Here's How You Can Help!

Homeowners, landlords and renters in Wichita's Delano District have joined together to fight a real estate developer's plan to build expensive apartments.  The Development, which requires City approval to proceed, will destroy 40 mature shade trees, eliminates green space and threatens to further destabilize a low-income neighborhood.  In order to proceed, the developer is asking the city to approve rezoning the green space.  The 6th Council District's District Advisory Board will meet this Monday, September 12, and decide whether or not to recommend the rezoning to the Wichita City Council.

Here are 2 things you can do:

1. Attend the hearing this Monday, September 12 and support Delano friends and neighbors who are speaking out.  The 6th District DAB is meeting at 6:30PM in the Evergreen Library and Community Center at 2601 N Arkansas (at the intersection of N 25th and Arkansas).  This item is number 7 on the Agenda.  If you live in Delano, or have special knowledge or reasons to oppose the rezone, come early and sign up to speak.
2. You can email a statement opposing the rezone--and the destruction of trees and greenspace in a neighborhood that is fast losing its tree canopy.  Your email will be distributed to DAB members and made part of the minutes.  The email must be received before 4PM on Monday, Sept. 12.   Here is example of an email:

To:  ALopez@wichita.gov

Re: DAB Agenda Item: PUD2022-00011

Dear 6 District Advisory Board Member:  Please oppose the request of NAI Martens to rezone Delano green space and destroy 40 Mature shade trees.  These mature shade trees cannot be replaced by planting saplings--even if they manage to survive.  Climate change is an existential threat.  The low-income Delano neighborhood is losing its shade trees at an alarming rate, saplings will not replace mature trees that filter air pollution, sequester carbon, and help cool hot urban neighborhoods.  Moreover, as City planners acknowledge, the development will increase traffic on quiet residential streets where residents walk and children play.  I am not opposed to urban 'in-fill' but I am opposed to the destruction of trees and green space in neighborhoods where these are at a premium--especially because other sites exist for in-fill that do not have the drawbacks that this site has.  Thank you for listening to my concerns,