20 December 2005

GRETEMAN GROUP PARTNERS WITH CITY OF WICHITA
TO HELP CREATE INTERNATIONAL MARKETPLACE

WICHITA, Kan. — The City of Wichita has chosen Greteman Group as lead consultant for the International Marketplace District, a development project outlined in the 21st Street North Corridor Revitalization Plan. City Council members finalized the decision at its morning meeting today. It was a unanimous vote.

“Greteman Group has the expertise, experience and passion needed to lead this project and help ensure its success,” said John Schlegel, director of planning, City of Wichita. “We hope to create a culturally distinctive dining, shopping and entertainment district unique to our region.”

The district, focused around a proposed indoor “mercado,” or public market, will be centered at 21st Street North and Market Street. Working with historic preservation planners, architects and urban planners, Greteman Group will spearhead a consulting team tasked with helping revitalize the area by leveraging the district’s rich heritage. Sixteen percent of the district’s residents are foreign born, compared to 5 percent for the State of Kansas.

“We plan to work directly with the community and key stakeholders to build on the many positives that can already be found in the district,” said Sonia Greteman, president and creative director, Greteman Group. “We want to celebrate and capitalize on what’s been accomplished by current business owners while encouraging new ventures.”

Other communities across the United States have learned the benefits of “heritage tourism.” They draw residents and tourists alike with a mix of ethnic-inspired shops, restaurants, grocers, music, crafts and festivals.

The project will launch with outreach events designed to garner input from district residents and the broader Wichita community. Historic documentation efforts will run concurrently with the discovery process, identifying potentially eligible historic properties and vintage buildings. The team will also study similar efforts nationwide. Findings will inform the development of branding and marketing efforts as well as an architectural design and site concept plan for public and private improvements. This includes everything from streetscape enhancements and wayfinding signage to a public jardin and building-facade treatments.

“The International Marketplace District can be a destination that truly spices up the city’s mix of offerings – whether it’s a family that catches lunch in one of the area’s ethnic restaurants, teens drawn to a low-rider car show, or a couple who wants to check out a Tejano band,” said Greteman. “It doesn’t matter if you live in Riverside or are in town visiting relatives – this is a district we hope people will consider exploring, just as they do Old Town, the Delano district, or the museums along the river. When you weary of the status quo, this is a place for you.”

Greteman Group, a Wichita-based, full-service branding agency, serves a diverse clientele that includes Bombardier Flexjet, Bombardier Aerospace, Bombardier Business Aviation Services, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Mooney Airplane Company, Foxwoods Development Co., Greater Wichita Convention & Visitors Bureau, Kansas State Fair, the Kansas Health Foundation, Kansas Children’s Service League and Envision. Greteman Group was a winner in the Metro Awards and the Business Marketing Association’s Pro-Comm Awards. It has been recognized in such publications as Adweek, Advertising Age, Aldus, Communication Arts, Designing Identity, Identity, Graphic Design USA, Graphis, Hotels, HOW, Novum, Print, Step-By-Step, and by such organizations as the Mead Top 60, Kansas City Art Directors, Strathmore, International Festivals, Graphex Art Directors, and The National Library Council.