Category — Community Ideas

During the Wrap-up Workshop, participants broke into groups to discuss and plot out their visions for the future of downtown Topeka. Each group included a professional architect or engineer to help assist with laying out plans. Below are several maps of ideas that were created at the forth community workshop.

Group One favored closing part of 9th street and making it public green space while preserving access to the parking garage. This space shows off the splendor of our State Capitol and provides a gateway to Kansas Avenue.

Group Two focused on a gently curving roadway. This idea slows traffic and creates more space for public green space and water features. The gentle curves also mimic the rolling hills this part of Kansas is known for.

Group Three A narrowed the road to create wider sidewalks for cafes, water features, and green space all while preserving on-street parking.

Group Three B looked to create a more festive atmosphere on 9th street with overhead lights. This leads in to a large park by Quincy.

Group Four removed the center islands and narrowed the street. This provides for more sidewalk space without affecting on-street parking. They have also added center overhead lighting.

Group Five adds additional center street parking by narrowing Kansas Avenue. The intersections would feature median with towers that could be used to support sound and lighting equipment for events.

I would like to see some clothing boutiques aimed at the business woman. The mall cators to the teen crowd, so downtown would be a great place for the business woman to shop. Also I would like to see a few more restaurant choices, something Italian & just plain American cuisine, nothing fancy, but more than bar food. Thanks for the opportunity to share ideas. I remember when downtown had a “Hullabaloo” before school started & my mother always took me shopping for school clothes, of course with a stop at the Woolworth counter for a coke! Yes, I’m showing my age!

Excerpt from the “Your Ideas” section on this blog. Posted on June 29.

All I can tell you is what would bring me there.

For me it would be a nice hobby shop, But there are already several of those in town with lots of free parking.

bring ale and vino into that area, Except I like the parking better where they are now. And it’s free.

some place that sells dvds at a reasonable rate, easier to go to Best Buy because there is always someplace to park for free.

an electronics store, Again parking at Best Buy is ample and free.

bring capps bicycle shop into the area, except I like the parking MUCH better where they are now. And it’s free. Plus it is easy to test ride bikes where they are now.

a fitness store where I can buy stuff for my gym

What they already have that interests me is

a good coffee shop, but I go to the other branch so I won’t have to deal with the parking

A fantastic sub sandwich shop but I rarely go there because I don’t want to deal with the parking

I rarely have change for parking meters and I don’t like backing out of diagonal stalls into a busy street when I can’t see behind me because of the car next to me.

Come up with stuff that will interest women and they will drag their husbands or boyfriends with them.

Again this town already has so much to offer in various places that there really is no need to go downtown.

And I would much rather see the earmarks you are looking at canceling for renovation moneys channeled to keeping the city workers in their jobs.

Excerpt from the Topeka Capital-Journal Online. You can read more at the article, Downtown design vote must wait, posted on June 4. Comment posted on June 5.

“I want to see internet cafe’s with free wifi the only place that has it so far that I know of is The Break Room. Albeit on a very small scale. I would spend more time downtown if I had a trendy spot where I could work remotely from aside from this corner of my living room I call my home office. Something like Blackbirds but with couches like The Classic Bean.

I am not a bar scene gal so at least from my perspective bars wouldn’t interest me. Unless it is a wine bar like some of the casinos in Vegas have.

Maybe have a combo wine/internet cafe/art hangout.”

Excerpt from the Capital District Project Facebook Fan Page. You can read more at: Discussion Board: What entertainment options would you like to see downtown? Posted on June 4

“Anyone remember the Meat & Cheese Shop in Crosby Place? In the 80′s, when I was a child we would shop and then have lunch there. I would LOVE to see a toy store, children’s boutique…i.e. someplace to shop and eat lunch on a Saturday that is NOT at the mall.”

Excerpt from the Capital District Project Facebook Fan Page. You can read more at: Discussion Board: Are there any specific restaurants or businesses that you’d like to see downtown? Posted on June 1

“I would like to see some diversity. Greek would be amazing. That I know if there is not a greek restarant in Topeka, it would definitely be an attraction!”

Excerpt from the Capital District Project Facebook Fan Page. You can read more at: Discussion Board: Are there any specific restaurants or businesses that you’d like to see downtown? Posted on May 27

“Last night on Food Network, they featured a FRIED PIE cart (yes, they fry gourmet handmade pocket pies-it’s a beautiful thing) that opens every night in Portland, Oregon. Apparently they have a district that has over 400 food trailers/carts (like the kind you see at fairs and street events) and it’s a hot spot after dark. People literally line up rain or shine to eat from these places. I would love to see a hint of that spirit of street fair while we are recruiting larger established businesses to downtown.

On 6th Street in East Topeka, right across from Reesers, there is this old crummy looking trailer that has really fabulous steak with lime and cilantro tacos. We drive 25 minutes to stand outside and eat the stuff. They sell authentic Mexican sodas and in the shopping center behind it, there is a little bakery with amazing authentic Mexican pastry.

I’d love to see us develop an area that celebrates local flavor in a concentrated area. I think street fairs with art booths and little shops that have unique stuff you can’t find in a big box store is appealing to tourists and locals.”

Excerpt from the Capital District Project Facebook Fan Page. You can read more at: Discussion Board: What entertainment options would you like to see downtown? Posted on May 20

“Another option is leveling the eyesores on the east side of Kansas Avenue between 10th and 9th. Fill it in and make it an outdoor theatre (blanket and lawn chairs) with a small amphitheatre for muscians as well. I like the 9th street proposal looking at the Capitol, but that requires shutting the street down.”

Excerpt from the Capital District Project Facebook Fan Page. You can read more at: Discussion Board: Are there any specific restaurants or businesses that you’d like to see downtown? Posted on May 19

“We held a conference at the 20th Century Club’s Vintage Theatre last February and discovered they have French Film night on Fridays. They provide vintage fur coats, wine, cheese, beer,etc. for $5. It was a great atmosphere and great fun . . . even though I don’t understand French! Thankful for captions! The old Jayhawk would be a great place for films.”

Excerpt from the Capital District Project Facebook Fan Page. You can read more at: Discussion Board: What entertainment options would you like to see downtown? Posted on May 19

“Indie (movie) theater, open space/park area/lounge area, overhead cover, more bike racks…”

Excerpt from the Capital District Project Facebook Fan Page. You can read more at: Discussion Board: Are there any specific restaurants or businesses that you’d like to see downtown? Posted on May 19