Cornerstone of Topeka, Inc. Welcomes New Neighbors to Tennessee Town
Cornerstone of Topeka, Inc. welcomed a new family to Tennessee Town at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, June 26, 2014, at 1231 SW Clay, one of the three houses on which it recently completed construction.
Cornerstone of Topeka, Inc. Director Chris Palmer, as well as other Cornerstone staff and board members; city officials, members of the Topeka Chamber of Commerce, Tennessee Town NIA members, and our new neighbors, the Thompsons, all were in attendance at the ribbon-cutting ceremony (see photos below).
The other two houses are located at 1933 SW Clay and 1320 NW Eugene. The construction of the three houses was financed by the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, The City of Topeka’s Housing and Neighborhood Development department and Community Bank.
Cornerstone of Topeka, Inc. is a non-profit affordable housing organization dedicated to providing safe and affordable housing to low-income households in the Topeka community. All Cornerstone efforts are directed towards interrupting the cycle of homelessness, providing decent, safe, accessible and affordable housing of choice to moderate and low-income households and revitalizing Topeka neighborhoods.
For more information on Cornerstone of Topeka, Inc., please click on http://cornerstoneoftopeka.org/.
Cornerstone of Topeka, Inc. Director Chris Palmer, as well as other Cornerstone staff and board members; city officials, members of the Topeka Chamber of Commerce, Tennessee Town NIA members, and our new neighbors, the Thompsons, all were in attendance at the ribbon-cutting ceremony (see photos below).
The other two houses are located at 1933 SW Clay and 1320 NW Eugene. The construction of the three houses was financed by the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, The City of Topeka’s Housing and Neighborhood Development department and Community Bank.
Cornerstone of Topeka, Inc. is a non-profit affordable housing organization dedicated to providing safe and affordable housing to low-income households in the Topeka community. All Cornerstone efforts are directed towards interrupting the cycle of homelessness, providing decent, safe, accessible and affordable housing of choice to moderate and low-income households and revitalizing Topeka neighborhoods.
For more information on Cornerstone of Topeka, Inc., please click on http://cornerstoneoftopeka.org/.
Cornerstone of Topeka, Inc. staff and board members, Topeka Chamber of Commerce members, and the Thompson family
The completed house at 1231 SW Clay
Neighborhood Revitalization Program
Provides Property Owners with Rebates for Improvements
Provides Property Owners with Rebates for Improvements
The Planning Department administers the City’s Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP), which provides tax rebates to property owners making improvements that raise the appraised value of residential property by 10 percent and of commercial property by 20 percent.
The program is intended to promote the revitalization of the City’s “Intensive Care”/ “At Risk” neighborhoods and downtown by creating an incentive for the rehabilitation, conservation, and redevelopment of these areas. Rebates are offered up to 95 percent for 10 years for historic properties (national, state, or local) and “Intensive Care” neighborhoods. Applications must be received prior to or no later than 60 days after building permit approval or start of construction (if a building permit is not required).
For further information, please contact the planning department's Annie Driver at (785) 368-3010 or [email protected].
The program is intended to promote the revitalization of the City’s “Intensive Care”/ “At Risk” neighborhoods and downtown by creating an incentive for the rehabilitation, conservation, and redevelopment of these areas. Rebates are offered up to 95 percent for 10 years for historic properties (national, state, or local) and “Intensive Care” neighborhoods. Applications must be received prior to or no later than 60 days after building permit approval or start of construction (if a building permit is not required).
For further information, please contact the planning department's Annie Driver at (785) 368-3010 or [email protected].
Tennessee Town Housing
Tennessee Town, going back to its founding in 1879, has always been a residential neighborhood. So, when the Tennessee Town NIA began new revitalization activities in the late 1990s, it initiated those activities with the residential nature of the neighborhood in mind.
The NIA, with help from the City of Topeka, was able to put together parcels of vacant property for in-fill housing development (land banking) and acquire vacant or aging housing for rehabilitation or demolition and in-fill housing development, per its neighborhood plan. The rehabilitated and new housing occurred throughout the neighborhood, but most notably in the first 1200 block of SW Lincoln St., which Topeka's Planning Department rated as the NIA's worst block in 2001 (see photo above for some of the new and rehabilitated housing in that block). That block, prior to 2001, featured vacant lots, dilapidated housing, and vacant structures that used to house a filling station/garage, a liquor store and The Caravan Club, which before it was abandoned was a favored watering hole for elected officials. And much of the housing rehabilitation that occurred in that block was initiated by property owners who could see the improvements being made and joined the effort.
The City of Topeka and Habitat for Humanity have been the two chief NIA partners in its efforts to improve housing, but Asbury-Mt. Olive United Methodist Church (the Asbury-Mt. Olive Apartments in the second 1100 block of SW Buchanan St.) and the Topeka Housing Authority (through the 1983 construction of the Tennessee Town Plaza Apartments, primarily in the second 1100 block of SW Buchanan St. and in the 1200 blocks of SW Munson and 12th Sts., and the 2010 expansion of those apartments along the second 1100 block of SW Lincoln St.) have played vital roles in replacing aged housing and vacant lots with quality, affordable housing.
