Here's how close KDOT is to owning buildings it must raze to replace Polk-Quincy Viaduct

Tim Hrenchir, Topeka Capital-Journal
·4 min read
McPherson Wrecking Co. works to raze buildings in the 100 block of S.W. Jackson to help clear the way for a project to replace and realign downtown Topeka's Polk-Quincy Viaduct.
McPherson Wrecking Co. works to raze buildings in the 100 block of S.W. Jackson to help clear the way for a project to replace and realign downtown Topeka's Polk-Quincy Viaduct.

Most buildings that used to stand in the 100 blocks of S.W. Harrison and Van Buren are gone.

The Kansas Department of Transportation has torn them down since September to clear the way for the replacement and realignment of downtown Topeka's Polk-Quincy Viaduct.

KDOT appears to be nearing the end of its push to gain "total acquisition" of 41 properties in the area, including 28 it must acquire completely that have buildings on them.

KDOT now owns 22 of those 28, and has a contract in place to acquire one other.

KDOT is in negotiations to buy the remaining five, KDOT spokeswoman Kate Craft told The Capital-Journal on Thursday.

Which properties is KDOT still negotiating to acquire?

The former Evergy building at 122 S.W. Second St. will soon be razed as part of I-70's Polk-Quincy Viaduct project.
The former Evergy building at 122 S.W. Second St. will soon be razed as part of I-70's Polk-Quincy Viaduct project.

Craft said KDOT remained in negotiations to acquire properties at the following locations:

• 101 S.W. Tyler, which Shawnee County Appraiser's Office records say is owned by First Avenue Leasing LLC.

• 116 S. Kansas Ave., owned by Team Kansas Inc.

• 129 S.E. Quincy, owned by TFI LLC.

• 631 S.W. 1st, owned by Ryder Truck Rental.

• 600 S.W. 2nd, owned by Ryder Truck Rental.

What has happened with the nonprofit properties involved?

Due to the construction of Interstate 70's Polk-Quincy Viaduct, the current building where Harvester's Community Food Network is located will be torn down.
Due to the construction of Interstate 70's Polk-Quincy Viaduct, the current building where Harvester's Community Food Network is located will be torn down.

KDOT has bought the property where Topeka nonprofit group Let's Help operates at 200 S. Kansas Ave., with deed recording being in progress, and has a contract in place to buy the property at 215 S.E. Quincy, which houses the Topeka office and warehouse for Kansas City, Mo.-based Harvesters Inc., Craft said.

Harvesters will relocate its office for northeast Kansas operations from 215 S.E. Quincy to Lawrence, its president and CEO Stephen Davis, told The Capital-Journal in September.

Let's Help will relocate to a building at 245 S.W. MacVicar Ave., executive director Jennifer Loeffler told The Topeka Capital-Journal last month.

Which other properties has KDOT bought?

A section of cleared land is seen under I-70's Polk Quincy Viaduct as phase one of demolition projects continue Thursday morning.
A section of cleared land is seen under I-70's Polk Quincy Viaduct as phase one of demolition projects continue Thursday morning.

KDOT has acquired nine houses it needs for the project.

Those houses are or were at 120 S.W. Tyler, 122 S.W. Tyler, 113 S.W. Harrison, 125 S.W. Harrison, 127 S.W. Harrison, 128 S.W. Harrison, 130 S.W. Harrison, 127 S.W. Van Buren and 135 S.W. Van Buren.

KDOT has also bought the commercial properties containing buildings at the following:

• 103 S.W. Van Buren, 109 S.W. Van Buren and 112 S.W. Harrison, all formerly owned by Shawnee Woodwork Inc.

• 115 S.W. Jackson, formerly owned by Piping Contractors of Kansas Inc.

• 121 S. Kansas Ave., formerly owned by the Steven J. Mohan Trust.

• 122 S.W. 2nd, formerly owned by KPL Gas Service.

• 124 S.W. Van Buren, formerly owned by Anthony L. Graves.

• 127 S. Kansas Ave., formerly owned by Gary D. Smith, doing business as Gary D. Smith Construction.

• 128 S.W. Van Buren, formerly owned by Pro Keyless Entry & Hardware LLC.

• 129 S.W. Jackson and 135 S.W. Jackson, formerly owned by Topeka FM Comm Inc.

• 200 S.E. 3rd, formerly owned by Uriel Chavira.

More:KDOT plans alternate closures this weekend of eastbound, westbound I-70 in downtown Topeka

What will the viaduct project do?

The viaduct project seeks to improve safety by replacing and flattening out Interstate 70's sharp curve near S.E. 3rd Street by moving to the north much of the highway that currently runs to the west of that curve.

The curve was created when KDOT in 1963 built the viaduct, an aging, elevated four-lane segment of I-70 that runs between S.W. Polk and S.E. Quincy streets.

Officials with Topeka's city government since at least 2006 have sought to replace and realign the viaduct.

Actual replacement of the viaduct begins in 2025.

The project is expected to cost $234 million, the state said in a news release last spring. Topeka's city government is to pay $20 million of that, with the state covering the rest.

To the west of S.W. Topeka Boulevard, plans call for the replacement stretch of I-70 to be constructed at ground level or be "built up with ground underneath," KDOT revealed last year.

To the east of S.W. Topeka Boulevard, I-70 is to consist of two elevated viaduct bridges, one for eastbound traffic and the other for westbound. Both are to be about the same height as the single viaduct that currently stands in that area.

One building spared for historical significance

One building in the midst of the area involved, at 124 S.W. Harrison, will be allowed to remain in place "as it stands" because it was deemed historically significant due to its architectural style, a KDOT official told The Capital-Journal last April.

That building is owned by Hutton Land Holdings LLC and has an appraisal value of $26,500, according to Shawnee County appraiser's office records.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: KDOT still must acquire five Topeka buildings to raze for viaduct project