A new piece within Great Plains Ventures’ 100-acre District 96 development is advancing.
In late March, the Wichita-based company, which is working with Landmark Commercial Real Estate on the development, broke ground on a 9,800 square-foot strip center just north of K-96 at Oliver and 35th Street North.It has lined up RNJ Liquor as its first tenant, and the project is set to wrap this summer, according to Landmark Commercial Real Estate’s Brett Harris.
Not only is the center going up north of the QuikTrip, but Scooter’s Coffee is also going to land adjacent to the center.
“The momentum out there is really, really cool,” said Harris, who along with Landmark’s Ted Branson is involved with marketing the project. “A year from now we might not recognize that intersection.”
Conco Construction is the general contractor, with Shelden Architecture as the architect, on the center that has up to 5,600 square feet available for additional tenants.
Great Plains Ventures has been working on the mixed-use development — which also includes Great Plains Industries, Chisholm Lake Apartments and The Bug Lady’s Science Academy and is in close proximity to Koch Industries — for multiple decades and has seen a recent boost in adding businesses in and around the Aloft Hotel.
That includes the new Rail Hoppers restaurant from The Anchor owner Schane Gross.
Marque Peer, vice president of real estate and development at Great Plains Ventures, said last week that Rail Hoppers had not fully opened to the public yet but was going through a soft opening — and that buzz was building.
Peer and Harris said the new additions will benefit those staying at the 126-room Aloft Hotel, giving them more options for food and drink within a very short distance.
“We’re really hoping to get support for the hotel there,” Peer said.
Even prior to the nearby groundbreaking, Peer said he’s seen Aloft grabbing more customers.
“The hotel is going gangbusters,” he said. “The occupancy is better than it’s ever been.”
