Improve the quality of structures and premises in Topeka Kansas so that structures and premises violations are the exception rather than the rule. Our number of substandard properties is never over 500. Owners are motivated to take care of properties before City Departments are even called.
- Initiative Objectives
- 2022-2026 Goals
- Background
- In the News
- Mowing Initiative
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Spring 2023 Public Information Sessions
- Community Resources
- Consultant Report
- Improve property condition
- Reduce substandard housing
- Motivate property owners to care for their properties
- Encourage investment in vacant and deteriorated properties
- Reduce substandard structures by 50% in 5 years
- Reduce deterioration in vacant structures
- Reduce the expense/revenue gap on abatement cases by 50%
- Improve the perceived appearance of the neighborhoods
- Improve safety of neighborhoods by increasing the Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) to a 80% compliance rating
Councilwomen Hiller and Valdivia-Alcala kicked off the Changing our Culture of Property Maintenance Initiative by hosting a series of public input sessions to hear directly from the community what their vision for property maintenance is. They, with staff, guided these sessions with the below PowerPoint and received the below feedback.
From these sessions they worked to develop an aspirational goal, and four 2022-2026 goals, which was subsequently recommended 4-0 by the Public Health and Safety Committee on 11/18/21 and adopted by the City Council on a 10-0 vote on December 14, 2021. The goals have since been broken out into two different project tracks:
- Policy and Procedures
- Community Action
- A new pilot program will enable some Topekans to get their lawns mowed at fixed, affordable prices - The Topeka Capital-Journal
- Topeka leaders have new plan to get property owners to cut overgrown grass and weeds - The Topeka Capital-Journal
- New initiative underway to help keep Topeka lawns looking their best - KSNT
- Topeka initiative offers mowing program - KSNT
- City of Topeka program aims to make mowing accessible for low-income neighborhoods - KSNT
- City of Topeka to facilitate mowing contracts for community improvement - WIBW
- How to win a free lawn mower in Topeka - KSNT
Changing Our Culture of Property Maintenance assistance!
Great reasonably priced help can be found via social media such as Nextdoor and Facebook, as well as by directly asking neighbors, family and friends. To request assistance in finding a provider or volunteer to help with your mowing or vegetation, to offer to volunteer, or to learn more about the initiative, all are welcome to use the request form on the home page, or to call our assistance hotline at 785-368-9530.
Targeted Assistance
NIA’s
This initiative was especially developed for people who live in Neighborhood Improvement Association (NIA) areas and neighbors or others who would like to assist them. To find the NIA areas, please check the map of all of the NIAs, or visit the database on the city website and search an address.
Six Providers
Highland Acres NIA
Gil Carter Initiative is offering a standard fixed rate started at $40 per mow, depending on the size of the lot, for residents living in the Highland Acres NIA.
Call 785-368-9530 to get into contact with Gil Carter Initiative.
Central Park NIA
Omni Circle Group is volunteering to mow lawns and provide some mowing support for residents living within the Central Park NIA area, in order to help the area achieve a goal of 100% of lawns mowed. They are willing to consult with other volunteer groups, too.
Call 785-368-9530 to get into contact with Omni Circle Group.
Garcia’s Lawn Care – Spanish language – Oakland Neighborhood
For more information please call 785-430-3190 or email jandresgarcia@gmail.com.
Garcia’s Lawn Care is a Spanish language lawn care business who offers reasonably priced lawn care and has offered to be available for assistance or consultation with Spanish language residents who need help or want to volunteer.
Other Listed Partners
Robert Johnson Jr. – Citywide
For more information please call 303-378-3293 or email rjohnson8467@gmail.com.
Cesar Arteaga-Solis – Citywide
For more information please call 785-478-6635 or email cesararteagasolis@gmail.com.
Nathan O’Bier – Citywide
For more information please call 785-274-9118 or obeirsgreencare@gmail.com.
Disclaimer: Please be advised that the mowing services listed have not been screened or investigated by the City for their background, suitability or competence regarding the company itself or the individuals employed by the company. Utilizing one of the companies or individuals is done at the sole risk of the recipient of the service.
Other groups are welcome to submit to become listed partners. For more information, call 785-368-9530.
