Another One Bites the Dust…
2017/8/31 – Several buildings just north of the Capitol Federal Tower in Downtown Topeka have recently placed signs in their windows that their tenants are being removed to make way for the new plaza.
We love the idea of infastructure and public spaces being developed in Downtown Topeka, however we want to bring up three concerns:
First, one of the buildings that is proposed to be demolished is listed as a “Contributing Structure” in the Kansas Avenue Historic District. Contributing Structures within historic districts should be preserved per historic guidelines. Downtown Topeka just recently was approved to be listed as a historic district. This designation requires keeping and maintaining historic structures. Keeping our designation as a historic district is important from a financial standpoint because it gives business owners and developers incentives up to 45% of the construction cost for improvements. Obvious, historic buildings also should be preserved because they are a record of our shared cultural heritage.
Second, Topeka just recently paid a consultant to create downtown design standards. The standards the consultant created very clearly state that our downtown should keep the as many buildings along Kansas Avenue as possible and to maintain the “wall” which is a typical aspect of our downtown.
Third, existing businesses are getting removed from our downtown because of this project. We need these businesses in our downtown!
It doesn’t make sense to create a Historic District then knock down the historic buildings. It doesn’t make much sense to us to pay consultants to give us recommendations, then not follow the recommendations. Finally, if the goal is to bring businesses and restaraunts to our downtown, it doesn’t make sense to kick out existing businesses in an effort to attract other businesses.