Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Bank Vacant Properties topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Topeka land bank reports first transfer, nine-lot inventory and $500,000 pilot fund
Summary
Planning staff told the committee the land bank (adopted May 2023) holds nine vacant lots, completed a first transfer to a private developer who will build an affordable single-family home, and is working with Shawnee County on tax-sale procedures.
Rhiannon Friedman, director of Planning & Development, and Quinn (land bank staff) briefed the committee on July 16 about the Topeka land bank's first year of operations, inventory and next steps. "The land bank was adopted in May 2023 as a recommendation from the housing study," Quinn said.
Staff reported the land bank launched publicly in June 2024 and currently holds an inventory of nine vacant lots, three of which are in the Lawrence Bay area and the remainder scattered across the city. A three-year pilot fund balance of $500,000 supports acquisition, cleanup and transfer activity.
Quinn described the land bank's first transfer: a vacant parcel in the Central Park neighborhood sold to Capital Realty LLC for $500; the developer plans a three-bedroom, one-bath single-family house with a targeted sales price of $110,000125,000. Construction was expected to complete within roughly 90 days, and staff said they plan a ribbon-cutting once the home is finished.
Short-term goals include turning over at least one property with an existing structure before the end of the year, learning more from Shawnee County about tax-sale procedures and increasing public outreach to raise interest among potential developers or donors. Friedman and Quinn said the land bank currently holds only city-owned parcels but staff are also compiling lists of privately neglected properties for potential outreach.
Council members asked about properties tied to special assessments and tax arrears in Lawrence Bay; one councilmember raised concerns about perceptions of handling those parcels and requested the comment be noted for the record. Staff said the land bank is proceeding cautiously and will coordinate with county counsel on the tax-sale process.
Staff encouraged participation: prospective buyers or donors can consult the land-bank interactive map on the city's website or attend public board meetings that review all transactions. The committee did not take formal action on the land-bank update; the briefing was informational and intended to guide future policy and tax-sale coordination.
