it under way," Loveland says.

Is there any part of him that wishes he'd never embarked on the sizable project?

"No," Loveland says. "You know... it's a challenging project, but I like challenging projects."

Visiting the Beach

At least a couple of new businesses are going in the former Hollywood Video space at 3130 N. Rock Road.

At the Beach tanning salon, which has a couple of other Wichita locations, will take 2,775 square feet.

There's not a signed deal for the remaining 4,725 square feet, but it looks like a mattress store is seriously considering it. The space could be divided between a couple of businesses, though.

Doug Malone at J.P. Weigand & Sons is leasing the space.

Back in business

Fans of El Mexico Cafe, which was more than 30 years old when it closed last month, have something to look forward to.

William Villar Jr., whose father ran the restaurant since 1977, is reopening the restaurant, at 2544 S. Seneca, in August.

"We've had a lot of... disappointed customers from Seneca that have contacted me," Villar says.

The younger Villar and his mother, Mary, originally opened El Mexico in 1976 and then sold to the senior Villar.

Mary Villar and her son had several restaurants through the years and still have Mexico Cafe Delano at 555 W. Douglas.

Mary Villar and her son, Ben, will continue to run that restaurant.

William Villar Jr. and partners Brent and Rhonda Helm are reopening El Mexico as El Mexico Cafe Seneca.

"My goal is to maintain the recipes and a lot of the distinctive dishes that (my father) had," Villar says.

Even after Villar sold to his father years ago, he still worked there part time for 23 years. He says his job was to season the family recipes.

"The Villar recipes have existed for 38 years serving Wichita in several locations."

You don't say

"It'll be a suicide mission."

--Larkspur owner Ty Issa's caution to anyone opening a restaurant from the ground up these days

Got a hot tip or quirky story? Call Carrie Rengers at 316-268-6340 or e-mail crengers@wichitaeagle.com.