$400 million STAR bonds district could be coming to former golf course in Park City
Park City on Tuesday took the first step in the possible creation of a new STAR bonds district at the former Echo Hills Golf Course.
The City Council voted to approve a resolution to hold a Feb. 14 hearing about the sales tax and revenue bonds, which would create a potentially $400 million district that could include an aquarium and other museum and entertainment venues, restaurants, hotels, athletic complexes and residential uses.
“To me, it’s a win for Sedgwick County and south-central Kansas,” said city administrator Sean Fox. “We’re talking millions of folks who will be coming to south-central Kansas on a regular basis.”
Lange Real Estate brought the idea to Park City along with a development group that will be announced after a presentation to the state about the STAR bond package on Wednesday.
“We feel pretty positive that we’re moving in the right direction,” said Stephanie Wiens, a commercial broker with Lange.
There have been previous attempts to redevelop the former Echo Hills site.
“It’s a different development team . . . that appears to have the financial backing and the experience necessary to see this through to the end,” Fox said.
He said the partners, who have been working on this for at least a year and a half, also have the “ability to bring other diverse groups together and coordinate connections.”
The 160-acre property is roughly bounded by 53rd Street North on the south end, 61st Street North on the north end, I-135 on the east side and Chisholm Creek on the west.
Anyone interested in the potential district can come to the hearing at 7 p.m. on Feb. 14 at the Park City administration center at 1941 E. 61st St. North.
Lange also is working with Park City on a new downtown district called Park Centre, which will include a park along with residential and commercial space on 48 acres.
Fox said he expects to have solid plans and shovels in the ground on both developments yet this year.
He added that “2023’s going to be a good year.”
This story was originally published January 11, 2023 at 4:47 AM.