Commission scraps proposed roundabouts for Anderson Avenue

Contractor offers $72,000 credit to close Anderson Avenue this summer

City outlines $3 million summer street maintenance plan

Commissioner signals hard line against residential property tax abatements

City tightens focus for workforce housing sales tax funds

Gap in short-term rental registrations raises concerns

City partners with K-State for $400,000 downtown watershed study

Late January winter storm costs city $147,000, breaks vital snow equipment

Manhattan tourism holds steady following record year

Historic church to become hub for Black entrepreneurs

Commission scraps proposed roundabouts for Anderson Avenue

MANHATTAN, Kan. — The city commission effectively killed a proposal to build two new roundabouts on Anderson Avenue at intersections near Bellehaven Road and College Avenue. Public Works Director Brian Johnson presented a traffic study indicating that the intersections have low traffic volumes and do not warrant traffic signals or roundabouts. While staff also recommended closing several driveways near Kansas State University's Unger Complex and College Heights Baptist Church to reduce accidents, commissioners opted to shelve the roundabout idea entirely and delay any driveway closures, citing a lack of public support and a desire to monitor traffic patterns once new residential developments in the area are occupied.

Contractor offers $72,000 credit to close Anderson Avenue this summer

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Bayer Construction Co., Inc., the project contractor leading the roughly $11 million Anderson Avenue water line and paving project, has proposed completely closing the road for a summer construction window. In exchange for the closure, the contractor offered a $72,000 deduction to the city's contract, arguing that a full closure will allow crews to pave wider sections of the road safely and shave up to a month off the project timeline. While commissioners broadly supported a summer closure to expedite construction, several balked at the $72,000 figure, directing city staff to negotiate a higher credit for the inconvenience to local taxpayers and commuters.

City outlines $3 million summer street maintenance plan

MANHATTAN, Kan. — The public works department announced the schedule for this summer's street maintenance program, which will utilize approximately $3 million in local sales tax funds. The project list includes concrete replacement and mill-and-overlay work on several corridors and neighborhood streets. Public Works Director Brian Johnson noted the city is delaying the use of state gas tax funds for road repairs until the revenue is physically in hand, following delays from the state last October.

Commissioner signals hard line against residential property tax abatements

MANHATTAN, Kan. — A substantial debate over municipal housing incentives revealed a fractured city commission, with one commissioner declaring they will vote against any future residential property tax abatements, including Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs) and Reinvestment Housing Incentive Districts (RHIDs). The commissioner argued that city-subsidized housing should immediately support the tax base rather than waiting 10 to 25 years, adding that taxpayer funds should not be used to build $300,000 rental units or luxury student housing. While other commissioners expressed a willingness to evaluate projects on a case-by-case basis, the hardline stance signals a potential shift in how developers will finance future residential builds.

City tightens focus for workforce housing sales tax funds

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Despite intense debate over the direction of the city's housing policy, the city commission agreed to open the April application period for the Workforce Housing Sales Tax fund. However, commissioners directed staff to draft stricter guidelines for future applicants. The new guidance will aim to prevent developers from using the public subsidy to build luxury or student-oriented housing — such as four-bedroom, four-bathroom units — and instead steer funds toward owner-occupied homes in the $200,000 to $250,000 range. The commission also declined to reinstate a 15-member housing steering committee, opting instead to have city staff design the targeted policy updates.

Gap in short-term rental registrations raises concerns

MANHATTAN, Kan. — A quarterly update from Visit Manhattan revealed a massive discrepancy in the city's short-term rental market, prompting safety and regulatory concerns from the city commission. Visit Manhattan reported that 333 short-term rentals, such as Airbnbs and VRBOs, are actively operating and generating 21 percent of the city's transient guest tax. However, city staff noted that only 58 of those properties are officially registered as limited-use entities with the city. Commissioners expressed concern over the lack of life-safety inspections for the unregistered properties and the impact hundreds of short-term rentals have on the city's tight long-term housing inventory.

City partners with K-State for $400,000 downtown watershed study

MANHATTAN, Kan. — The city will issue a request for qualifications for a $400,000 study of Campus Creek and downtown watersheds, working in partnership with Kansas State University. Public Works Director Brian Johnson announced the city recently received a $115,000 grant from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assist with downtown watershed modeling, which will help offset the cost. The study aims to identify ways to detain stormwater on the K-State campus, a move that could significantly reduce downstream flooding on Bluemont Avenue and North Manhattan Avenue and save the city millions in future downstream infrastructure costs.

Late January winter storm costs city $147,000, breaks vital snow equipment

MANHATTAN, Kan. — The public works department reported that a late January winter storm, which dumped 8.5 inches of snow on the area, cost the city $147,000 in labor, materials and equipment depreciation. City crews worked 72 straight hours, driving 5,500 miles and spreading 430 tons of salt. However, the heavy workload proved too much for the city's 1983 snowblower, which broke down during the storm. Because replacement parts for the 40-year-old machine are virtually impossible to find, crews were forced to use skid loaders to clear downtown and Aggieville, tripling the time required for snow removal.

Manhattan tourism holds steady following record year

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Tourism in Manhattan remained strong in 2024, with tourism bureau director Marcia Rozell reporting approximately 1.4 million inbound trips and $162.6 million in total visitor spending. While the figures are relatively flat compared to the previous year, local chamber officials noted that holding steady after a record-breaking 2023 is a major win for the local economy. The average visitor stayed 3.2 days, the highest average length of stay among competing Kansas cities like Wichita and Topeka. Looking ahead, the convention and visitors bureau plans to heavily target the Kansas City area with digital marketing to capture international travelers attending the 2026 World Cup.

Historic church to become hub for Black entrepreneurs

MANHATTAN, Kan. — During opening remarks, commissioners celebrated the groundbreaking of the Yuma Street Cultural Center at the corner of 10th and Yuma streets. A historic church that has stood on the site since 1917 is being repurposed into office space for Black entrepreneurs in the Flint Hills region. Once completed, the revitalized community hub will feature a culinary kitchen, youth programming, showcase spaces for local vendors and classes on personal finance and home buying.

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