Construction fencing back up at the ballpark is ‘a much different situation’ this time

Wichitans were fooled once before when construction fencing went up next to Riverfront Stadium and then no development happened around the ballpark.

Now, though, fencing is back up adjacent to the newly named Equity Bank Park, and the first phase of utility work and site preparation is about to begin.

“You’ll see a lot of that work underway here in the near future,” said Austin Bradley, vice president of development for Overland Park-based EPC Real Estate Group.

EPC is the single developer moving ahead with work there.

Previously, Wichita Riverfront Limited Partnership — the development group for the team that became the Wichita Wind Surge — was involved.

It’s the group that put up the original fencing to satisfy an agreement with the city to start construction.

Then the fencing disappeared amid ongoing talks with the city and EPC over the the 4 acres of prime riverfront land the city of Wichita sold for $1 apiece to the New Orleans Baby Cakes in an effort to lure a Minor League Baseball team to Wichita.

The city’s solution to about a year of fragile negotiations with WRLP was to buy back two of those acres — at the same price of $1 apiece — and resell them for the same amount to EPC.

Originally, the initial phase of development around the ballpark was to be completed by July 7, 2024.

However, the city didn’t reach its new agreement until summer 2023.

Then construction was supposed to start by fall 2024 or the city could have bought back the property. The city has continued to work with EPC, though.

Bradley said site work, which is dependent upon work with utility companies, should take about 90 to 120 days.

“Obviously, some of that is out of our control,” he said.

Footing and foundation work will follow.

“Construction’s going to be underway for the next two years, more or less,” Bradley said.

The revised more than $100 million development includes 183 apartments in a building that also has 10,000 square feet of retail space.

The deal also still includes one of the Dream Hotel Group’s concepts, called Unscripted Hotels, which is meant to be a gathering place for the community.

The 158-room hotel will be situated between McLean and the Arkansas River. There will be a signature restaurant, a coffee bar, a lobby bar and a rooftop lounge with cocktails and light fare. From there, guests will be able to see into most of the stadium.

There will be a pool, fitness center and conference and event space as well.

The development also includes a parking garage that EPC will build, sell to the city and lease back.

Bradley said everything will be built at once, though one part may advance faster than another.

The hotel likely will take 18 months, and the apartments should take 22 months once construction has started.

Bradley said there’s a lot to coordinate, including working with the city, which will be building its new transit center nearby at the same time.

“There’s just a lot of activity in the area plus an operational ballpark.”

Fencing for the work went up a couple of weeks ago, and it sounds like it won’t be coming down without something to show for it this time around, according to Bradley.

“That’ll be a much different situation.”

This story was originally published January 30, 2025 at 4:26 AM.