Well-known developer considering $50 million ice center near K-96 and Greenwich
As the Wichita City Council is poised to vote on a new contract for management of the Wichita Ice Center downtown, a well-known developer is poised to kick off plans for a potential new $50 million ice center in the K-96 and Greenwich area.
“I am going to propose building a new ice center in Wichita,” said Rick Worner, who is involved in major developments in Wichita, Goddard and Derby. “I have run this concept by a half dozen local Wichita people and a dozen non-Wichita people — banks, financial institutions.”
Sales tax and revenue bonds, or STAR bonds, are part of the attraction. The K-96 and Greenwich area, where Worner is a partner in Greenwich Place and helped open the Wichita Sports Forum, is in a STAR bonds district. One use for potential star bonds is to build a multisport athletic facility.
“I’ve got two sets of goals,” Worner said.
“One set of goals has to do with the local Wichita community, and I want to make the facility available at a very reasonable price to local citizens.”
Worner said he’d want to reserve time to support various hockey interests. He said he also wants to give free access to people who train speed and figure skaters.
“I want to make free access available to those instructors to encourage growth of the sport,” he said.
“My second set of goals is to bring in USA Olympic events and make this a regional draw.”
Last week, Worner hired Lenexa-based Yaeger Architecture to create plans, which, depending on space, could include a cross country skiing component and a possible curling center. Curling is a particular interest of Worner’s, and he may want to build a national curling team “because we don’t have anything like that in Kansas.”
Others in development and at the city have started hearing about Worner’s plans. Other developers may have a particularly keen interest in what Worner can accomplish because of how it may affect the downtown ice center.
That center, of course, is adjacent to the new Riverfront Stadium and potential substantial development in that area, meaning some other developers may be eyeing that ice center land for future redevelopment.
In addition to his investment in other projects at K-96 and Greenwich, including the Top Golf that’s coming to the area, Worner is involved with the natatorium coming to Goddard and Field Station: Dinosaurs in Derby.
It’s not clear how quickly a new ice center may develop — if it does at all. Worner has one property under contract but is considering another one as well.
Look for more news as soon as anything develops.
