Architectural drawing above is for the garage associated with the Wiley Building project which is located east of the Fox Theatre
The 3rd Annual State of the City address was held at Hutchinson Community College here in Hutchinson Thursday morning. Although most of what Hutchinson City Manager John Deardoff told the gathering was good news, including plans for the Wiley Building, a new family fun center, and more sales tax revenue coming. He didn’t sugar coat some problem areas.
That includes the Hutchinson Mall and the Ramada Inn, both are in receivership. He says that the problems with that property has hurt Hutchinson as a regional draw. But, he says he believes there is light at the end of the tunnel with the mall saying they plan to work on making it viable again through this year.
That area of the city is where there seems to be a lot of growth despite the issues with the mall and the Ramada. Deardoff says that’s not surprising saying that seems to be where retailers want to be.
He talked about successes last year which includes the Wiley Building and introduced the architectural drawings of the parking garage which will be built next to the Fox and will connect with some walkways above the Fox which will connect to the Wiley building once its built. The garage is being paid for by the city at a cost of 2.5-million dollars, however the city will eventually be paid back, but not for 36-years. Deardoff joked that he’ll be 93-years old when that date comes and plans to call city hall and remind them that the money from that deal should be coming in.
Other topics discussed was the changes to Avenue A and work on city streets which includes slurry seal, overlay projects, work of arterial or collector streets and some reconstruction projects.
He also talked some of the problem housing in the community. The city is working to demolish some homes saying they are simply beyond repair.
And sales tax revenues were up last year in part to all the work being done for repairs to east side properties as a result of the hail storm. He also talked about the development of the new park on 43rd, near K-61, called Rivers Bank Orchard Park.
He says the city is in good financial shape and that he along with the council will continue to work to keep the mill levy in check.