Changing The Landscape
of a career & A City.

Professional success for many is measured by the achievement of a title or level of financial reward. For the entrepreneur, however, it’s rarely so clearly defined. It’s the pursuit of a passion that’s bigger than the fear of risk or failure – and one that reveals possibilities others don’t see.

Dave Burk, owner of Marketplace Properties, saw those possibilities in Wichita. But when an economic downturn threatened to derail progress, he decided to expand his professional capabilities and create his own momentum. “I decided I didn’t want to just be an architect. I wanted to use my architecture and planning abilities to do development,” says Burk.

Burk saw in Wichita’s downtown area the potential to become a new and unique destination while maintaining the architectural integrity of its historic roots. “I always knew that if we did it in a quality manner, and it had a mixed use,” explains Burk, “we would have a successful area.”

For the entrepreneur, believing in a vision is the easy part. Convincing others to believe is often the difference between idea and reality. Burk needed to convince others not only to believe but to invest. “It was very, very hard. We could talk about a vision, but there was a lot of risk. You have to take risks to move forward – and not everybody is a risk taker.”

Because Burk’s architectural firm had specialized in historic buildings and understood the related tax credits and intricacies of restoring such properties, they were able to streamline the process and claim success on several key projects. That credibility opened doors – and invited partnerships. “We were able to form a partnership with the city and start renovating the old historic area. Then we couldn’t stop, because we knew that if you just do one restaurant, the survival rate’s a year or two.” Collaboration with Dave Wells, owner of Key Construction and a like-minded champion of Wichita’s growth and development, proved to be the perfect formula for pushing momentum forward. They share a love for their city and a willingness to do whatever it takes when they believe in a vision. “There’s a lot of risk, and a lot of hard work,” explains Burk, “but it worked out for us.”

Revitalizing a city comes with challenges beyond the architectural. But refusing to compromise on standards is a quality that’s engrained in Burk. “You’ve always got the segment of the population that doesn’t agree with what you’re doing. The Keen Kutter Building was such a prominent building right in the middle of Old Town. I felt like we would lose a lot of its integrity if the building came down. People ask ‘wouldn’t it have been cheaper to bulldoze it and build a new hotel there?’ It would have been cheaper, but the integrity of the area and that building would have been diminished.”

Today, the work Burk and his team have done extends well beyond a portfolio of renovated buildings. They have restored the heart and soul of a city. As the Old Town district continues to grow, so does Burk’s resolve to take the risks and make the changes that keep things moving forward.