2023 Tennessee Town NIA Meetings
Unless otherwise noticed, the Tennessee Town NIA holds its general membership meetings at 6:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each odd-numbered month at the Buchanan Center, 1195 SW Buchanan St.
2023 meetings will be held on:
2023 meetings will be held on:
- January 9
- March 13
- May 8
- July 10
- September 11
- November 13
- December holiday party to be announced
Meeting Packets for Tennessee Town NIA Meetings
Below is a PDF of the meeting packets for the March 11, 2019, July 8, 2019, September 9, 2019, November 4, 2019, January 13, 2020, March 9, 2020, July 13, 2020, September 14, 2020, November 9, 2020, January 11, 2021, March 8, 2021, May 10, 2021, July 12, 2021, September 13, 2021; November 8, 2021; January 10, 2022; March 14, 2022; May 9, 2022; July 11, 2022; September 12, 2022; November 14, 2022; January 9, 2023; March 13, 2023; May 8, 2023; and July 10, 2023, NIA general membership meetings
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurers' and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurers' and officers' reports)
ttnia_7-23_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 399 kb |
File Type: |
ttnia_5-23_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 354 kb |
File Type: |
ttnia_3-23_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 281 kb |
File Type: |
ttnia_1-23_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 237 kb |
File Type: |
ttnia_11-22_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 281 kb |
File Type: |
ttnia_9-22_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 332 kb |
File Type: |
ttnia_7-22_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 230 kb |
File Type: |
ttnia_5-22_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 435 kb |
File Type: |
ttnia_3-22_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 283 kb |
File Type: |
ttnia_1-22_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 297 kb |
File Type: |
ttnia_11-21_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 294 kb |
File Type: |
ttnia_9-21_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 265 kb |
File Type: |
ttnia_7-21_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 534 kb |
File Type: |
ttnia_5-21_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 831 kb |
File Type: |
ttnia_3-21_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 302 kb |
File Type: |
ttnia_1-21_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 322 kb |
File Type: |
ttnia_11-20_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 321 kb |
File Type: |
ttnia_9-20_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 336 kb |
File Type: |
ttnia_7-20_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 216 kb |
File Type: |
ttnia_3-20_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 272 kb |
File Type: |
ttnia_1-20_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 310 kb |
File Type: |
ttnia_11-19_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 340 kb |
File Type: |
ttnia_9-19_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 265 kb |
File Type: |
ttnia_7-19_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 210 kb |
File Type: |
ttnia_3-19_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 378 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the January 14, 2019 NIA general membership meetings
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurers' and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurers' and officers' reports)
ttnia_1-19_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 779 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the November 12, 2018 NIA general membership meetings
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurers' and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurers' and officers' reports)
ttnia_11-18_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 862 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the September 10, 2018 NIA general membership meetings
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurers' and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurers' and officers' reports)
ttnia_9-18_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 492 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the July 9, 2018 NIA general membership meetings
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurers' and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurers' and officers' reports)
ttnia_7-18_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 5729 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the March 12 and May 14, 2018 NIA general membership meetings
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurers' and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurers' and officers' reports)
ttnia_5-18_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 5747 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the January 2, 2018 NIA general membership meeting
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurers' and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurers' and officers' reports)
ttnia_1-18_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 5590 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the November 13, 2017 NIA general membership meeting
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurers' and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurers' and officers' reports)
ttnia_11-17_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 5825 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the September 11, 2017 NIA general membership meeting
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
ttnia_9-17_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 392 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the July 10, 2017 NIA general membership meeting
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
ttnia_7-17_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 1455 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the May 8, 2017 NIA general membership meeting
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
ttnia_5-17_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 504 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the March 13, 2017 NIA general membership meeting
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
ttnia_3-17_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 379 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the January 9, 2017 NIA general membership meeting
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
ttnia_1-17_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 921 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the November 14, 2016 NIA general membership meeting
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
ttnia_nov_2016_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 549 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the September 12, 2016 NIA general membership meeting
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
ttnia_sep_2016_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 485 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the July 11, 2016 NIA general membership meeting
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
ttnia_july_2016_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 530 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the May 9, 2016 NIA general membership meeting
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
ttnia_may_2016_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 1378 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the March 14, 2016 NIA general membership meeting
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
ttnia_mar_2016_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 280 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the January 11, 2016 NIA general membership meeting
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
ttnia_jan_2016_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 362 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the November 9, 2015, NIA general membership meeting
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
ttnia_nov_2015_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 323 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the September 14, 2015, NIA general membership meeting
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
ttnia_sep_2015_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 2327 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the July 13, 2015, NIA general membership meeting
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
ttnia_july_2015_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 534 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the May 11, 2015, NIA general membership meeting
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
ttnia_may_2015_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 419 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the March 9, 2015, NIA general membership meeting
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
ttnia_mar_2015_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 363 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the January 12, 2015, NIA general membership meeting
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
ttnia_jan_2015_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 411 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the November 10, 2014, NIA general membership meeting
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
ttnia_may_2014_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 336 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the September 8, 2014, NIA general membership meeting
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
ttnia_sep_2014_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 180 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the July 14, 2014, NIA general membership meeting
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
ttnia_july_2014_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 170 kb |
File Type: |
Below is a PDF of the meeting packet for the May 12, 2014, NIA general membership meeting
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
(includes agenda, minutes of the previous meeting; treasurer's and officers' reports)
ttnia_may_2014_meeting_packet.pdf | |
File Size: | 336 kb |
File Type: |
Tennessee Town on the Internet!