As the NIA moves forward with more housing rehabilitation and in-fill housing activities in 2014 and beyond, it will once again call on those partners and others to enable the continued improvement of Tennessee Town as a residential home for working-class individuals and families. (See below for "Tennessee Town Housing Opportunities.")
The NIA, with help from the City of Topeka, was able to put together parcels of vacant property for in-fill housing development (land banking) and acquire vacant or aging housing for rehabilitation or demolition and in-fill housing development, per its neighborhood plan. The rehabilitated and new housing occurred throughout the neighborhood, but most notably in the first 1200 block of SW Lincoln St., which Topeka's Planning Department rated as the NIA's worst block in 2001 (see photo above for some of the new and rehabilitated housing in that block). That block, prior to 2001, featured vacant lots, dilapidated housing, and vacant structures that used to house a filling station/garage, a liquor store and The Caravan Club, which before it was abandoned was a favored watering hole for elected officials. And much of the housing rehabilitation that occurred in that block was initiated by property owners who could see the improvements being made and joined the effort.
The City of Topeka and Habitat for Humanity have been the two chief NIA partners in its efforts to improve housing, but Asbury-Mt. Olive United Methodist Church (the Asbury-Mt. Olive Apartments in the second 1100 block of SW Buchanan St.) and the Topeka Housing Authority (through the 1983 construction of the Tennessee Town Plaza Apartments, primarily in the second 1100 block of SW Buchanan St. and in the 1200 blocks of SW Munson and 12th Sts., and the 2010 expansion of those apartments along the second 1100 block of SW Lincoln St.) have played vital roles in replacing aged housing and vacant lots with quality, affordable housing.
As the NIA moves forward with more housing rehabilitation and in-fill housing activities in 2014 and beyond, it will once again call on those partners and others to enable the continued improvement of Tennessee Town as a residential home for working-class individuals and families. (See below for "Tennessee Town Housing Opportunities.")
Tennessee Town Housing in Pictures
In-fill housing through the City of Topeka, at 1197 and 1199 SW Lane St.
One of the three houses the NIA and the City of Topeka acquired from Holy Name Church and relocated to 1200 SW Lincoln St.
Those three houses were moved into the NIA and rehabilitated for occupancy by income-qualified individuals and families.
Those three houses were moved into the NIA and rehabilitated for occupancy by income-qualified individuals and families.
One of the three houses the NIA and the City of Topeka acquired from Holy Name Church and relocated to 1201 SW Lincoln St.
Those three houses were moved into the NIA and rehabilitated for occupancy by income-qualified individuals and families.
Those three houses were moved into the NIA and rehabilitated for occupancy by income-qualified individuals and families.
A new house constructed through funding from the City of Topeka, at 1235 SW Buchanan St.
A new house constructed through funding from the City of Topeka, at 1210 SW Lincoln St.
The City of Topeka and Shiloh Baptist Church collaborated on the rehabilitation of this house, at 1212 SW Lincoln St.
The City of Topeka enabled funding for rehabilitation of the house at 1214 SW Lincoln St.
Tennessee Town Plaza Apartments in the second 1100 block of SW Lincoln
Asbury-Mt. Olive Apartments in the second 1100 block of SW Buchanan
Tennessee Town Housing Summit
Tennessee Town In-Fill Housing Opportunities: Potential Sites
(photo array not exhaustive, as there are other opportunities throughout the NIA)
Tennessee Town In-Fill Housing Opportunities: Potential Sites
(photo array not exhaustive, as there are other opportunities throughout the NIA)
In-fill housing opportunity at the northwest corner of SW 12th and Buchanan Sts.
Two photos of an in-fill housing opportunity just south of Shiloh Baptist Church, in the first 1200 block of SW Buchanan St.
Two photos of an in-fill housing opportunity in the first 1100 block of SW Lane St.
Tennessee Town In-Fill Housing: Potential Designs
Single-Family
Row Housing
Row Housing
Multi-Family
Multi-Family
Vacant Lots: Other Uses
Pocket Parks
Community Gardens
Tennessee Town Housing Rehabilitation Opportunities
Two photos of housing rehabilitation opportunities in the 1200 block of SW 11th St.
A photo of housing rehabilitation opportunities in the 1300 block of SW 11th St.
A photo of housing rehabilitation opportunities in the second 1100 block of SW Clay St.
A photo of housing rehabilitation opportunities in the 1100 block of SW 11th St.
Tennessee Town Housing: Related Opportunities
Crime and Safety
Infrastructure
Parks/Murals
Small Business Retention/Development
Historic Tour
Increased Neighborhood Involvement
Have a question or comment? Contact the Tennessee Town NIA at [email protected].
Tennessee Town on the Internet! Nextdoor: https://tennesseetown.nextdoor.com/news_feed/; Twitter: https://twitter.com/tenntown
Housing page last updated on January 26, 2020