CAPTION: The East entrance of Memorial Hall at 101 South Walnut in Downtown Hutchinson. CREDIT MICHAEL GLENN/THE HUTCHINSON TRIBUNE
By Michael Glenn
Caution signs: we’ve seen a lot recently.
I live in South Hutchinson, so navigating the closed Woodie Seat Freeway and Main Street has caused me to read a lot of orange signs around the south side of town.
I’ve never minded caution or road work signs a lot because I tend to think of it as a good thing that the city is keeping up on maintenance and construction.
With maintenance, the Hutchinson City Council is in the middle of deciding the fate of one of its most iconic buildings: Memorial Hall.
Memorial Hall is a building synonymous with Downtown Hutchinson, such as the Historic Fox Theatre and the Landmark Building. While we don’t have much of a skyline, if someone were to draw a silhouette of downtown, Memorial Hall would be in it.
The Council, at its last meeting on Feb. 19, heard a presentation about the future of the building. To be frank, it’s not in great shape. Much work needs to be done in HVAC, and $5.3 million in renovations is needed to bring it up to modern standards, according to the City’s Parks and Facilities department.
Furthermore, it doesn’t make any money for the city. The total amount of expenses for Memorial Hall in 2023 was $110,548 in expenses, $15,160 in revenue and $95,388 in net loss. In 2024, it was $126,098 in expenses, $27,080 in revenue and $99,018 in net loss.
It would be erroneous to demolish the Hall and turn it into green space simply because of that. Many different organizations, community groups and private parties have utilized the space. Here’s a list I came up with just from events we’ve reported on:
- Family Community Theatre productions
- TECH Gala
- “Out of Town” Town Hall
- Third Thursday
- Hispanic Health & Resource Fair
- Hutch Mini-Con
- Plenty of other community/sporting events
Here’s a thought that I think most of us forget: the government is not a business. If you run a government like a company, it will fail. Running a stable government is more than just dollars and cents. Memorial Hall holds much sentimental and nostalgic value to many people who live here, even if it isn’t in the greatest shape today.
With the Downtown Masterplan beginning to take shape, Memorial Hall has the chance to be the literal crown jewel of Hutchinson, supported by the Landmark and the Fox Theatre.
From the information we have, here are the three most likely options for its fate, in no particular order:
- The City turns the site into a park, connecting it to Avenue A Park and having a three-block green space that includes George Pyle Park.
- The City sells/leases/gets rid of the property to a bidder in the RFP.
- The City lets the building stay as it is (status quo).
It’s difficult to say what the “correct” option is here. Selling it would be the most cost-effective and most efficient, but then the developer gains hefty rights to the building, which could include demolition. On the other hand, the building can’t stay the way it is. And on the park, convincing Hutch residents that tearing down the Hall to put a park in would be difficult.
Depending on the design done for a potential park, there could be benefits to having a green area in the center of downtown. The park could also honor the past events and prestige the Hall has had on Hutchinson while not being a financial burden on the City’s coffers.
As a young person, I would prefer the Hall to stay in some form. It’s a historic building that has a unique space that can be used. If it’s truly not possible to simply renovate and bring it up to standards, having a central green space downtown could benefit local businesses in the area and provide a leisurely break from the busy streets.
The best option right now for the council, which they have rightfully done, is to wait and see what is available. If there’s a can’t-beat-that offer available, maybe that’s the best option.
Proceed with caution, council.
Steve Schneider / March 2, 2025
If I understood correctly, when the city manager and mayor were on KWBW recently they indicated that they were having some kind of study done on it first, no doubt at cost to the taxpayers, and AFTER that seeking community input.
Seems pretty @ss-backward.
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Jan Steen / March 2, 2025
I’ve not heard anyone say recently that Hutchinson and its visitors are clamoring for more parks. I have heard residents lamenting years later about the tearing down of historic buildings, like the Bisonte Hotel.
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Carolyn Parson / March 2, 2025
Do we need another park? What will maintenance of this “green space” cost year after year?
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Keith Richardson / March 2, 2025
If the decision is to pull down the building it would be a bright spotlight on the abject failure of past and current city administrations to effectively manage city resources. The Hall is an asset and like any asset it must be maintained and enhanced. The Hall is only in the spot it’s in because previous city leaders have continually kicked the can down the road. It’s ridiculous—and also a sad commentary on Hutch—that an edifice as prominent as the Hall sits empty and under-utilized half the year.
I wonder if the current city leaders have the guts, the grit, the determination, the salesmanship, the courage and the leadership to say, “Let’s bring the old girl into the 21st century,” and then get it done?
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Ivan Huston / March 6, 2025
I think the city can afford to keep it, and keep it up. Let Reno County help with the expense. By the looks of my new property appraisal, I think the City and County can afford it. Don’t sell it to an individual, you might end up with another Atrium on you hands.
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