Website: http://tenntownnia.weebly.com (all NIA meetings, activities posted) * Nextdoor.com: https://tennesseetown.nextdoor.com/news_feed/ * E-Mail: [email protected] * Twitter: https://twitter.com/tenntown
Facebook page under construction
Website: http://tenntownnia.weebly.com (all NIA meetings, activities posted) * Nextdoor.com: https://tennesseetown.nextdoor.com/news_feed/ * E-Mail: [email protected] * Twitter: https://twitter.com/tenntown
Facebook page under construction
Below is the report from the June 21, 2014 Housing Summit:
I. Welcome, Housekeeping
II. Introductions: All attendees introduce themselves and name their favorite movie and/or song (we can learn a little about one another and have a little fun, too!)
A. NIA Officers
B. NIA Members and Stakeholders
C. Dignitaries
1. District One City Councilmember Karen Hiller
D. Invited Guests
1. City of Topeka Department of Housing and Neighborhood Development: Warren Woodruff
2. City of Topeka Planning Department: Susan Hanzlik
3. City of Topeka Police Department: Ofcs. Matt Wilson and Jason Cooper
4. City of Topeka Code Compliance: Dennis Boyles
5. Topeka Habitat for Humanity: Shelley Bearman
6. Shawnee County Landlord’s Association: Margie Eklund
7. Christmas in Action: Jewell Welch
8. City of Topeka Public Works: Unable to Attend but Supportive of Our Efforts
9. Topeka Housing Authority: Unable to Attend but Supportive of Our Efforts
10. Cornerstone of Topeka, Inc.: Unable to Attend but Supportive of Our Efforts
11. Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc.: Unable to Attend but Supportive of Our Efforts
III. Presentation: City of Topeka Department of Housing and Neighborhood Development and Planning Department
A. Click on "Download File" immediately below to view a PDF of the Housing Summit joint presentation of the
City of Topeka's Housing and Neighborhood Development and Planning Departments:
II. Introductions: All attendees introduce themselves and name their favorite movie and/or song (we can learn a little about one another and have a little fun, too!)
A. NIA Officers
B. NIA Members and Stakeholders
C. Dignitaries
1. District One City Councilmember Karen Hiller
D. Invited Guests
1. City of Topeka Department of Housing and Neighborhood Development: Warren Woodruff
2. City of Topeka Planning Department: Susan Hanzlik
3. City of Topeka Police Department: Ofcs. Matt Wilson and Jason Cooper
4. City of Topeka Code Compliance: Dennis Boyles
5. Topeka Habitat for Humanity: Shelley Bearman
6. Shawnee County Landlord’s Association: Margie Eklund
7. Christmas in Action: Jewell Welch
8. City of Topeka Public Works: Unable to Attend but Supportive of Our Efforts
9. Topeka Housing Authority: Unable to Attend but Supportive of Our Efforts
10. Cornerstone of Topeka, Inc.: Unable to Attend but Supportive of Our Efforts
11. Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc.: Unable to Attend but Supportive of Our Efforts
III. Presentation: City of Topeka Department of Housing and Neighborhood Development and Planning Department
A. Click on "Download File" immediately below to view a PDF of the Housing Summit joint presentation of the
City of Topeka's Housing and Neighborhood Development and Planning Departments:
ttownpresentationpdf.pdf | |
File Size: | 8479 kb |
File Type: |
IV. Presentation: Topeka Habitat for Humanity
A. Habitat’s Bearman presented on Topeka Habitat’s current projects, its new focus on owner-occupied housing
rehabilitation and its work in the Hi-Crest NIA. She said Habitat’s work in Hi-Crest has focused on owner- and
tenant-occupied housing where applicants must be at or below 80% of area median income. Up to $40,000 in
funding is available for those projects, she said. She said Habitat wants to be involved in Tennessee Town and that its
involvement would primarily focus on housing rehabilitation.
