The TurnAround Team, Inc. Board Meeting – 10 February 2005
The meeting was called to order at 7 PM by Deb Swank, Chair. In attendance were; Deborah Swank, Chairman, Robert Banks, Don Taylor, Karen Hiller, Delores Smith, Betty Dunhaupt, and guests Henry McClure, John Floyd, and Susan Duffy.
The first item was a discussion led by Henry McClure about the possibility of redevelopment of the College Hill Business Development. The core issue is that the redevelopment are is going to want a Tax Increment Financing district approved by the City, County, USD-501, and the Topeka and Shawnee County all have to approve it. There will be a meting on Wednesday, 16 March 2005 at 7 PM at the restaurant location at 15th & Lane for the developers to make the pitch. The basic plan for redevelopment is to have first floor retail with living above it. According to Henry, Washburn University is VERY interested in making this project happen. It will be a complete tear down and start over kind of project extending north to 13th Street. Henry emphasized that all of the neighborhoods must support it to get the TIF set up.
The bid opening for the Phase III Washburn-Lane Parkway lighting project will be on 23 February 2005 at 2 PM at City Hall Room 60.
Karen Hiller and Rob Banks reported briefly on the Tennessee Town NIA Stakeholders’ meeting held by Housing and Neighborhood Development to go over the proposals for how CDBG monies will be targeted to a portion of TTNIA this year.
The Aaron Douglas Celebration Mural project is progressing. We are looking at ground breaking in Marchg and the dedication in May or June. May 15th was offered as the date, but conditions might require it to move back to early June.
Neighborhood cleanups will probably be scheduled for both April and August again this year. We will coordinate with LINC for the April event. One issue is that HND is planning neighborhood cleanups every weekend of April.
The February General meeting will have someone from the Kansas State Historical Society and from the Topeka Room of the library to talk about researching your old house.
The Downtown Fest is in jeopardy. The CAST event is not going to happen because it is such a resurce drain for Safe Streets.
It was announced that the old Park Inn bar was rumored to be getting converted to a coffee house.
The meeting was adjourned at 9 PM.
People who are interested in improving the quality and image of Central Topeka, particularly people who live in or own property in the Central Topeka area from Monroe to MacVicar and 21st to the Kansas River, are particularly encouraged to attend. For further information, call 234-2883.