Concrete in College Hill, Wichita
College Hill sits on higher ground east of downtown, and its homes mostly date from the first third of the 1900s. That shows up in the concrete: steps climbing from the sidewalk, walks lifted by old trees, and driveways sized for cars of another era.
College Hill in brief
Early-1900s homes, front steps up from the walk, and old sidewalks heaved by big street trees.
- A neighborhood inside Wichita city limits
- Next door: Wichita, Riverside, Delano
College Hill concrete estimate
About a minute. Send the details and expect a call back to talk the project through.
Where and when it was built
College Hill covers the area from Central Avenue south to U.S. 54 (Kellogg) and from Hillside east to Oliver, about two and a half miles east of downtown. It was platted in the 1880s land boom and named for a Methodist college that ended up being built in Winfield instead. A few houses predate 1900, but most were built between 1900 and 1934, and the Lincoln Heights addition between Douglas and Kellogg came onto the market in 1926 (Wikipedia: College Hill). College Hill Park, a former country club, was rebuilt with WPA funds during the Depression.
Steps and stoops
Many homes here sit above the street, with a run of concrete steps from the public walk to the front path and another set to the porch. Old steps settle, tread edges spall, and handrails loosen in crumbling concrete. Replacing them means attention to riser height and tread depth so the new set is comfortable and consistent. Steps that reach a porch more than 30 inches above grade fall outside the flatwork permit exemption in the Wichita-Sedgwick County code, which only covers walks and drives not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade (Wichita-Sedgwick County Unified Building and Trade Code (MABCD)). See concrete steps and retaining walls.
Low walls along the front
Where a yard rises above the sidewalk, owners have built low retaining walls of concrete, stone or block. Older walls lean, crack at corners or bulge where water pushes from behind. The code exempts retaining walls up to 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless they hold back a surcharge such as a driveway (Wichita-Sedgwick County Unified Building and Trade Code (MABCD)). Taller walls or walls near a driveway need more planning.
Street trees and sidewalk panels
The mature trees that make College Hill pleasant also lift the walks. Roots under the public sidewalk raise panels and open trip edges, and the abutting owner carries the duty to keep that sidewalk in repair under Kansas law (K.S.A. 12-1808, sidewalk repairs by owner or city). Because street trees sit in the right-of-way, ask the City before cutting roots, and expect replacement panels to follow City specifications.
Narrow drives and alleys
Driveways from the early 1900s were often single-car strips, sometimes leading to a detached garage at the back of the lot. Widening is common, but lot width, the house, trees and setbacks limit it. Some homes are served from an alley, with a pad and apron at the rear. Joint layout is tricky on long, narrow drives; NRMCA recommends near-square panels no longer than 1.5 times their width (NRMCA, CIP 6: Joints in Concrete Slabs on Grade), which means more frequent cross joints on a narrow strip.
Matching what is there
Old concrete has weathered to a texture and color new concrete will not match at first. On a front walk next to an original curb or step, that difference is visible. Options include replacing the whole visible run at once, choosing a broom finish that weathers closer, or accepting the contrast for a few years. Exposed aggregate can sometimes echo older finishes.
Typical College Hill projects
- Rebuilding front steps and the walk to the porch
- Replacing heaved public sidewalk panels
- Widening a single-car drive or rebuilding a rear pad
- Repairing or replacing a low front retaining wall
- Small backyard patios on deep, narrow lots
Nearby areas
Downtown and the rest of Wichita lie to the west. Riverside and Delano are the other older neighborhoods with their own pages, and Andover is a short drive east on Kellogg.
The estimate factors page explains how access, tear-out and steps change scope.
Concrete services in College Hill
- Concrete Driveways
- Sidewalks, Walkways & Drive Approaches
- Concrete Patios
- Stamped & Decorative Concrete
- Concrete Repair & Resurfacing
- Garage Floors, Shop & Foundation Slabs
- Concrete Tear-Out & Replacement
- Estimate factors
Sources for this page: Wikipedia: College Hill, Wichita; Wichita-Sedgwick County Unified Building and Trade Code (MABCD); NRMCA, CIP 6: Joints in Concrete Slabs on Grade; K.S.A. 12-1808, sidewalk repairs by owner or city.
Towns near College Hill
Concrete questions from College Hill
Do I need a permit to replace front steps in College Hill?
The Wichita-Sedgwick County code exempts walks and drives not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade. Taller steps or stoops leading to a high porch may need review, so check with MABCD.
A street tree lifted my sidewalk. Who is responsible?
Kansas law puts the duty to keep the sidewalk in repair on the abutting owner. Because the tree is in the right-of-way, ask the City before cutting roots.
Can new concrete match my old walk?
Not exactly at first. Replacing a full visible run, using a similar finish, or letting the new work weather are the usual approaches.
How wide can I make my driveway?
It depends on lot width, setbacks and the approach rules in the right-of-way. Wider approaches go through City permitting.
Concrete plans in College Hill?
Send the details and expect a call back to talk the project through.