V. NIA: Best Practices to Consider as We Move Forward (discussion fully interactive among all attendees)
A. Neighborhood Survey Card Results (see below)
B. Innovative Approaches to Neighborhood Revitalization
1. Vision and Goals: Smart Growth America (YouTube: "David Warm, Executive Director, Mid-America Regional Council," Kansas City, MO; see immediately below)
a. There are 10 accepted principles that define Smart Growth:
i. Mix land uses
ii. Take advantage of compact building design
iii. Create a range of housing opportunities and choices
iv. Create walkable neighborhoods
v. Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place
vi. Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas
vii. Strengthen and direct development towards existing communities
viii. Provide a variety of transportation choices
ix. Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective
x. Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions
b. Smart Growth America encourages public/private partnerships: “Make better use of current federal
dollars to encourage private sector reinvestment in our communities through targeted tax and
financing incentives to create more jobs locally and save taxpayers’ money.”
2. Public/Private Partnerships (YouTube: "Healthy Neighborhoods, Healthy Families," Columbus, OH; see
immediately below)
a. There are a number of local avenues regarding this option. The NIA has made initial contacts with
Security Benefit Group, Federal Home Loan Bank, Payless, Target, Goodyear, Dillon’s, Starbucks,
Washburn University, Menard’s, Home Depot, and television stations WIBW and KSNT.
C. Housing Opportunities and a Holistic Approach to Revitalization (refer to website, at homepage click on "Housing,"
then scroll down to "Housing Opportunities"; discussion fully interactive among all attendees)
1. Vacant Lots
a. In-Fill Housing
i. Potential Sites
b. Potential Designs
i. Single-Family
ii. Multi-Family
c. Land Banking
d. Other Uses
i. Pocket Parks
ii. Community Gardens
iii. Sell to (Adjacent) Property Owners
iv. Other?
2. Vacant Houses: Getting to Them as Quickly as Possible
a. Tailoring laws and ordinances to enable entities to more quickly acquire houses while not violating
property owners’ due process rights (IPMC?)
b. Rehabilitation or
c. Demolition and Land Banking
3. Occupied Housing
a. Rehabilitation or
b. Demolition and Relocation (preferably in Tennessee Town)
4. Related Opportunities:
a. Crime/Safety (neighborhood watch?)
b. Infrastructure (streets, sidewalks/curbs, lighting, sewers)
c. Parks/Murals
d. Small Business Retention/Development
e. Historic Tour (churches, Buchanan Center; Living the Dream, Inc. headquarters, ice house)
f. Increased Neighborhood Involvement (Aug. 9: Basketball Tournament and National Night Out events)
g. Other Opportunities?
D. “All Hands on Deck”: Leveraging the Consolidated Plan Buck (list not exhaustive)
1. Forming or Partnering With a State and/or Federal Nonprofit (easier in the short term to partner with an
existing nonprofit)
2. Forming or Partnering With a Community Housing Development Organization (CHoDO)
a. CHDOs are established solely to provide access to a certain set-aside of federal HOME program
funds. Federal regulations require the participating jurisdiction (PJ) to set aside 15% of each fiscal
year’s HOME fund allocation specifically for CHDO development- related activities. CHDO funding may
be available for the following types of activities:
i. Development projects: including new construction or acquisition and/or rehabilitation of
rental housing, transitional housing units or single-family homes for homeownership
opportunities (including project-specific downpayment/closing cost assistance), operating
funds: in conjunction with a development project
3. Accessing Low-Income Housing Tax Credits
a. The Low Income Housing Tax Credit is a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for affordable housing investments. It was created under the Tax Reform Act of 1986 that gives incentives for the utilization of private
equity in the development of affordable housing aimed at low-income Americans. LIHTC accounts for
the majority - approximately 90 percent - of all affordable rental housing created in the United States
today. The Asbury-Mt. Olive Apartments were built through LIHTCs. As the maximum rent that can be
charged is based on the Area Median Income ("AMI"), a drawback of LIHTC is that housing remains
unaffordable to extremely low-income (<30% AMI) renters.
