Developer denied Wichita tax breaks earlier this year now seeks more from city

The Wichita City Council is set to reconsider tax breaks for a developer after denying the incentives earlier this year. This time, the developer is asking for more.

Lange Companies is asking the city to approve industrial revenue bonds to finance improvements at its corporate headquarters at the former Royal Caribbean building in south Wichita, which Lange bought last year.

Under the city’s economic development incentive policy, a project like Lange’s qualifies for industrial revenue bonds — which comes with sales tax and property tax abatements — to help finance it. But the council unanimously denied the April request for a sales tax exemption worth $112,500, citing concerns about offering tax breaks for corporate headquarters and without offering jobs promises and benefits to taxpayers.

The latest request seeks $125,468 in sales tax exemption and about $120,000 a year in property tax breaks for at least 10 years. The council was initially scheduled to vote on the proposal Tuesday. But the council voted to delay any action on the request until Thursday, Nov. 6, as the applicant’s representative was unavailable Tuesday afternoon.

The property tax abatement would cut property taxes by 90%. The $120,000 property tax incentive includes taxes that would have gone to the city ($35,860), Sedgwick County ($33,196), Wichita Public Schools ($26,875) and the state of Kansas ($24,301).

The new sales tax exemption request is higher because the company now estimates spending more on building rehabilitation, furniture and fixtures and equipment — $5.7 million instead of $3 million.

The improvements include a media room in the basement, landscaping, courtyard improvements, a new sign, a front entry with glass doors, upgraded paths, “an inviting lobby featuring a new visitor kiosk” and a second floor HQ “showcasing Lange’s culture” with a redesigned workspace, a multi-functional break room and an outdoor patio.

This story was originally published October 21, 2025 at 12:14 PM.