MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
City staff is recommending rejection of redevelopment proposals for Memorial Hall, following a months-long process involving community input and evaluation by a team of city officials.
The future of Memorial Hall was first discussed at the Feb. 18, 2025, Hutchinson City Council meeting, when staff proposed demolishing the aging building to create a public plaza connecting Avenue A Park to George Pyle Park. In response, councilmembers requested that staff develop a Request for Proposals (RFP) for potential private redevelopment instead.
The RFP, developed in collaboration with the Hutchinson Recreation Commission and the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, was designed to ensure alignment with community goals and maximize the feasibility of implementation. Proposals were due July 7, following a pre-submittal meeting on May 2.
Evaluation criteria included qualifications of the development team, financial capacity, timeline, viability, return to the city, and consistency with adopted city plans.
Two proposals were submitted: one from Dennis Edelman and Dr. Gordon Schultz, and another titled Unconvention Hall led by local entrepreneur Uriah Bueller.
City staff determined that the untitled proposal from Schultz and Edelman lacked a concrete plan, relying instead on examples of unrelated projects from other communities. The submission failed to address the required evaluation criteria, leading staff to recommend no further consideration.
The Unconvention Hall proposal envisioned a public-private partnership to support small businesses through various flexible spaces, including 60 to 80 “tiny studios.” While some aspects aligned with the city’s Downtown Master Plan and Memorial Hall Reuse Plan, staff cited significant concerns regarding its feasibility, financial projections, and the team’s lack of experience with similar developments.
The proposal projected over $10 million in capital improvements, funded through a mix of STAR Bonds, State Historic Tax Credits, city-issued bonds, and private investment. It also included a proposed $400,000 annual subsidy and projected studio rents of $1,000 per month—figures city staff found questionable and risky.
“Overall staff appreciated the creativity of the proposal,” the report states, “but has major concerns about the financial viability of the proposal and the risk associated with the initial investment and the long-term subsidy.”
As a result, staff is recommending that the City Council reject both proposals.
The item will be presented for formal council consideration at Tuesday evening's city council meeting, with a motion recommended to reject all submissions received in response to the RFP for the revitalization of Memorial Hall.