4. Housing Trust Fund
a. Housing trust funds are established sources of funding for affordable housing construction and other related purposes created by governments in the United States. Housing Trust Funds began as a way of
funding affordable housing in the late 1970s. Since then, elected government officials from all levels of
government (national, state, county and local) in the U.S. have established housing trust funds to
support the construction, acquisition, and preservation of affordable housing and related services to
meet the housing needs of low-income households. The State of Kansas has a Housing Trust Fund.
Ideally, HTFs are funded through dedicated revenues like real estate transfer taxes or document
recording fees to ensure a steady stream of funding rather than being dependent on regular budget
processes. By 2009, 700 trust funds in states, cities and counties existed across the U.S. and allocated
nearly $1 billion for housing-related needs.
5. Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP)
a. SHOP awards grant funds to eligible national and regional non-profit organizations and consortia to
purchase home sites and develop or improve the infrastructure needed to set the stage for sweat
equity and volunteer-based homeownership programs for low-income persons and families. SHOP
funds must be used for eligible expenses to develop decent, safe and sanitary non-luxury housing for
low-income persons and families who otherwise would not become homeowners. Homebuyers must
be willing to contribute significant amounts of their own sweat equity toward the construction or
rehabilitation of their homes.
6. U.S. Department of Energy and/or Kansas Department of Transportation
a. Specifically related to street/sidewalk lighting
7. Forming Partnerships with Private Entities
8. Other Ways?
VI. Final Thoughts From All
VII. What’s Next?
A. Applications for Consolidated Plan Funds
1. Neighborhood Empowerment Grant (done)
2. SORT Designation (on July 14, 2014 NIA meeting agenda)
a. Application would include mid-block lighting and sidewalks, already identified as neighborhood
priorities
VIII. What’s After That?
A. Neighborhood Plan Update (if receive SORT designation)
B. Drafting a Document on Vision and Goals (if don’t receive SORT designation)
1. Identifying Public and Private Funding
2. Continued Discussions at NIA General Membership Meetings
C. Anything Else?
D. Minutes from Housing Summit Mailed to NIA Members and Posted at NIA’s Website http://tenntownnia.weebly.com)
IX. Thanks and Adjournment
A. Habitat’s Bearman presented on Topeka Habitat’s current projects, its new focus on owner-occupied housing
rehabilitation and its work in the Hi-Crest NIA. She said Habitat’s work in Hi-Crest has focused on owner- and
tenant-occupied housing where applicants must be at or below 80% of area median income. Up to $40,000 in
funding is available for those projects, she said. She said Habitat wants to be involved in Tennessee Town and that its
involvement would primarily focus on housing rehabilitation.
V. NIA: Best Practices to Consider as We Move Forward (discussion fully interactive among all attendees)
A. Neighborhood Survey Card Results (see below)
B. Innovative Approaches to Neighborhood Revitalization
1. Vision and Goals: Smart Growth America (YouTube: "David Warm, Executive Director, Mid-America Regional Council," Kansas City, MO; see immediately below)
a. There are 10 accepted principles that define Smart Growth:
i. Mix land uses
ii. Take advantage of compact building design
iii. Create a range of housing opportunities and choices
iv. Create walkable neighborhoods
v. Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place
vi. Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas
vii. Strengthen and direct development towards existing communities
viii. Provide a variety of transportation choices
ix. Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective
x. Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions
b. Smart Growth America encourages public/private partnerships: “Make better use of current federal
dollars to encourage private sector reinvestment in our communities through targeted tax and
financing incentives to create more jobs locally and save taxpayers’ money.”
2. Public/Private Partnerships (YouTube: "Healthy Neighborhoods, Healthy Families," Columbus, OH; see
immediately below)
a. There are a number of local avenues regarding this option. The NIA has made initial contacts with
Security Benefit Group, Federal Home Loan Bank, Payless, Target, Goodyear, Dillon’s, Starbucks,
Washburn University, Menard’s, Home Depot, and television stations WIBW and KSNT.
