Revitalization

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• Incentive Programs For Downtown	• BID	• Prime Location (pdf)	• Downtown Briefing (pdf)

Economic Redevelopment Vitalizes Downtown

As demonstrated across the country, and as we are told by people looking to relocate to Topeka, the condition and vitality of a city's downtown is indicative of the condition and vitality of the entire community.

It is DTI's goal to reestablish downtown as a family oriented economically sound, culturally vital and visually attractive regional destination. Unfortunately, many years of unmanaged growth and disassociated development have compromised the vitality of downtown Topeka. Today, however, with the completion and adoption of the Downtown Topeka Redevelopment Plan, we are prepared to unify the efforts of developers, investors, stakeholders, and government.

On March 27, 2001, the City Council of Topeka allocated $350,000 to be used as incentives to recruit dining, entertainment and retail establishments to downtown Topeka. In August 2001, the City Council allocated an additional $200,000 for the implementation of Phase II during 2002. A condition of the funding for Phase II was the inclusion of a component for downtown housing. Because of the successes of Phases I and II, the City Council allocated an additional $350,000 for Phase III in 2003. This incentive includes a component for office development as well as housing, dining, entertainment and retail.

A central feature of downtown redevelopment must, by definition, provide a focal point for activity. By creating destinations downtown, this Plan can help to generate and maintain a level of activity that will encourage economic development by increasing spending and foot-traffic counts, improving the residential market in the area and increasing the number of people downtown after dark.

Since July 2001, over $800,000 in grants have been awarded. Those grants provided funding of market-rate loft apartments, façade improvements, retail businesses and new dining & entertainment establishments. For every $1 of incentives awarded, the private sector has invested over $7.50.

Whether you live, work, dine, shop, or want to be entertained, downtown Topeka is the place to be!

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