University Village aims to make Wichita State neighborhood a Wichita destination
Sept. 29, 2020
By WSU Strategic Communications
Contact: Lainie Mazzullo, co-director of news and media relations, 316-978-3409 or lainie.mazzullo@wichita.edu.
Wichita State University is taking a step forward with community discussions about
a University Village initiative, which seeks to create a community destination of
dining, entertainment and shopping adjacent to campus.
Through the existing Shocker Neighborhoods initiative, internal discovery and community
feedback, Wichita State has identified an initial list of needs to help serve its
constituents and the community. The goal is to develop strong, meaningful and high-impact
partnerships with qualified developers to address these needs, which include:
Dining options with a focus on healthy and ethnic food options
Grocery stores that include international options
A pharmacy
Retail that includes general merchandise, appropriately sized
Mixed-use commercial/retail
Childcare centers
Local businesses, including a bakery, smoothie/juice bar, apparel, etc.
To gather that input, a town hall is being held from 1-2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30.
Members of the community have the opportunity to view the town hall remotely here.
At the community town hall, Acting President Rick Muma and campus and community leaders
will present Wichita State’s desire to work with local and national developers interested
in partnering to explore the possibilities to bring these amenities to life adjacent
to campus. The university will engage with persons and entities who desire involvement via individual
and community meetings following the initial discussion.
Wichita State University serves as the Kansas urban-based research university, enrolling
more than 20,000 students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries.
Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation
driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in
the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM),
Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of
applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one
of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing
over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