Great reasonably priced help can be found via social media such as Nextdoor and Facebook, as well as by directly asking neighbors, family and friends. To request assistance in finding a provider or volunteer to help with your mowing or vegetation, to offer to volunteer, or to learn more about the initiative, all are welcome to use the request form on the home page, or to call our assistance hotline at 785-368-9530.
Targeted Assistance
NIA’s
This initiative was especially developed for people who live in Neighborhood Improvement Association (NIA) areas and neighbors or others who would like to assist them. To find the NIA areas, please check the map of all of the NIAs, or visit the database on the city website and search an address.
Six Providers
Highland Acres NIA
Gil Carter Initiative is offering a standard fixed rate started at $40 per mow, depending on the size of the lot, for residents living in the Highland Acres NIA.
Call 785-368-9530 to get into contact with Gil Carter Initiative.
Central Park NIA
Omni Circle Group is volunteering to mow lawns and provide some mowing support for residents living within the Central Park NIA area, in order to help the area achieve a goal of 100% of lawns mowed. They are willing to consult with other volunteer groups, too.
Call 785-368-9530 to get into contact with Omni Circle Group.
Garcia’s Lawn Care – Spanish language – Oakland Neighborhood
For more information please call 785-430-3190 or email jandresgarcia@gmail.com.
Garcia’s Lawn Care is a Spanish language lawn care business who offers reasonably priced lawn care and has offered to be available for assistance or consultation with Spanish language residents who need help or want to volunteer.
Other Listed Partners
Robert Johnson Jr. – Citywide
For more information please call 303-378-3293 or email rjohnson8467@gmail.com.
Cesar Arteaga-Solis – Citywide
For more information please call 785-478-6635 or email cesararteagasolis@gmail.com.
Nathan O’Bier – Citywide
For more information please call 785-274-9118 or obeirsgreencare@gmail.com.
Disclaimer: Please be advised that the mowing services listed have not been screened or investigated by the City for their background, suitability or competence regarding the company itself or the individuals employed by the company. Utilizing one of the companies or individuals is done at the sole risk of the recipient of the service.
Other groups are welcome to submit to become listed partners. For more information, call 785-368-9530.
An additional component to the Changing Our Culture of Property Maintenance Initiative focuses on neighbors helping neighbors through volunteerism.
Sign up to volunteer
Individuals, families, businesses, churches, organizations, and any neighbor wanting to get engaged with helping residents with mowing can sign up to volunteer through the United Way of Kaw Valley’s Topeka Volunteers portal or by contacting our assistance line at 785-368-9530.
Tell us what you did!!
Whether you’ve gone through our matching service or helped someone on your own, please let us know! Use the report form on this page or call the assistance line at 785-368-9530. Tell us how many mows you did! Send us photos! We want to celebrate how many people…like you…stepped up!
Request a volunteer
Individuals who are unable to pay for mowing services, or those who live outside of NIA areas in the City of Topeka limits, are able to request their lawn be mowed. The city, however, cannot guarantee a volunteer match, and is not responsible for vetting volunteers.
Changing Our Culture of Property Maintenance assistance line
To request a volunteer to mow your lawn, or to record your volunteer arrangement, call 785-368-9530.
Sign up to volunteer
Individuals, families, businesses, churches, organizations, and any neighbor wanting to get engaged with helping residents with mowing can sign up to volunteer through the United Way of Kaw Valley’s Topeka Volunteers portal or by contacting our assistance line at 785-368-9530.
Tell us what you did!!
Whether you’ve gone through our matching service or helped someone on your own, please let us know! Use the report form on this page or call the assistance line at 785-368-9530. Tell us how many mows you did! Send us photos! We want to celebrate how many people…like you…stepped up!
Request a volunteer
Individuals who are unable to pay for mowing services, or those who live outside of NIA areas in the City of Topeka limits, are able to request their lawn be mowed. The city, however, cannot guarantee a volunteer match, and is not responsible for vetting volunteers.
Changing Our Culture of Property Maintenance assistance line
To request a volunteer to mow your lawn, or to record your volunteer arrangement, call 785-368-9530.
To kick off year two of the Changing Our Culture of Property Maintenance Initiative, the city hosted a series of Public Information Sessions.
Watch the April 3 session here!
Watch the April 10 session in Spanish here!
Watch the April 3 session here!
Watch the April 10 session in Spanish here!