Maize, Maple intersection poised for growth

A group of Wichita developers is targeting the intersection of Maple and Maize Road for growth, with four residential and retail projects set to open in the first half of this year.

Three retail centers and 18 duplexes are being built in a high-traffic area that has swelled to about 40,000 cars a day, said Brad Saville of Landmark Commercial Real Estate, one of the developers.

The corner is a "distinct retail area that can serve the south part of Maize Road out to Goddard," said Stan Longhofer, director of the Center for Real Estate at Wichita State University.

"The challenge there is how long will it take the rooftops to build to support the retail, but that’s a standard Wichita question," he said.

The projects include:

• Oak Cliff Estates, an 18-duplex development. Each of 36 units is available for rent at $1,175 a month or for sale at $262,900.

The project is being built northwest of the Maple and Maize intersection.

Each residence is 1,740 square feet with three bedrooms, three baths, a kitchen, living room and recreation area.

"It’s close to shopping and it seems to offer an ease of getting around town," said developer Larry Bottenberg, whose Mesa Construction is building the project.

Eight units will be ready for occupancy in a month, he said.

Bottenberg’s company has owned the land for four years, originally signing a lease with Dickinson Theatres for a complex that fell through.

• Lexington Square, a 10,500-square-foot retail center southwest of the intersection. The center includes a drive-through on the south end cap. It’s also near a building to the north occupied by Miller’s Cleaners and a convenience store.

Developer Mike Hampton, the owner of Aztec Stucco, said he and marketer Don Piros of Landmark hope to have a restaurant and coffee shop signed for the center by late spring.

California developer George Shammas is a partner in the project. Smith Construction is the builder.

• An 8,750-square-foot retail center is being built near the northwest corner, north of the Spiffy self-service car wash built in 2005.

It’s scheduled for completion April 1 and has already landed a State Farm Insurance office.

• The former swimming club west of the intersection is being converted into an 11,200-square-foot retail center.

The intersection has been a longtime development target, Longhofer said.

"For a lot of people, this intersection has always been a high-potential area," Longhofer said.

"Now, with the concentration of rooftops developing, that potential may be realized."