Topeka, Kansas

Capital District Charrette

Topeka is the capital of Kansas, and Kansas Avenue is Topeka’s “Main Street.” Although Kansas Avenue benefits from the 10,000 state employees that populate the area each weekday, much more revitalization was needed. Consequently, The Walker Collaborative (TWC) was hired by the Capital District Project to run a public charrette to generate ideas.

Over 100 citizens participated in the project.

The concepts recommended by TWC included: targeted marketing to State employees and Washburn University students; the development of a public plaza on 9th Street by the Capital Building; the conversion of one-way streets to two-way; and a market analysis to determine the optimal tenant mix for incentivized business development. Shortly after the charrette, the City Council allocated $5 million toward the project and has since completely rebuilt Kansas Avenue, sparking the corridor’s dramatic economic rebirth.