College Hill: The New Design District of Wichita, Kansas?

College Hill is one of the few places you can go to in Wichita, Kansas and still find remnants of cobblestone streets. Its quaintness and charm has attracted beauty-loving families for decades now. The fact that many of the houses are over fifty years old and have only one-and-a-half bathrooms doesn't seem to deter those who appreciate the kind of neighborhood experience that only College Hill can offer. Things such as old-fashioned block parties, tall, leafy trees and 41 design-oriented businesses nearby makes College Hill a trendy and comfortable place for someone interested in old books and local coffee to hang his or her hat.

According to the November 2007 edition of The College Hill Commoner, plans are being made to enhance this already picturesque corner of Wichita in a way that will benefit the local businesses and family-centered living that already takes place among its residents. As darling as parts of College Hill may be, there are still a few blocks that have begun to decay and may be in need of some help in order to encourage even more business to come to College Hill. Bill Jackson, owner of Abode Home and Furniture Options on Douglas Avenue, began writing letters and meeting with other business owners in order to discuss his ideas regarding giving these parts of College Hill a makeover. An association was soon formed that has begun to begin fund-raising for their ambitious plans.

The College Hill Commonerbreifly outlines some plans in Barry Owens' article, Association has Designs on Douglas Avenue. These plans include greenery planted along medians which the city would first have to build, benches, covered bus stops, and incorporating bricks that were once excavated from beneath the avenue into new walkways. They have also pictured a bike path, special, antique-looking light posts from which banners could hang, and, at the intersection of Douglas Avenue and Oliver Street, an arch that could rise to welcome vehicle passengers and pedestrians to the Douglas Design District.