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Council sets Nov. 12 public hearing on proposed Sunflower Crossing TIF district
Summary
The Topeka City Council voted Oct. 7 to schedule a Nov. 12 public hearing on whether to establish a tax-increment financing district for the Sunflower Crossing redevelopment at Topeka Boulevard and Kansas Avenue.
The Topeka City Council set a public hearing for Nov. 12 to consider establishing a tax-increment financing district for a 9.12-acre site at the northwest corner of Topeka Boulevard and Kansas Avenue, staff announced Oct. 7.
Deputy City Manager Braxton Coppler said the developer provided a blight/market study indicating the site meets multiple statutory blight factors and an initial financial analysis suggesting the development may meet the statutory "but for" test required for a TIF. The first phase of developer plans would feature a convenience store, a retail box and a restaurant; subsequent phases could include a hotel or apartments, Coppler said.
During public comment Danielle Twemlow urged stronger TIF safeguards — local hiring requirements, city audit and recapture rights, limits on district length, and dedicating a share of TIF revenues to an affordable-housing trust. Deputy Mayor and other council members said the item on Oct. 7 only scheduled a hearing and did not establish a TIF or approve any incentives; the council unanimously agreed to set the hearing date (recorded 8 yes, Councilmember Valdivia Ocala voted no).
