The Wichita Downtown Revitalization Steering Committee today endorsed the selection of Goody Clancy to lead the downtown planning process. The firm was chosen from four finalists that made public presentations Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Steering Committee’s decision followed a Selection Committee recommendation based on a review of citizen input from the community presentations and additional interviews with each finalist team. The City Council is scheduled to consider the contract on Oct.13. The selection is not final until negotiations are complete and the City Council votes on the contract.

The final scope of services and specific dollar amount will be negotiated and presented for approval to the City Council. The firm’s proposal included an estimated cost of $475,000; however, the final amount will be determined by negotiations between the firm and the City of Wichita.

“All four firms provided great proposals and presentations and had the potential to help us on this process,” said Mayor Carl Brewer, who chaired the Steering Committee. “They gave us insight as outside, objective experts and told us we have an opportunity to become the next great American river city. We intend to aggressively take that opportunity.”

Mayor Brewer also extended his personal thanks to the volunteers who served on the committee and helped guide the process, as well as the citizens who came out and provided input to the selection process.

According to the selection committee’s recommendation, Goody Clancy was chosen because of its impressive economic analysis, proven implementation success and multiple strategies for public engagement to develop a grand vision.

“Goody Clancy really impressed us with its ability to focus on the important economic aspects of downtown development, namely, national financing, retail and housing markets,” said Larry Weber, Wichita Downtown Development Corporation Chairman.

Other finalist firms included Looney Ricks Kiss, Nashville, Tenn.; Chan Krieger Sieniewicz, Cambridge, Mass., and Crandall Arambula, Portland, Ore.

Goody Clancy’s partners and their areas of specialty include:

• Kittelson & Associates, Baltimore, Md., transportation
• W-ZHA, Annapolis, Md., development/financing
• MJB Consulting, New York, N.Y., retail markets
• Zimmerman/Volk, Clinton, N.J., housing markets
• Placematters, Inc., Denver, Colo., stakeholder engagement
• Professional Engineering Consultants, Wichita, infrastructure

As the selected firm, Goody Clancy will develop a plan for the core area focusing on:

• Community input to define the downtown vision,
• Specific implementation strategies and economic analysis to maximize private sector investment and return on investment of public dollars, and
• Connecting and maximizing various downtown areas, including Old Town, INTRUST Bank Arena and the River Corridor.

The City of Wichita has committed $225,000 for a downtown comprehensive strategic plan. The private sector has contributed $275,000, including $175,000 from Wichita Downtown Development Corporation and $100,000 from businesses, organizations and individuals.

Find out more about the Mayor's Downtown Vision

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