C. Housing Opportunities and a Holistic Approach to Revitalization (refer to website, at homepage click on "Housing,"
then scroll down to "Housing Opportunities"; discussion fully interactive among all attendees)
1. Vacant Lots
a. In-Fill Housing
i. Potential Sites
b. Potential Designs
i. Single-Family
ii. Multi-Family
c. Land Banking
d. Other Uses
i. Pocket Parks
ii. Community Gardens
iii. Sell to (Adjacent) Property Owners
iv. Other?
2. Vacant Houses: Getting to Them as Quickly as Possible
a. Tailoring laws and ordinances to enable entities to more quickly acquire houses while not violating
property owners’ due process rights (IPMC?)
b. Rehabilitation or
c. Demolition and Land Banking
3. Occupied Housing
a. Rehabilitation or
b. Demolition and Relocation (preferably in Tennessee Town)
4. Related Opportunities:
a. Crime/Safety (neighborhood watch?)
b. Infrastructure (streets, sidewalks/curbs, lighting, sewers)
c. Parks/Murals
d. Small Business Retention/Development
e. Historic Tour (churches, Buchanan Center; Living the Dream, Inc. headquarters, ice house)
f. Increased Neighborhood Involvement (Aug. 9: Basketball Tournament and National Night Out events)
g. Other Opportunities?
D. “All Hands on Deck”: Leveraging the Consolidated Plan Buck (list not exhaustive)
1. Forming or Partnering With a State and/or Federal Nonprofit (easier in the short term to partner with an
existing nonprofit)
2. Forming or Partnering With a Community Housing Development Organization (CHoDO)
a. CHDOs are established solely to provide access to a certain set-aside of federal HOME program
funds. Federal regulations require the participating jurisdiction (PJ) to set aside 15% of each fiscal
year’s HOME fund allocation specifically for CHDO development- related activities. CHDO funding may
be available for the following types of activities:
i. Development projects: including new construction or acquisition and/or rehabilitation of
rental housing, transitional housing units or single-family homes for homeownership
opportunities (including project-specific downpayment/closing cost assistance), operating
funds: in conjunction with a development project
3. Accessing Low-Income Housing Tax Credits
a. The Low Income Housing Tax Credit is a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for affordable housing investments. It was created under the Tax Reform Act of 1986 that gives incentives for the utilization of private
equity in the development of affordable housing aimed at low-income Americans. LIHTC accounts for
the majority - approximately 90 percent - of all affordable rental housing created in the United States
today. The Asbury-Mt. Olive Apartments were built through LIHTCs. As the maximum rent that can be
charged is based on the Area Median Income ("AMI"), a drawback of LIHTC is that housing remains
unaffordable to extremely low-income (<30% AMI) renters.
4. Housing Trust Fund
a. Housing trust funds are established sources of funding for affordable housing construction and other related purposes created by governments in the United States. Housing Trust Funds began as a way of
funding affordable housing in the late 1970s. Since then, elected government officials from all levels of
government (national, state, county and local) in the U.S. have established housing trust funds to
support the construction, acquisition, and preservation of affordable housing and related services to
meet the housing needs of low-income households. The State of Kansas has a Housing Trust Fund.
Ideally, HTFs are funded through dedicated revenues like real estate transfer taxes or document
recording fees to ensure a steady stream of funding rather than being dependent on regular budget
processes. By 2009, 700 trust funds in states, cities and counties existed across the U.S. and allocated
nearly $1 billion for housing-related needs.
5. Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP)
a. SHOP awards grant funds to eligible national and regional non-profit organizations and consortia to
purchase home sites and develop or improve the infrastructure needed to set the stage for sweat
equity and volunteer-based homeownership programs for low-income persons and families. SHOP
funds must be used for eligible expenses to develop decent, safe and sanitary non-luxury housing for
low-income persons and families who otherwise would not become homeowners. Homebuyers must
be willing to contribute significant amounts of their own sweat equity toward the construction or
rehabilitation of their homes.
