Wichita to get a version of this new Kansas City hotel, and look where it’ll be

There have been so many starts, stops and changes around the $110 million development at Equity Bank Park that it’s hard to keep up with what’s what, but Overland Park-based EPC Real Estate Group said the latest change is an especially great one.

Instead of bringing a Hyatt flag to the 160-room hotel the company plans at the site, it will bring a boutique hotel from Marriott’s Tribute portfolio.

That’s the same brand behind the new Cascade Hotel overlooking the Plaza in Kansas City.

“It’s probably one of the nicest hotels, if not the nicest, in Kansas City,” said EPC vice president of development Austin Bradley.

The deal was finalized Thursday morning.

“This is a huge positive . . . for the city and the overall project,” Bradley said.

EPC still is working on branding for the hotel, which will have its own name, just as the one in Kansas City does.

“The cool thing about Tribute is you can make it so localized,” Bradley said. “You get the customization but obviously the Marriott name, which is a big deal.”

With much fanfare in June 2022, the city, EPC and the Wind Surge ball club announced that the Dream Hotel Group would bring one of its Unscripted Hotels to the planned development around the ballpark.

Then, in early 2023, the Hyatt acquired Dream and changed the plans to one of its JdV boutique hotels.

The company still wanted to stay with the project, but Bradley said EPC re-evaluated the plan.

“It was our team continuing to analyze . . . what would be the best fit for the site,” he said.

He said Marriott’s track record and the brand awareness of Tribute made it attractive.

There are about 170 independent Tribute properties in 35 countries, and Bradley said each reflects the character of where it is located and has food, beverages and social scenes that are a draw for travelers and locals, too.

The hotel still will be situated between McLean and the Arkansas River, though instead of 158 rooms, the new hotel will have 160.

There still will be a bar just off the lobby that overlooks the riverfront, and there still will be a restaurant and cocktail lounge on the roof with views to the north and east. There also still will be meeting rooms.

“There’s no change on the architecture,” Bradley said. “This is really just brand awareness.”

The other previously announced key change at the development is when EPC abandoned office plans for 192 apartment units instead.

The hotel build, which will start in three or four months, will take about 18 months, and then Marriott will put the finishing touches at the space.

The rest of the mixed-use development will take between 20 and 22 months.

That includes the apartments, 10,000 square feet of retail at the base of the apartments and a 300-stall garage that will feature a courtyard at its top and a pool for the apartments.

The rest of the development will wrap around the garage.

It’s always been the plan for EPC to build the $9.6 million garage — that’s $32,000 a stall — and the city to then buy it to use for public parking in the area and then lease stalls back to developers for the hotel, apartments and retail.

“There’s been zero change to the garage,” Bradley said.

However, the Wichita City Council this week delayed its vote on giving final approval for its deal to buy the garage and lease back spaces so it can take more time to examine the wording in the contract.

The first phase of work around the ballpark was completed at the site last year.

That included utility relocation and installation of new utilities, among other things.

Currently, there’s no work at the site.

Once it begins, even though certain pieces won’t be done at the same time, Bradley said he hopes to kick it all off at the same time.

“Everything would go at once,” he said. “Our goal is to align opening between the two developments.”

In addition to changes with the development — including EPC buying the land for it that former Wind Surge CEO Jordan Kobritz once owned — there have been numerous delays that have shaken confidence in the project.

As recently as Tuesday, Wichita City Council member J.V. Johnston questioned whether the hotel even would happen.

Bradley said it not only will happen, but he’s confident the best plan is now in place with Marriott.

“We’re on track for this thing to launch this summer, and obviously this change is a big step forward and a big commitment to the project.”