Indianapolis-based company looks to build affordable housing in downtown Topeka

TOPEKA ( KSNT ) – Topeka City Council approved an application to get started on a new downtown apartment complex called Union at Tower District.

The developer is Indianapolis-based Union Development Holdings, LLC. The idea is the company gets a tax break in exchange for helping the City address its housing needs.

City council unanimously approved the company’s request to establish what’s known as a Reinvestment Housing Incentive District (RHID), which is the first step of the process as required by the state.

The Kansas Department of Commerce will now review the City’s request to establish the RHID before the project can proceed. If approved, the developer will provide a more detailed proposal.

Molly Howey, president of GO Topeka said access to housing is a big factor for bringing young professionals to the city and continuing to grow the workforce.

“We would like the workforce to live, work and play in Topeka,” Howey said, “and be rooted in the community. Having housing has been a factor in that in the past and so options like this help to remove those barriers.”

The complex would be built near Southeast 12th Street and Southeast Quincy Street, across from the downtown water tower. The current apartment complex floorplan includes 100 one-bed units, 84 two-beds and 66 three-beds. The development would be income qualified based.

For more local news, click here . Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts . Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.