6. U.S. Department of Energy and/or Kansas Department of Transportation
a. Specifically related to street/sidewalk lighting
7. Forming Partnerships with Private Entities
8. Other Ways?
VI. Final Thoughts From All
VII. What’s Next?
A. Applications for Consolidated Plan Funds
1. Neighborhood Empowerment Grant (done)
2. SORT Designation (on July 14, 2014 NIA meeting agenda)
a. Application would include mid-block lighting and sidewalks, already identified as neighborhood
priorities
VIII. What’s After That?
A. Neighborhood Plan Update (if receive SORT designation)
B. Drafting a Document on Vision and Goals (if don’t receive SORT designation)
1. Identifying Public and Private Funding
2. Continued Discussions at NIA General Membership Meetings
C. Anything Else?
D. Minutes from Housing Summit Mailed to NIA Members and Posted at NIA’s Website http://tenntownnia.weebly.com)
IX. Thanks and Adjournment
Housing Summit:
NIA: Best Practices to Consider as We Move Forward
Vision and Goals: Smart Growth America
YouTube: "David Warm, Executive Director, Mid-America Regional Council," Kansas City, MO
NIA: Best Practices to Consider as We Move Forward
Vision and Goals: Smart Growth America
YouTube: "David Warm, Executive Director, Mid-America Regional Council," Kansas City, MO
Housing Summit:
NIA: Best Practices to Consider as We Move Forward
Vision and Goals: Public/Private Partnerships
YouTube: "Healthy Neighborhoods, Healthy Families," Columbus, OH
NIA: Best Practices to Consider as We Move Forward
Vision and Goals: Public/Private Partnerships
YouTube: "Healthy Neighborhoods, Healthy Families," Columbus, OH
Neighborhood Survey Card Results
On April 21, 2014, HND, on behalf of the Tennessee Town NIA, mailed out survey cards to neighborhood residents and stakeholders to get their opinions about neighborhood challenges and opportunities. Six challenges and five opportunities were presented, and respondents also were given space to list their own challenges and opportunities. The presented challenges were deteriorating housing, lack of affordable housing, crime/safety, infrastructure,, lack of greenspace, and lack of small businesses. The presented opportunities were vacant lots for development, housing rehabilitation, small business development, lighting to address safety, and partnerships with businesses/churches. Respondents were asked to rank their responses 1-6 for challenges and 1-5 for opportunities. The averages for those categories are as follows:
CHALLENGES:
Deteriorating Housing: 1.93 (#2)
Lack of Affordable Housing: 2.77 (#5)
Crime/Safety: 1.72 (#1)
Infrastructure: 2.00 (#3)
Lack of Greenspace: 3.17 (#6)
Lack of Small Businesses: 2.55 (#4)
The challenges provided by respondents were:
“Sense of community”
“Lack of restaurants”
“Lack of small businesses to attract populations other than low-income or depressed residents”
“Area invites crime and safety issues”
“Need sidewalks replaced so I can walk with my walker”
“Need more alley and street lights”
“Abandoned, deteriorating houses need to be torn down”
“Planting grass seed and removal of dead trees”
“Smoother sidewalks”
“Sidewalks are terrible. I use sidewalks because I’m in a wheelchair”
“Need curb cuts on sidewalks”
“Lighting on neighborhood streets sucks. Lighting on main streets, like Washburn and Lane, is great. Sidewalks need lighting, too”
“Maintain Tennessee Town as a residential neighborhood”
“Vacant lots poorly maintained”
“Alley than runs north and south from 11th to Munson, between Lane and Lincoln, is unpaved and needs regular maintenance to keep pot holes to a minimum”
“Lots of people walking alleys and sidewalks who look suspicious. I have to look out my window to make sure no one is outside before I feel safe to leave.”
