Downtown Manhattan generates 10 percent of city sales tax

DMI signals need for Frost Plaza, infrastructure funding

City officials briefed on potential downtown parking garage

Downtown Common Consumption Area reports zero police incidents

K-State architecture students design modular home for Habitat project

Sewer line failure complicates Habitat for Humanity housing project

Poyntz Avenue mill and overlay project delayed to 2028

City considers daily fees for street-blocking contractors

Downtown Manhattan generates 10 percent of city sales tax

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Downtown Manhattan Inc. Executive Director Gina Snyder reported that the downtown district accounted for 10 percent of the city's total sales tax revenue over the past year. During an update to the city commission, Snyder highlighted the district's economic health, noting a 97 percent commercial and 98 percent residential occupancy rate. The downtown area, which extends from Third Street to Juliette Avenue and includes the Downtown Entertainment District, currently supports roughly 338 businesses and more than 3,000 employees.

DMI signals need for Frost Plaza, infrastructure funding

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Downtown Manhattan Inc. is preparing to ask the city for financial assistance to upgrade aging downtown infrastructure, including a major overhaul of holiday lighting and renovations to Frost Plaza. Executive Director Gina Snyder told the city commission that the plaza, located in front of Manhattan Town Center, currently lacks the electrical capacity to host live music or outdoor entertainment. Snyder also emphasized the need for curb and sidewalk repairs to address tripping hazards and protect the estimated $350 million to $400 million of public and private investment in the district.

City officials briefed on potential downtown parking garage

MANHATTAN, Kan. — City officials may soon begin exploring the construction of a downtown parking garage to accommodate future growth. Downtown Manhattan Inc. Executive Director Gina Snyder said that while the district currently contains 3,600 parking stalls, stakeholder surveys consistently indicate a desire for a dedicated parking structure. The Metropolitan Planning Organization is currently conducting a parking study, which will guide future discussions and the potential formation of a parking committee to address the community's concerns.

Downtown Common Consumption Area reports zero police incidents

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Manhattan's downtown Common Consumption Area has experienced no police incidents or safety issues since its implementation, according to Downtown Manhattan Inc. Executive Director Gina Snyder. The designation allows patrons to carry alcoholic beverages in marked outdoor areas during specific events, such as Third Thursdays. While the area is currently underutilized outside of major gatherings, Snyder expressed a desire to find new ways to incorporate the designation into other downtown promotions.

K-State architecture students design modular home for Habitat project

MANHATTAN, Kan. — A fully modular home designed and built by Kansas State University architecture students will soon serve as affordable workforce housing in Manhattan. K-State graduate student Josh Brewer presented the project, explaining that 40 students and professors collaborated to construct the net-zero home's panels, walls and floors inside a campus fabrication lab. The structure will eventually be transported to the Habitat for Humanity site on Dickens Avenue, providing a flexible layout that can accommodate one to three bedrooms.

Sewer line failure complicates Habitat for Humanity housing project

MANHATTAN, Kan. — A severed sanitary sewer line has stalled progress on a Habitat for Humanity housing project at the former Oak Grove School property, prompting discussions about using city housing funds for utility repairs. Public works officials reported that the property currently lacks legal, direct access to the public sewer main after a shared lateral pipe was lined on a neighboring property, effectively severing the site's access. City staff were subsequently directed to develop a public improvement plan and cost estimates, indicating a potential use of workforce housing funds to construct a new public sewer extension for the site.

Poyntz Avenue mill and overlay project delayed to 2028

MANHATTAN, Kan. — The planned mill and overlay of Poyntz Avenue has been postponed until 2028 to accommodate ongoing downtown construction. Public Works Director Brian Johnson said the street resurfacing, which will include new lane striping and the rebuilding of pedestrian crossings from Third to Sixth streets, will wait until an upcoming downtown hotel project is completed. The delay aims to prevent heavy construction equipment from damaging newly laid asphalt.

City considers daily fees for street-blocking contractors

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Private contractors blocking Manhattan streets and sidewalks may soon face a daily fee under a proposed lane closure policy. Public Works Director Brian Johnson recommended a new permitting system that would charge developers $150 to $250 per lane per day, while requiring a formal traffic control plan and an estimated completion schedule. The policy aims to prevent contractors from using public roadways for long-term equipment storage, a growing safety and nuisance issue in the downtown commercial district where lot-line-to-lot-line development is common.

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