Wichita City Hall joined the fight to save the Starlite Drive-In on Friday, calling on the owner to pause efforts to turn it into a warehouse complex.
Mayor Jeff Longwell and City Council member James Clendenin posted that plea on the city’s Facebook page.
“We are extremely disappointed in the potential loss of a longtime, iconic quality of life amenity for our community that means so much to so many,” the posting said. “We plead with the seller to put a hold on the selling of any assets of the drive-in this coming Tuesday and invite the city, community, philanthropists and potential investors or developers to the table to formulate a solution that preserves a drive-in in our city.”
Owner Chuck Bucinski has been working to permanently close the drive-in and sell its assets, including two $100,000 projectors partially paid for in 2013 by a community fund-raising effort.
Bucinski is planning to sell the land for redevelopment, likely as a warehouse/distribution center with a small strip of retail along the south edge of the property on MacArthur. The drive-in is at 3900 S. Hydraulic.
Longwell said the city is hoping to meet with the seller, buyer and community supporters of keeping it a drive-in.
“We’ll see if it gets any traction,” he said.
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