“Maybe security around neighborhood, neighborhood watch”
“Lack of attendance at NIA meetings”
“Need to have liquor store closed. It’s a hazard”
OPPORTUNITIES:
Vacant Lots: 1.86 (#1)
Housing Rehabilitation: 2.44 (#2)
Small Business Development: 3.62 (#5)
Lighting: 2.79 (#3)
Partnerships: 3.33 (#4)
The opportunities provided by respondents were:
“Several houses in the 1100 block of Lane are vacant with overgrown vegetation, empty lot in 1100 block of Lincoln both could be rehabbed for housing or small business if rezoned”
“There’s an empty house full of materials. It’s unlivable and owned by an absentee owner who rarely even mows the yard. It’s been like that for the 12 years I’ve lived here. It’s a fire/safety hazard”
“Lighting in front of Tennessee Town II apartments”
“All the streets could be paved/repaved. Too many potholes”
“Parks could use some beautification, such as trash cans and flowers. I would volunteer for these projects and I think my neighbors would, too”
CHALLENGES:
Deteriorating Housing: 1.93 (#2)
Lack of Affordable Housing: 2.77 (#5)
Crime/Safety: 1.72 (#1)
Infrastructure: 2.00 (#3)
Lack of Greenspace: 3.17 (#6)
Lack of Small Businesses: 2.55 (#4)
The challenges provided by respondents were:
“Sense of community”
“Lack of restaurants”
“Lack of small businesses to attract populations other than low-income or depressed residents”
“Area invites crime and safety issues”
“Need sidewalks replaced so I can walk with my walker”
“Need more alley and street lights”
“Abandoned, deteriorating houses need to be torn down”
“Planting grass seed and removal of dead trees”
“Smoother sidewalks”
“Sidewalks are terrible. I use sidewalks because I’m in a wheelchair”
“Need curb cuts on sidewalks”
“Lighting on neighborhood streets sucks. Lighting on main streets, like Washburn and Lane, is great. Sidewalks need lighting, too”
“Maintain Tennessee Town as a residential neighborhood”
“Vacant lots poorly maintained”
“Alley than runs north and south from 11th to Munson, between Lane and Lincoln, is unpaved and needs regular maintenance to keep pot holes to a minimum”
“Lots of people walking alleys and sidewalks who look suspicious. I have to look out my window to make sure no one is outside before I feel safe to leave.”
“Maybe security around neighborhood, neighborhood watch”
“Lack of attendance at NIA meetings”
“Need to have liquor store closed. It’s a hazard”
OPPORTUNITIES:
Vacant Lots: 1.86 (#1)
Housing Rehabilitation: 2.44 (#2)
Small Business Development: 3.62 (#5)
Lighting: 2.79 (#3)
Partnerships: 3.33 (#4)
The opportunities provided by respondents were:
“Several houses in the 1100 block of Lane are vacant with overgrown vegetation, empty lot in 1100 block of Lincoln both could be rehabbed for housing or small business if rezoned”
“There’s an empty house full of materials. It’s unlivable and owned by an absentee owner who rarely even mows the yard. It’s been like that for the 12 years I’ve lived here. It’s a fire/safety hazard”
“Lighting in front of Tennessee Town II apartments”
“All the streets could be paved/repaved. Too many potholes”
“Parks could use some beautification, such as trash cans and flowers. I would volunteer for these projects and I think my neighbors would, too”
Below is the "2014 NIA Opportunities" 12-point plan presented at the March 10, 2014 NIA meeting:
I. Update neighborhood plan passed in 2001 (13 years have passed since it passed):
A. Reflecting revitalization efforts made since 2001.
B. Reflecting new challenges and opportunities that have occurred since 2001.
C. Invite Topeka Planning Department staff to March 2014 meeting to get process started and to subsequent meetings to make sure that Tennessee Town is on a workable track.
II. Create neighborhood survey (postcard included with water bills) to be mailed in February 2014:
A. What are neighborhood challenges?
B. What are neighborhood opportunities?
C. Use city’s permit number to send out as a bulk mailing, cost deducted from NIA’s account.
D. Tabulate results in time for March 2014 NIA meeting.
III. Identify opportunities to publicize Tennessee Town and to inform its residents and those who can make a difference in the
neighborhood about the opportunities here:
A. Create a website (several free options).
B. Produce a newsletter (per bylaws) to be published and distributed between NIA meetings.
C. Identify a person/people to handle social media for the neighborhood.
IV. Identify opportunities for improved housing:
A. Housing rehabilitation:
1. Single-family and multi-family.
B. Infill housing:
1. Single-family and multi-family.
C. Public housing:
1. Identify ways to support the Tennessee Town Plaza Apartments.
D. Increased use of land banking (amassing parcels of land for future development).
E. Identify vacant housing and work to reduce the neighborhood’s percentage of vacant housing:
1. Approaching owners of properties cited for multiple and serious code violations about acquiring their
properties (this proved to be a very successful approach from 2001-2004).
