Friday, October 9, 2009

On Tuesday, the Wichita City Council will vote on selling the former Sports Hall of Fame Building in Old Town and also on officially approving a new lease for the Hall to move into the Boathouse.

The city has an offer of $1.4 million from Marketplace Properties, LLC to buy the building at 238 N. Mead which used to house the Hall of Fame. The city will use the proceeds to pay off the remaining bonds it as on the property.

The council will also approve a lease with America Foundation, a not-for-profit headed by Bill Koch, for the Boathouse. It is a 99-year lease for use of the boathouse to be the permanent home of the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame for $1 a year.

Koch has also agreed to pay $500,000 to refurbish the building. The first floor of the building will be used for the Hall and plans are to use the second floor to rent out for events.