Investing in Downtown

Downtown has seen a resurgence in the last few years with the public and private investment for the improvements on Kansas Avenue between 6th and 10th Streets, the establishment of historic districts, the opening of a new hotel and restaurants, and a new downtown plaza. In order to plan for the next generation of downtown development, the Planning and Development Department produced an updated Downtown Master Plan in 2020/21, which was approved by the Topeka Governing Body on May 4, 2021.

The Plan sets the stage for the next 10 years of downtown development. It builds on the efforts of the 2019 Downtown Market Study by creating a series of District Plans based on the districts identified in the market study. Each district plan includes a set of recommendations for the future with regards to land use, zoning, and streetscape improvements.  Further, each district plan allocates its share of the Market Study’s 10-year recommendations for new/rehabbed housing units, new or rehabbed office uses, retail, and hotel beds. Implementation highlights from the Plan include a discussion of Big Ideas and updated design standards for residential and non-residential development.

Please email Dan Warner, Planning Division Director, with questions or comments about the Downtown Master Plan.