V. Make sure that Tennessee Town is able and ready to submit RFPs for HUD and other funding:
A. Identify a person/people to be volunteer grant writers.
VI. Identify opportunities for street/sidewalk/alley improvements:
A. Identify worst streets/sidewalks/alleys.
B. Apply CPTED principles to be sure that improvements address crime concerns.
VII. Identify opportunities for small business/nonprofit development:
A. Providing assistance/support to existing small businesses.
B. Creating circumstances that will attract future small businesses.
VIII. Identify opportunities to support/develop Dillon’s block:
A. Develop unimproved areas at northwest corner of Dillon’s block.
B. Develop partnership with Dillon’s regarding crime issues.
IX. Identify opportunities for parks development:
A. Lane Garden renovations.
B. Other pocket park opportunities.
C. Basketball court complex development.
X. Identify opportunities to reduce crime/increase safety:
A. Use housing, street/sidewalk/alley improvements to craft plan(s).
XI. Identify opportunities to strengthen/expand neighborhood partnerships:
A. Keep existing/get new neighborhood stakeholders involved in neighborhood.
XII. Identify opportunities to work with adjacent neighborhoods:
A. Historic Old Town, Historic Holliday Park, Central Park, College Hill, Elmhurst.
B. Dillon’s, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, businesses at SW Huntoon and Lincoln, among others, provide opportunities to do this.
XIII. This would be a 2-year plan:
A. Ultimate goal would be to move Tennessee Town from an “at-risk” neighborhood to an “outpatient” neighborhood.
B. From 2001-2004 Tennessee Town moved from an “intensive care” to an “at-risk” neighborhood, so the 2-year goal
identified here is possible.
A. Reflecting revitalization efforts made since 2001.
B. Reflecting new challenges and opportunities that have occurred since 2001.
C. Invite Topeka Planning Department staff to March 2014 meeting to get process started and to subsequent meetings to make sure that Tennessee Town is on a workable track.
II. Create neighborhood survey (postcard included with water bills) to be mailed in February 2014:
A. What are neighborhood challenges?
B. What are neighborhood opportunities?
C. Use city’s permit number to send out as a bulk mailing, cost deducted from NIA’s account.
D. Tabulate results in time for March 2014 NIA meeting.
III. Identify opportunities to publicize Tennessee Town and to inform its residents and those who can make a difference in the
neighborhood about the opportunities here:
A. Create a website (several free options).
B. Produce a newsletter (per bylaws) to be published and distributed between NIA meetings.
C. Identify a person/people to handle social media for the neighborhood.
IV. Identify opportunities for improved housing:
A. Housing rehabilitation:
1. Single-family and multi-family.
B. Infill housing:
1. Single-family and multi-family.
C. Public housing:
1. Identify ways to support the Tennessee Town Plaza Apartments.
D. Increased use of land banking (amassing parcels of land for future development).
E. Identify vacant housing and work to reduce the neighborhood’s percentage of vacant housing:
1. Approaching owners of properties cited for multiple and serious code violations about acquiring their
properties (this proved to be a very successful approach from 2001-2004).
V. Make sure that Tennessee Town is able and ready to submit RFPs for HUD and other funding:
A. Identify a person/people to be volunteer grant writers.
VI. Identify opportunities for street/sidewalk/alley improvements:
A. Identify worst streets/sidewalks/alleys.
B. Apply CPTED principles to be sure that improvements address crime concerns.
VII. Identify opportunities for small business/nonprofit development:
A. Providing assistance/support to existing small businesses.
B. Creating circumstances that will attract future small businesses.
VIII. Identify opportunities to support/develop Dillon’s block:
A. Develop unimproved areas at northwest corner of Dillon’s block.
B. Develop partnership with Dillon’s regarding crime issues.
IX. Identify opportunities for parks development:
A. Lane Garden renovations.
B. Other pocket park opportunities.
C. Basketball court complex development.
X. Identify opportunities to reduce crime/increase safety:
A. Use housing, street/sidewalk/alley improvements to craft plan(s).
XI. Identify opportunities to strengthen/expand neighborhood partnerships:
A. Keep existing/get new neighborhood stakeholders involved in neighborhood.
XII. Identify opportunities to work with adjacent neighborhoods:
A. Historic Old Town, Historic Holliday Park, Central Park, College Hill, Elmhurst.
B. Dillon’s, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, businesses at SW Huntoon and Lincoln, among others, provide opportunities to do this.
XIII. This would be a 2-year plan:
A. Ultimate goal would be to move Tennessee Town from an “at-risk” neighborhood to an “outpatient” neighborhood.
B. From 2001-2004 Tennessee Town moved from an “intensive care” to an “at-risk” neighborhood, so the 2-year goal
identified here is possible.
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
Meetings page last updated on July 19, 2023