In The News

June 9, 2007
By Bill Wilson
Published with Permission from The Wichita Eagle

ANDOVERS NEWEST DIGS
MARKETPLACE ON KELLOGG GETS GO-AHEAD

It's the deal that almost died on the vine - several times. But the final piece in Andover's Kellogg puzzle - a 140-acre commercial and residential project along Andover Road - is under way after three years of sometimes difficult planning.

Work has begun on a new school and infrastructure for retail shops in Paul Jackson's MarketPlace, east of Andover Road on Kellogg.

"This is a substantial development," said Andover Mayor Ben Lawrence. "It's been an arduous but amenable process over several months to hash everything out and make everyone happy."

The project includes a 140,000-square-foot Dillons, Andover's new Prairie Creek Elementary School and a 50,000-square-foot YMCA.

Two other 100,000-square-foot retail buildings also are planned, along with 13 smaller retail pad sites and a 160-unit upscale housing development by Wichita's Goentzel Construction.

Ground has been broken for Prairie Creek, although a formal ceremony is scheduled for June 22.

Infrastructure work has begun on the retail part of the development. Work on the Y should begin in September, with retail and residential building beginning next winter.

The project, which includes about $500,000 in economic development incentiv es from the city, represents a unique and sometimes tempestuous partnership between the city, school district, Y and private developers.

"We're just now digging holes," Andover superintendent Mark Evans said, "but I'll tell you, I think the worst is done for the most part.

"We had some tense moments. I'd say the deal died at least three times in one two-month period when one entity or the other said, 'Forget it. It won't work.'

"But someone was always there to say 'It's this close. Can't we find a way to make it work? Won't you give a little bit on the road, on the green space, on the infrastructure?' "

The elementary school is on the fastest track, scheduled to open in August 2008.

Work on the Y begins late this summer, said Dennis Schoenebeck, YMCA general executive.

"The concept is in place - a northwest Y with an early learning childhood development center attached," he said.

The school and Y will work together on several facilities, including a pool and outdoor fields.

The end result will be a different kind of development - simultaneous work by all partners rather than "coming into something that's already done and just carving out a school," Evans said.

"It was difficult to bring all these players together," he said.

"You've got the city with elected officials, the school with elected officials, the Y with a board and a private developer. But we've worked through the details, and we're going to have a great project."