ORDINANCE introduced by City Manager Dr. Robert M. Perez pertaining to an amendment to the text and map of the Topeka Comprehensive Plan for the Historic Old Town Neighborhood Plan Update. (CPA 26/01)

Voting Option Requirements: (1) Approve Planning Commission's recommendation, 6 votes are required of the Governing Body (2) Reject or Amend Planning Commission's recommendation, 7 votes are required of the Governing Body; or (3) Remand back to Planning Commission, 6 votes are required of the Governing Body.

(Adopt recommendations of the Historic Old Town Neighborhood Plan Update and DREAMS I implementation.)

The Governing Body has the following voting options:

1. Approve the Planning Commission’s recommendation by adopting the ordinance. A minimum of 6 votes are required of the Governing Body.
2. Amend or Reject the Planning Commission’s recommendation by amending the ordinance. A minimum of 7 votes is required of the Governing Body.
3. Remand to the Planning Commission for further consideration, with a statement specifying the basis for the governing body’s failure to approve or disapprove. A minimum of 6 votes are required of the Governing Body.

Key Policy Issues from the Plan include pedestrian infrastructure; land use with a preference for quality affordable housing, especially alternatives to multi-family residential land use  currently concentrated in the east third of the neighborhood; and the need for a public park.

Staff recommends the Governing Body move to adopt the ordinance. 

Planning Process - Historic Old Town was awarded DREAMS I in early 2025 to improve infrastructure and housing.  The planning process began in May 2025 with a neighborhood kickoff meeting.  Several meetings with a neighborhood committee were held in 2025 and 2026, and staff and the committee presented the final draft at a neighborhood meeting in July 2026.  

The Plan - The updated plan includes seven chapters and five appendices. Each chapter is summarized below.

Chapter 1 - Introduction and Purpose: The neighborhood plan update provides updated conditions related to housing, infrastructure, crime, and owner occupancy and includes a general timeline for plan implementation.

Chapter 2 - Neighborhood Profile: This chapter describes the character and history of the neighborhood.

• History: Since the early 1900s, the west side of the 900 block of SW Buchanan Street has been referred to as "Governors Row" and was home to Kansas Governors from 1901 to 1962. The property was demolished in 1965. South of the residence, six mansions were built in the 1910s and designed by the local architecture firm of Holland & Squires (James C. Holland and Frank Squires). Governors Square was featured in the August 1937 National Geographic Magazine. During the 1960s, Topeka and the neighborhood experienced significant change. Governor's Square was no exception. The City approved a zoning change which would've allowed for an office and parking lot but was challenged in court and the zoning change was blocked.

• Character: Historic Old Town is located in the heart of Topeka. It sits just to the west of the Capitol Plaza and Downtown Topeka. Early twentieth century architecture can be found throughout the neighborhood with Prairie, Craftsman, Folk Victorian, Victorian Queen Anne, and Colonial Revival being the most prominent. Three arterials and a local street make up the boundaries of the neighborhood, creating hard boundaries. Much of the original character of the neighborhood has been lost over the last century. What remains are three distinct areas within the neighborhood. Area 1, from Topeka Boulevard to SW Lincoln Street is defined by a mixture of single-family, multi-family conversions, multi-family, with Topeka High as a major focal point. Area 2, from SW Lincoln Street to the east side of SW College Ave. This is primarily medical, office, and the associated surface parking lots. Area 3 is from the west side of SW College Avenue to SW Summit. This makes up the most intact portion of single-family land use in the neighborhood.

Chapter 3 - Neighborhood Data: Approximately 229 acres bounded by SW 6th Avenue to the north, SW Summit Ave to the west, SW 1oth Avenue to the south, and SW Topeka Boulevard to the east.

• The neighborhood is substantially residential, with 68 percent of the parcels devoted to residential uses, but comprising only 36 percent of the land mass.
• 47 percent of single-family homes are owner occupied, a roughly 10 percent drop from the 2003 plan. Much of the infrastructure includes existing brick streets and brick sidewalks

Chapter 4 - Vision and Goals: This chapter looks to define what the Historic Old Town community wants to accomplish over the next 10+ years. Goals of the plan include:

• Continue to protect the single family and lower density residential blocks from higher intensity and incompatible land uses while continuing to allow new medical and multi-family development.
• Increase the quality of housing stock and provide for more owner-occupied housing, including but not limited to cooperatives, attached single family, and other forms.
• Develop a cohesive infrastructure plan that provides safe access throughout the community to key institutional points that promote multi-modal transportation.
• Foster an environment in which Historic Old Town is an enriched space for children and families to live, attend school, and play within the neighborhood.
• Transform Historic Old Town to a neighborhood in which people choose to lie for its character, sense of community, and amenities.
• Ensure Historic Old Town is a neighborhood where healthy lifestyle choices are easily accessible.
• Promote sustainable, neighborhood-scale economic development that activates vacant land, supports local businesses, and ensures residents have access to essential goods and services within walking distance. 

Chapter 5 - Future Land Use: The Future Land Use map was changed to allow for commercial mixed use along Topeka Boulevard and commercial/residential use on the corner of 10th Avenue and Summit. The preservation district was also removed and office/residential uses were added to a middle section along 10th Avenue.

Chapter 6 - Revitalization Strategies: The key revitalization strategies for Historic Old Town are to provide residential rehabilitation efforts, increase the quality of life for the residents through improved infrastructure, ensure the character is preserved during new development, and economic development that activates vacant land.

Chapter 7 - Implementation: The 45 projects listed below were agreed upon by the neighborhood to be the most effective use of DREAMS I funding. 

DREAMS I Infrastructure Projects ($1.4 Million):

• Four Mill and Overlay Projects
• Four Curb and Gutter Projects
• 26 Sidewalk Projects
• Seven Alley Approach Projects
• Four Sidewalk Ramp Projects

Unfunded Projects

• 13 Mill and Overlay Projects
• Seven Curb and Gutter Projects
• Four Alley Approach Projects
• Nine Sidewalk Ramp Projects

There is no budgetary impact to the City by adopting the plan. Implementation of the plan to carry out DREAMS I infrastructure improvements as currently budgeted for in the CIP and will require additional Governing Body approvals.

Not Applicable.