County Steps Forward to Help Revive Local Hotel

Shawnee County has taken a quiet but important step toward breathing new life into a historic downtown building. Officials recently approved a plan to support upgrades for Hotel Topeka, a project that could reshape part of the city center. The move allows up to $7 million in bonds to be issued, but only if certain conditions are met. No one spoke for or against the idea during the public meeting, and no commissioners added their thoughts either. The county is now preparing the paperwork, while the company behind the project gets ready to plan and hire contractors.The plan isn’t final yet. These bonds won’t be issued right away, and the county won’t need to use tax money to pay them back. Instead, the company developing the hotel will buy the bonds and cover the costs through lease payments. This setup means the county avoids financial risk, even though it technically owns the property during the process. The company will also look into cutting some taxes, including a possible 10-year break on property taxes, though they’d likely have to pay something in exchange. Another change is coming for visitors staying at the hotel. The local tax on hotel stays will rise from its current rate to 8. 5%. This extra money could help fund future city projects. Before anything is set in stone, the city government needs to agree to the bond plan. If they don’t object within a week of their next meeting, the county can move ahead. For now, the company can start spending on the project and get reimbursed later. It’s a cautious beginning, but one that could lead to a much-needed update for a piece of Topeka’s history.