Latest news with #RonKitchens
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sikes Senter sale, firefighters benefits on City Council agenda
Wichita Falls city councilors will discuss the recently revealed plan to buy Sikes Senter when they meet on Tuesday, but not in public. The meeting is set for 8:30 a.m. in the Seminar Room of the MPEC, 1000 Fifth St. The meeting is open to the public except for the executive sessions, and is livestreamed on the city's Facebook page. Two executive closed-door items are "negotiations with a third party (including, but not limited to, the purchase and/or value related to 3111 Midwestern Parkway)," which is the address of Sikes Senter. The agenda said deliberation in open session would have a detrimental effect on the position of the city in negotiations. The second item is "to discuss or deliberate the offer of a financial or other incentive to a business prospect" the City Council seeks to locate here. The agenda said that closed-door talk would be "including, but not limited to, an economic development update and 3111 Midwestern Pkwy." After Sikes Senter merchants received notice of the sale on July 24, Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce CEO Ron Kitchens confirmed the city's Economic Development Corporation was in contact with the owners of Sikes Senter to buy the 60-acre property and sell it to an undisclosed Dallas developer to bulldoze the present building and create retail "clusters." Kitchens said the site would also include space for a stadium to be leased to Midwestern State University. Kitchens said the stadium would be built with philanthropic donations and money from the Texas Tech University System. A university spokesperson on Wednesday said Texas Tech would not contribute funding to the project. A public hearing on the Sikes Senter plan is set for 2:30 p.m. Aug. 14 in Room 10 of the MPEC, 1000 Fifth St. Items the council will consider in open session on Tuesday include approving the "Funding Soundness Restoration Plan for the Wichita Falls Firemen's Relief and Retirement Fund" and increasing the city's contribution rate to the fund from 17.5% to 18%. Councilors will also consider awarding a contract for the 2025 Water Budget Utility Improvement Project & Large Valve Replacement to Bowles Construction for $1,049,599. Other business will include: Spending $64,500 with CLAW Contractors, LLC to construct a dog park at 1200 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Buying mowers for the Parks Department for $51,874.26. Buying new carpet for the library for $326,368 and new shelves for $60,225. Accepting a grant from the Priddy Foundation for $55,000 for new shelves at the library. Approving plans for the annual Block Grant from the federal government. Buying a pair of garage doors from Tex-Oma Building Supply for $66,200. More: Sikes Senter's replacement might resemble this Metroplex shopping center More: Roaches on the counter, dishes in the mop sink in latest inspections This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Sikes Senter sale, firefighters benefits on City Council agenda Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UPDATED: City to buy and bulldoze Sikes Senter. Here's what is planned to be built there
(This story was updated to add new information.) The city of Wichita Falls is poised to bulldoze Sikes Senter and build new structures that would include a stadium, retail shopping, a park and possibly residences. Ron Kitchens, president of the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce, confirmed on Friday that leaseholders of the mall have been notified, and a public hearing is set for Aug. 14 that would include members of the City Council and the city's Economic Development Corporation and 4B Sales Tax Corporation. The purpose would be to start the ball rolling to purchase the mall and its 60 acres for $28 million from the present owner, then turn around and sell most of it to a Dallas developer. He said the intent would be to get 100% of the city's money back. That developer, who Kitchens did not name, would then develop everything but the stadium — which would be a project for MSU Texas. 'We can't let someone come in and put a bunch of Dollar Generals in there or flea market,' Kitchens said of the present mall. So far as a timeline, Kitchens said it would take about 60 days to get final approval from the City Council, which then would use money from the EDC, 4B and local banks to buy the property from Summit Properties USA of New York. He estimated it would be 18 months before bulldozers would be on site to begin demolition of the mall, which he said might be done incrementally because some retailers might have to remain in place for up to three years. Kitchens thinks it might take four years to complete all work, which he estimated to be a $175-$200 million project. He said the EDC would keep ownership of the land where the stadium would be built and lease it to the university. The university would have to raise the money to build the stadium, which he estimated would cost $35-$40 million. Kitchens said he believed the stadium would accommodate about 6,000 people, which is smaller than Memorial Stadium. Midwestern State University email MSU Texas President Stacia Haynie said in an email circulated on campus Friday, "For our university community, the redevelopment of this property is an important extension of MSU Texas as it is conveniently located near campus and will serve as many as 1,200 residential students and the thousands of students who commute throughout the week." Kitchens envisioned that the sports component of the project would include soccer and track facilities and attract football playoff games. Kitchens said retail areas would probably be in 'clusters' and possibly include residential housing. He said another street might run parallel to Midwestern Parkway with six or seven entrances into the new facilities. Wichita Falls residents could file petitions to call for an election to approve the project. Organizers would have 60 days from July 23, when a legal notice was posted in the Times Record News, to gather signatures from 10 percent of the city's registered voters. That percentage equates to about 5,900 voters based on the latest available numbers from the City Clerk's Office. More: Murder suspect who was released on technicality is back in jail More: Seymour man indicted in deadly crash This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: City plans to buy Sikes Senter, bulldoze it Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WF Chamber of Commerce hosts State of Economy forum: discuss growth, opportunities, and connection
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — Opportunities, growth, and connection were at the top of the discussion during this year's 'State of the Economy' event hosted by the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, March 19. It was a packed house inside the Sikes Lake Center as city leaders, business owners and many others joined together to talk about growth for the City of Wichita Falls. Ron Kitchens, president and CEO of the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce, said the event is vital for change. '[It's] critically important to celebrate success. We have to craft a vision each year, and then we all got to make a commitment,' Kitchens said. 'We can either be victims of change or victors of change. Today was about creating victory for the future.' Kitchens also said strengthening connections with MSU and Sheppard Air Force Base would also be vital for the growth of Wichita Falls. 'Between MSU and Sheppard Air Force Base, that's about 60 percent of our local economy. They're critical not just today for jobs, but they're critical to our future,' Kitchens said. Kitchens said the Wichita Falls economy has been thriving over the past two years. 'You know, the national hiccups going on. We've got, you know, a $.5 billion in investment going on now. We've had $1 billion investment in the last 30 months,' Kitchens said. Kitchen mentioned that there are new jobs and significant announcements on the way for the city. Also at the event, Carol Wagner and Richard Bundy were named Wichitans of the Year. That is an award to recognize those who help shape the city. The chamber's next big event, Leader Fest 2025, is coming up in August. Click here for more information on how to get your tickets. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
