Wichita-business King of Freight will buy the building, formerly occupied by Gander Mountain, from WaterWalk.

Today, the Wichita City Council unanimously voted to amend their agreement with WaterWalk and allow a non-retail business to move into that building.

"I could not be prouder to be a part of bringing re-use to this building, revitalizing it, bringing jobs, creating jobs," said Bryant Parker, attorney with Klenda Austerman Law Firm and representing King of Freight.

Under the new agreement, King of Freight is expected to create 400 new jobs within five years, with an average salary of $50,000.

But, not everyone was in support of an office occupying the space on the WaterWalk property, located north of Kellogg and west of Main Street.

"The land we're talking about today is right where a civic center or performing arts center should be placed," said Hoyt Hillman, concerned citizen. "That's going to be a real problem when a performing arts and other groups in Century II rearrange themselves to make sense of it all downtown."

According to city documents, the 400 net new jobs would have a direct tax generation of nearly $1-million over the course of 10 years. 

King of Freight also agrees to pay for parking spaces at $15 per month per space; employee parking is estimated at approximately $70,000 per year. 

Employees will be able to park in the public parking lots located in the garage and under Kellogg. Those spaces will remain public parking spaces.

King of Freight will buy the building from WaterWalk for an undisclosed amount.

The company plans to occupy the building by the end of the year.

To learn more about jobs with King of Freight, click here.