INDIANAPOLIS (May 13, 2025) – The Annex Group®, a leading impact housing developer that creates affordable, workforce, student and market-rate housing communities, today announces groundbreaking plans for Union at Tower District, a new affordable housing community coming to Topeka, Kansas. Located at 1104 Southeast Quincy Street, 66612. Union at Tower District will be on over four acres of property in Shawnee County and offer 250 one, two and three-bedroom units to households earning 30-60 percent of the area median income (AMI). The roughly $60 million community will consist of two, four-story buildings and one, three-story building. Groundbreaking ceremony details include:
- Location: Union at Tower District
- 1104 Southeast Quincy Street, Topeka, Kansas 66612
- When: Tuesday, June 3 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- What: Join The Annex Group, Topeka Mayor Michael A. Padilla, city officials and the community in a ceremonial groundbreaking for Union at Tower District
“With a growing workforce thanks to new jobs from multiple organizations recently being announced, Topeka is in need of housing now and in the future,” said Ryan Clark, Senior Vice President of Development for The Annex Group. “We are looking forward to offering people in Topeka a new option for housing that will be both affordable and desirable thanks to its convenient and walkable downtown location with easy access to Topeka's ample amenities.”
Union at Tower District will feature rich amenities, including a courtyard, dog park, playground, community center and fitness center. Residents will have major shopping, public transportation, a park and schools located within about a quarter mile of the community.
“Topeka’s unemployment rate has decreased every year since 2013, with the exception of 2019 and 2020. As more business comes to the area, the local housing market has been unable to keep up,” said Joy Skidmore, The Annex Group Development Consultant. “Research we had conducted indicated that more than a third of people in this area are rent burdened, meaning they are paying more than a third of their income on housing. We know Union at Tower District will help ease that burden, offering affordability in a place where it’s truly needed.”
“As Topeka continues to grow and attract new employers, it’s critical that we ensure everyone has access to safe, affordable housing,” said Mayor Mike Padilla. “This development offers high-quality housing options and brings more residents—and new energy—to our downtown. I’m proud to see this kind of collaboration and investment in Topeka’s future.”
The project partners include BVH Architecture, REGA Engineering, SBB Engineering, the City of Topeka, and Impact Housing Indiana, Corp. Financing for the project was secured through several key contributors: Citi Community Capital, serving as both the construction lender (approximately $48.5 million) and permanent lender (over $16 million); Stifel Public Finance, which underwrote $35 million in bonds issued by Shawnee County; and the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), for their ongoing support of affordable housing in Kansas through the allocation of four percent tax credits and tax-exempt bonds. Additional financial support came from WNC, the federal credit investor (over $24 million in equity), and Advantage Capital, the state credit investor (nearly $17 million). Finally, the City of Topeka's crucial support includes RHID funding, which was essential for the project's realization.
“Many people, including me, are very excited that a mixed-income development of this size and quality is coming,” said Councilwoman Karen Hiller. “It will not only be a great asset to Topeka, but will also contribute substantially to achieving our goals with downtown revitalization.”
“The creation of new and thoughtfully designed affordable housing is a critical need for communities across the nation,” says Jim Bendernagel, Director at Citi Community Capital. “We are proud to partner with The Annex Group on Union at Tower District which will deliver 250-units of quality affordable housing walkable to downtown Topeka, and we sincerely thank the public partners for their vision and support to make this development possible.”
This will be The Annex Group’s first community in Topeka and its third in Kansas. Union at Tower District is projected to open in January 2027.
ABOUT THE ANNEX GROUP®
The Annex Group® is a leading impact housing developer that creates affordable, workforce, student and market-rate housing communities. With a focus on providing innovative, amenitized housing in emerging markets throughout the United States, The Annex Group is headquartered in Fishers, Indiana. To learn more about The Annex Group, visit www.theannexgrp.com or follow them on Facebook and LinkedIn.
