Iconic Topeka buildings demolished over the years

TOPEKA ( KSNT ) – Topeka has lost several old and interesting buildings over the years, some containing a lot of history, to different demolition or reconstruction efforts.

27 News gathered a list of demolition projects we’ve covered over the years involving buildings and other structures which used to make up part of the Capital City but have since been demolished partially or completely. Whether they were victims of the changing local economic climate or condemned to their fate, here is a list of notable Topeka buildings that have faded into memory.

911 North Kansas Avenue

This building, located in the historic North Topeka Arts District (NOTO), experienced no shortage of controversy in the days leading up to its destruction. The building was purchased in 2016 after sitting empty for several years. Before any development could take place, the new owner received a notice the structure would be demolished in 30 days .

The City of Topeka identified the NOTO building as a hazard that needed to be torn down following complaints of falling bricks from the structure. A video sent to 27 News of the demolition effort showed parts of the building fall onto a nearby car, damaging it.

The city pushed back demolition plans for years as it closed in on an official date to destroy the building. Work crews finally arrived to take the building down in April 2022 despite attempts to delay the process.

White Lakes Mall

Few other buildings which have been demolished in recent years have as storied a history as the old White Lakes Mall in south Topeka. Locals said goodbye to the mall two years ago as demolition crews levelled the structure, leaving behind only one portion of the original building that houses Mainline Printing .

City officials officially gave the green light on the demolition of the mall in September 2021. In the years leading up to this decision, many saw the mall as an eyesore which suffered a large fire in December 2020 . City leaders officially condemned the building around the same time.

Demolition crews arrived to begin the long process of taking the mall down in March 2022 , eventually splitting the building in half . Demolition efforts largely wrapped up by October 2022 .

Helzberg Diamonds

AIM Strategies purchased the property for the former Helzberg Diamond at 735 South Kansas Avenue with plans to transform it into a high-end, three-story Mexican restaurant called Ta Co . City leaders approved demolition of the building to make way for Ta Co. in August 2022.

Since then, AIM Strategies completed construction on the new Mexican restaurant, which now takes the place of the former structure in Topeka’s downtown area.

Wild Horse Saloon

City leaders marked this country bar and nightclub for destruction following its closure in March 2023 . Initially, the city cited issues like heater problems and a leaking roof as reasons for the place closing down.

The business briefly reopened in 2023 for a few months amid renovation work but would eventually close for the last time before the end of the year. 27 News later learned the saloon was destined to become the site of a new Chick-Fil-A location and Whataburger.

Topeka Foundry & Iron Works

Demolition began for the old Topeka Foundry & Iron Works building in September 2024 on Kansas Avenue near where it passes beneath I-70. The process is not total, meaning some parts of the original structure will remain after demolition is completed.

Future work on the Polk-Quincy Viaduct project made the partial demolition of this nearly 100-year-old building necessary.

Docking State Office Building

This more than 60-year-old building in the heart of Topeka at 915 Southwest Harrison Street was previously at the center of a long-running debate among state lawmakers for major renovation work. Plans for the building involved taking apart the upper floors, leaving behind the bottom three to be transformed into a more modern structure with work getting underway in 2023.

Demolition of the old Docking Building moved forward despite protests from those who wished to preserve the state offices in their original state. Controversy erupted when a 27 News investigation found crews were dumping rubble from the building into the nearby Kansas River. This eventually led to a federal investigation into the situation.

Reconstruction efforts, headed by Hutton Construction, are completing work on the refurbished Docking Building, which is slated to open in the summer of 2025 . It will feature an exhibition space, cafe, gym, health clinic and event center upon completion.

Cousin’s Tavern

This bar, which first opened in 1973, was demolished in October 2020 after sitting closed for nearly three years. 27 News covered the demolition of the bar, catching up with the family who previously ran the business at 1211 South Kansas Avenue.

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