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City council approves agreement for new tenant at Waterwalk

City council approves agreement for new tenant at Waterwalk

City council approves agreement for new tenant at Waterwalk

Wichita city council members have voted to approve a change to a lease agreement with the Waterwalk development, allowing a local freight and logistics company to move its operations into the former Gander Mountain building.

King of Freight plans to move its Wichita operations with 535 employees into the building, and the company plans to add another 400 jobs in the next five years.   The company will have to maintain the jobs for at least ten years.

Gander Mountain opened at Waterwalk in 2005 and closed in 2017 after the company merged with Camping World.

City council member Brandon Johnson raised concerns about the use of the building and felt that it could be considered as a performing arts center to anchor the east bank of the Arkansas River.  Mayor Jeff Longwell said plans for the east bank never included the Gander Mountain building and he said the deal with King of Freight would help diversify the local economy.   He acknowledged that it’s a struggle for council members to consider but it’s a decision that will bring the most benefits today and for the long term.   City manager Robert Layton said King of Freight could be a catalyst for more development at Waterwalk, and the goal of the agreement was to get a commitment to keep the company in Wichita.

 

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